La Grande Dame 1998 coffret PUCCI

       In 2004, Italian fashion designer Emilio Pucci created above gift set for La Grande

       Dame 1998. It's presented in a diving suit like envelope with Pucci colors. It also

       comes with a scarf. A limited edition.

 La Grande Dame 1998 coffret PUTMAN

La Grande Dame 1998 brut champagne by Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Bought in HKG @ HKD 1,350 in May 2008

Tasted on Sept 3,2008 @ Cantonese restaurant 厚街粤菜馆

Following Jessica's good suggestion to experience the full flavours when the bubbly is not well chilled, we started off @ 13-14 deg.c! To me, this is just great, wild experience...just forget any elegant posture when you are exploring the jungle: pale gold with very tiny bubbles and steady effervescene; on the nose, toasted nuts mingled with orange peel and smell from the sea; on the palate, thrilling salty minerality dominates the scene and pushing the trademark creamy sour-sweet fruit robe to the vague background: a Sun-tanned beauty on the beach!

After 20 minutes chilling in ice bucket, we served 2nd round @ around 9-10 deg.c. Now the nose becomes shy: delicate floral, low key green apple and lime, indicating her youth. And the palate becomes creamy and fruity(candied citrus). Rich, intense and tight as the fruit can be, it is the rapier acidity that impresses me most. This will make her one of the most long-lived La Grande Dame vintages. The finish is very long with notes of cream and haw.

Have to wait for at least 5 years for peacock tail complexity. 

This is the wildest vintage I have ever experienced in La Grande Dame. Tame it with food.