A word on disgorgement dates

My tastings this year of Champagne revealed a fascinating breadth and diversity of wines. In many ways, Champagne remains the last frontier - at least in the Old World - in that it is arguably the last major region that has yet to be discovered in the big way its top producers deserve. Burgundy fans are keenly aware of the differences of the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays grown in the various villages that dot the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, down to which producers own the best rows in the most coveted vineyards. In Bordeaux, each of the main towns and their vineyards possess qualities that are generally understood and accepted.