Reviews

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles

Fresh lemon/lime juice, iodine, chlorophyll, and sea salt carry a nice punch of flavor, all wrapped around a beautiful beam of acidity. The wood treatment is deftly judicious and almost…

Domaine Nowack Champagne La Tuilerie Extra Brut

Notably better than the 2018, this vintage carries an extra level of intensity and focus. Melon and pear notes dominate on first pass. With air and a few hours to open up, it evolves into a riper and…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Chemin de Reims

Best bottle of this so far. A nice bead of minerality to counterbalance the spiced apple, lemon, limestone, olive oil, and salty yuzu flavors. After an hour or two it really opens up beautifully.

Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Clos Sainte Sophie

Previous notes apply, though I will say this particular bottle shows the wood quite a bit more than previous samples; it makes me wonder if, as this ages, the barrel influence will continue to take…

Walter Scott Chardonnay Justice Vineyard

Hallmark reduction that eventually gives way to lime and lemon juice zing. Not terribly complex, but surely a bright and fresh hit of citrus verve. Drink or hold.

DuMOL Chardonnay Chloe Ritchie Vineyard

A little gummy and sluggish on entry. Margarine, lemon curd, pineapple, olive oil, and overripe yellow pear flesh. Not undrinkable, but brassy and heavy; viscous in a way that makes for a chewy…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Chemin de Reims

An upfront yeastier showing this go-around. Time in the glass shows more evolved white melon, yellow pear, lemon, and travertine flavors. Drink or hold, though I would recommend the latter. On day…

Jacques Selosse Initial

The best combination of unctuous/umami and vibrancy. Oxidative orangey notes combine with yellow lemon, pear, yuzu, apricot, and limestone flavors. Beautiful execution, with a full and lifted finish.

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cramant

I prefer this on the colder side, where the lemon and melon flavors are better focused and honed. When it warms in the glass, they tend to flatten out a bit. Crunchy pear, white melon rind, lemon…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Artiste Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé Trépail

Similar display as before, with the honeydew note leading the charge, accompanied by yellow pear, quince, citrus pith, white melon rind, and stone. Repeats with the white melon rind flavor on the…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Artiste Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé Trépail

Similar display as before, with the honeydew note leading the charge, accompanied by yellow pear, quince, citrus pith, white melon rind, and stone. Repeats with the white melon rind flavor on the…

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Valmur

Solid showing, with a nice package of acidity and fruit flavor. Lemon and lime juice, honeydew melon, yellow and green pear, limestone, and a healthy zing of salinity to make for a complete showing…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

This bottle is creamier than the previous bottle, with vanilla-laced lemon and iodine flavors adding interest. The acid and nerve are solid, but overall this vintage is certainly less intense and…

Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru C + C Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

As before, this was "fine." Lacking a bit in the depth and profundity departments, but it carries a nice bead and drops solidly mid-palate with some lemony succulence, travertine, and honeydew…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Hors Serie

Cut and paste much of my note from December 2024, this bottle from the same batch continues on the upswing, with spicy pear, grilled lemon, orange rind, lime, limestone, cardamom, coriander, olive…

François Raveneau Petit Chablis

From magnum. Lemon drop, crème, vanilla, and some yellow pear flesh. Overall, a relatively tame and one-note delivery. Lacks nerve and tension. The finish is smooth and caressing, but sans requisite…

Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru "La Cocluette" Extra Brut

Ripe grilled lemon, roasted nut, lemon curd, red apple flesh, yuzu, saline, yellow pear, limestone, and olive oil. There is a well placed intensity on the front end (almost more Pinot-esque in its…

Jacques Selosse Initial

A smoking jacket and leather chair showing this go around; from the same lot/disgorgement as the previous bottle I had back in February, this Initial shows similarly, but for stronger orange and oak…

Leclerc Briant Champagne Grand Cru Château d'Avize, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Zéro

This bottle shows better than the last time I had the 2013 Avize six months ago. It is still a little rough around the edges at first (angular with the acidity at the forefront), but it balances out…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent

I found this much more interesting three years ago. The intensity has down shifted a bit, though the profile hasn't changed. Lemon, quince, and travertine. There was a little heat on the finish…

Domaine des Malandes Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes

Drink these now. They are fresh and sound, but they were much more exciting and vibrant a few years ago.

Domaine des Malandes Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir

This went back and forth from being agreeable and nicely placed on the palate, with its lemon, pear, and liquid chalk elements, to then being a bit boring. For $50, it's fine and all, but even with…

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles

This has held up beautifully considering it's over a decade old. Iodine, lemon, quince, yellow pear, travertine, and saline notes all blend together in a medium+ delivery of succulent-meets-fresh…

Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series

I was more in the camp that felt this had a confectionary note that I couldn't get past. The oak and tropical notes weighed down the delivery for me, making it gummy and sluggish. It's a succulent…

Marcassin Chardonnay Alexander Mountain Upper Barn Alexander Valley

Though I have admittedly been hesitant with Marcassin with what I consider to be a stylistic old school black Chardonnay-type profile of that house that I have sometimes struggled to be drawn to, I…