Reviews

Crété Chamberlin Champagne Grand Cru CDB Blanc de Blancs

There is a compelling key lime pie (crust and filling) note here that does everything right to make this more than just another BdB. It's a little funky in flavor but also distinctly dialed in and…

Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé

Smells like the Pillsbury Doughboy got caught in a powdered sugar snow storm and was buried under a mound of maple confection. On the palate, the delivery is unsurprisingly sweet and slightly…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Mailly

This is essentially a Pinot version of Bereche's Cramant Grand Cru, with a near identical composure and delivery of flavor. A bit more golden apple, honey, and poached pear here, with a seamless…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Beurys

I thought this was a fantastic showing. I initially wondered if my score was slightly inflated, but this bottle was truly a standout and deserves recognition. Green and yellow apple notes intermingle…

Champagne J.Vignier Champagne Grand Cru QVFMR "Les Jardins d'Elise" Cramant

Pros: Pure, clean, focused, crystalline lemon. Cons: Angular, sterile, superficial, lacks mid-palate.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

Stupid. The fruit was there this time and there was no wet Pomeranian smell, but the effervescence came and went faster than a Tik-Toker's attention span. To call it a still wine after a few minutes…

Savart Champagne Grand Cru Haute Couture Le Mesnil

It's been two years since my last tasting note on this wine and there has been some notable development over that time, specifically a bit more depth and flavor expansion. However, it requires air to…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Bermonts

This bottle was slightly off, which is just icing on a flattened cake of tears and sadness since a huge percentage of Marguets I went fairly deep on turned out to be flawed. I love this producer when…

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

Even better than when I had it at the Domaine in Epernay recently, this latest bottle crushed the at-home test with its beautiful Avize lemony fruit in full display. Perfect balance and cut to match…

Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru l'Esprit

At Pierre Peters, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve

At Pierre Peters, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée de Réserve

At Pierre Peters, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut

At Larmandier-Bernier, Blancs-Coteaux.

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize

At Larmandier-Bernier, Blancs-Coteaux.

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Cramant

At Le Bellevue restaurant, Royal Champagne Hotel, Champillon.

Bruno Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

At Bruno Paillard, Reims.

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Ambonnay

At Bereche, Ludes.

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals

I had to revisit this at home just to retest my faith in Claude Cazals, after a rough tasting at the domaine recently where the 2014 Clos Cazals was a comparative wreck. Thankfully this 2012 is as…

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Rose XV Grand Cru

At Claude Cazals, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals

At Claude Cazals, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut La Chapelle du Clos

At Claude Cazals, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

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

At Maison Leclerc-Briant, Epernay.

Leclerc Briant Champagne Grand Cru Grand Blanc Brut Zéro Blanc de Blancs

At Maison Leclerc-Briant, Epernay.

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Avize Les Chantereines

At Les Avises (Selosse), Avize.

Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

At Les Avises (Selosse), Avize.