Reviews

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Fût De Chêne Brut Rosé Aÿ

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV18 Aÿ

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Argonne Brut

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

3 bottles in a row flawed. Unacceptable.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

Seems like I got the donkey's end of a bad batch of Marguets recently ordered. This bottle of Le Parc marks yet another busted monkey. Nothing on the nose, but the palate is aggressive bitterness,…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron

Blasts of oxidative elements roar through the front end, initially making for a brassy and almost banana-y entry. Swirl, swirl, swirl. Ah! Now comes the signature orange zest, grilled lemon, toasted…

Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Oxidative apricot, tangerine, and funky mushroom. Lacking a bit of freshness. Tasty and unique as always from this producer, but lacking that dollop of verve and focus overall. Bubbles were light,…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

Tons of suds and a strong bitter alkaline flavor. No fruit at all. Sharp and biting. Bottom of cork covered with black specks.

Doyard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Continues to impress. Knocking out a Henri Giraud Fut de Chene in the first round, the Doyard maintained a heightened freshness and brightness that the Giraud lacked. Lemon and chalk highlight the…

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV16 Aÿ

Third and final bottle of this. A bit of a rollercoaster among the three, with this particular bottle exhibiting a more well honed focus by which to house the yellow, semi-brassy core fruit. There is…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

One of my new favorite QPR BdBs. My previous note from earlier in the year still applies, but this bottle had extra layers of lime and green pear that really added complexity. I dunno.get crazy and…

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV16 Aÿ

Even more ripe and Martinelli's "apple cidery" than the previous bottle I had a little while back, this is a miss overall for me unfortunately. It's in the good/not great category. As others have…

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals

Even better than last year. With a bit of air, this becomes a phenomenal BdB, marrying controlled depth and ripeness with judicious acidity and chalky cut. Finishes both savory and uplifting. Drink…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Bermonts

More approachable than the 2017, but with a tick less verve, this 2018 is pretty much good from go. This isn't to say that it's not without requisite tension and energy; in fact, it's extremely…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

There's an upfront limestone/white travertine thing going on here that keeps the yellow and white citrus and stone fruit in righteous formation, almost to the point of being a bit linear. Much…

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

Reminding me of a Marguet Le Parc I had recently, this LB is an exquisitely built BdB, with a beautiful yellow and green pear-driven profile, carrying additional white travertine-meets-yellow citrus…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Bermonts

A super solid showing, and though perhaps a slight step behind in complexity to a recently sampled Le Parc (2018), this 2017 Bermonts is a worthy sibling indeed. Linear and a bit strict on first…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

A brilliant performance, with a beautifully defined power/spice profile that makes for immediate pleasure; give it some air and you're in for even more of a treat. Yellow pear, yellow apple skin,…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

Spicy and powerful on entry, this instantly reminds me of the 2012 and 2013 Churchills I've recently sampled. The edges start out a little angular, but quickly come in to better focus, with punchy…

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV16 Aÿ

Toasty, yeasty, and briochey, with ripe lemon and yellow pear notes that are swarmed by an almost beer-like frothing effervescence which dissipates rather quickly and leaves the tail much softer than…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron

Disgorged February 2015. Orange zest, olive oil, clementine poached pear, grilled lemon, bruised red apple flesh, fruit cup, dried apricot, and pretty much everything awesome. If you know Selosse,…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Ambonnay

At L'aupiho restaurant, Les Baux-de-Provence.

Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Avizoise Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

A very friendly and surprisingly open bottle of bubbles, with superb balance and texture, this is an Agrapart that impresses for its Norwich Terrier "happier-to-know-ya kind of attitude." Nothing out…

Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé

At La Table de Pavie, St. Emilion. A fantastic showing, and one that the well-honed restaurant staff managed to cadence perfectly over the course of nearly four hours. This paired perfectly with…

Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons

So far, the least compelling vintage of this Cuvee. Primary and young of course, with mostly chalky structure and high riding unripe white and yellow citrus and stone fruit flavors. A little green as…