Reviews

Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Le Mont Benoit

Red apple, apricot, honey, and pear notes are complimented by limestone and ginger flavors. The balance is notable, as is the bead of sophistication overlayed by a welcomed kiss of bark and funk from…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Le Cran

There is a compounding richness here that balances volume with lift and freshness, maintaining a steady equilibrium that provides perfect weight with drive. The hallmark chestnut and peach notes are…

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Nogers

In a beautiful spot right now, with both expressive and focused fruit expansion, this vintage of Nogers unfolds with lovely cadence and stride. The honey and mildly oxidative notes are supported by…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Le Cran

Baked apples and spices lead the charge, with honey, limestone, grilled lemon, ginger, quince, and Rainier cherry filling in the profile. In a lovely spot now, with solid freshness and focus. Never…

Laherte Frères Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Les Longues Voyes

A broad (almost chewy) expression of honey, peach pit, cherry, bruised pear, grilled lemon, and orange. A bit loose on the finish, lacking some tension and intensity on the tail. Fairly one-note…

Doyard Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Clos de l'Abbaye

Much improved from last year's stricter and more linear performance, this bottle was undulating all sorts of honeydew melon, mint, lemon, travertine, and white/yellow pear flavors. Still a tad…

Leclerc Briant Champagne Premier Cru Le Clos des Trois Clochers Brut Zero

As before, flavors of lemon and lime pith, yuzu kosho, and lemon verbena dominate, with some honey, grilled lemon, blanched almond, chalk, and limestone notes that add depth and interest. Finishes…

Marguet Sapience

A much improved showing from the last time, this bottle of Sapience shows some Krug-type biscotti, honey, poached pear, and grilled lemon flavors, and also kicks off limestone, bitter apple, and…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Ecueil, Trepail Blanc de Blancs

Notable precision and focus, with yellow and white fruit elements wrapped in a thin layer of chalky minerality, the Trepail is a decent offering with captivating verve and snap. Not the most complex…

Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Le Mont Benoit

A beautiful showing, with balanced weight and volume pushing out flavors of yellow apple, grilled lemon, apricot, roasted walnuts, granite, golden raisin, cherry water, ginger, white pepper, and…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

In a great spot right now, straddling freshness with some mature and oxidized notes. Some nice ginger spice in the foreground, pushing grilled lemon, quince, cardamom, and yellow pear flesh flavors…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée L'Aphrodisiaque

Honey, ginger, brioche crust, caramel, torched orange rind, poached pear, olive oil, chamomile, and grilled lemon notes make for a seriously no-joking kind of experience. The delivery is completely…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

There is admirable energy and zing here, complimented by richer pear and lemon flavors. The delivery is slightly angular on the finish at first pop, softening with time in the glass. Still working on…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

Strong red apple, grilled lemon, and olive oil flavors dominate, with limestone, cardamom, ginger, and yellow pear skin notes adding complexity and interest. Medium intensity and girth here, but a…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Apôtre Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Found a few more of these randomly at an auction (1st of 3). I was a little concerned because the fill level on this bottle was slightly lower than the other two in the batch. Crisis averted, as the…

Leclerc Briant Champagne Premier Cru Le Clos des Trois Clochers Brut Zero

Pineapple rind, grilled lemon, yellow pear skin, and wood. Shows more advanced than I would expect given the experiences I've had with more recent vintages of this wine (which have been excellent).…

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Nogers

An excellent showing, this 2019 Nogers outshines the 2018 by a decent margin and is a more chiseled and vibrant version of the otherwise beautiful 2017. Focus and sophisticated drive are hallmarks of…

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Nogers

Continues to impress. The mineral and spice components provide gorgeous cut and intensity on the first pop. Green and yellow pear, apple, grilled lemon, and hazelnut notes are lifted and honed by way…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Astre Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé

100% Pinot Noir 1er cru from Trépail, the L'Astre shows stylistic similarities to it brawnier brother L'Aphrodisiaque, though L'Astre's barrel spice is a little less overtly pronounced and leading,…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Astre Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé

100% Pinot Noir 1er cru from Trépail, the L'Astre shows stylistic similarities to it brawnier brother L'Aphrodisiaque, though L'Astre's barrel spice is a little less overtly pronounced and leading,…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Le Mont des Chrétiens

Waaaay better than the ping-pongy bottle I had back in April, this shows quite a bit more refinement and balance. With air, it becomes fuller and more enveloping, with a beautiful kiss of subtle…

Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Expression Brut

From Magnum. 2017 base. Doughy and chewy on entry, with a dosage-driven attack that is rich and lactic. Some wet chalk and white/yellow stone fruit claw their ways through the bread, but this is…

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…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Bulle de Rosé Extra Brut

A wild and funky nose at first pass (initially concerning, but blows off with some swirling in the glass - not flawed). The palate carries some hints of sauvage, but is otherwise clean and correct.…