Reviews

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Villers-Allerand Montchenot

2016 base with 20% reserve. 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier. Disgorged 09/2020. 4g/L dosage.

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Villers-Allerand Les Loges

Disgorged 11/2020. 2018 base. 100% Pinot Noir. 0g/L dosage.

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Mont Martin

From premier cru vines planted in 1972, the Nicolas Maillart 2016 Mont Martin is an extraordinary 100% Pinot Meunier Extra Brut that immediately impresses for its classy and harmonious flavor-display…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

More vanilla and dough-driven, which pushed the yellow citrus and white stone fruit to the rear. The 7g/L dosage came off a touch more than I'd personally prefer, especially rounding off the finish.…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Chaillots Gillis

Disgorged 02/2020. 100% Chardonnay. 0g/L dosage. From two old vine parcels planted in 1963.

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Franc de Pied Les Coupés

Disgorged 04/2018. 100% Pinot Noir. 0g/L dosage. From 1er Cru vines planted in 1973.

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Platine

A medium-full and fairly fruity front end gives way to a round and inviting mid-palate; tails-off in a somewhat nutty-meets-earthy profile that encompasses the core fruit flavors. Yellow plum, red…

Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club

Better depth than a couple of years ago, but still a little aggressive on the effervescence. Needed some time in a BDX glass to open up a bit and fan off the bubbles. The fruit is solid and shows…

Larmandier-Bernier Longitude

Similar to last year's notes. Agreeable and all, if but a bit simple and predictable in its execution. I much prefer the VV du Levant for its slightly broader shoulders and more energetic complexity.

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut

Disgorged 10-2017. 70% Chard, 30% PN. Balanced and agreeable, with yellow citrus, white melon, yellow pear, ripe yellow apple, and some white stone notes. Medium all the way around, with a…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Terre de Vertus

Starts out a little sharp and overly astute, but manages to toss off the academia cap and follow-up with some inviting notes of brassy lemon peel, melon rind, quince, olive oil, and limestone. The no…

Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut (2015) Le Mont Benoit

2015 base, with PM, PN, and Chard components in fairly even thirds. Brassy and at times a bit unpolished, but still maintained brightness and energy. Grilled lemon, red apple, roasted walnuts,…

Laherte Frères Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Les Longues Voyes

Ripe apple and preserved lemon rind lead the front end of this round and medium-bodied Laherte. Slightly rich and heavy on the mid-palate, with red cherry water, yellow apple, and some plantain notes…

Larmandier-Bernier Longitude

An easy drinker with some nice yellow citrus foam and sea salt. Displayed slight metallic notes on the finish. Otherwise an enjoyable wine. I preferred the 2011 Terre de Vertus served beside it.

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Terre de Vertus

A fairly serious Champagne, with a hyper-focused delivery of white stone fruit, chalk, white melon, lemon seed and white lemon rind, travertine, and some bark notes. The no dosage shows at the…

Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Le Mont Benoit

Same notes as 1/17/19. Best served in large BDX stemware. A wine with some heft, but also bright lift. Finishes seriously focused. Chiseled without ever being sharp. Amazingly complex. 94-95+ points.…

Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Le Mont Benoit

20% 2011. 80% 2012. 11 months sur lies. Bottled unfined and unsulfured.

Jean Aubry & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut

Dry and a little pithy, with a somewhat tart finish. Some nice yellow and white fruit flavors, but operating on a more superficial plane. An ok sparkler with an average delivery overall. Much…

Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club

Same notes as a few months ago. Last minute pull. Still needs a couple of years ideally in-bottle, but performed fairly well after a few hours of air.

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut

70/30 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. Disgorged September 2016.

Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club

Quince jelly, lemon seed, unripe pear, wet cement, and some sea foam. Youthfully vibrant, if not a little tight and linear on initial entry. About 15+ minutes in the glass deepened the mid-palate a…

Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

A extremely pleasant and inviting Champagne, with yeasty but pure flavors of almond paste, fresh pizza dough, white peach, white stone fruit, green apple, quince, and some chalk and salt rock. A good…

Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Rosé

Crisp and vibrant, but also decidedly smooth. With a nice yeast/dough component framing the otherwise energetic blood orange, strawberry, and pink grapefruit core fruit flavors. Very fresh and lively…