Reviews

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Extra Brut Les Couarres

Like a baby Hors Serie, the Couarres is a nice balance of freshness and vibrancy with subtle oxidative notes that sneak up on the back end. This carries white and yellow fruit, with a youthful push…

J-M Seleque Champagne Le Quintette

For $70, this performed exceptionally well, besting a number of higher-tiered Champs. Solid equilibrium of acidity, flavor intensity, and energy. Lemon, pear, and melon flavors present with medium…

Girard-Bonnet Champagne Premier Cru Recueil Extrait No 1

Zippy and aperitify in profile, but with some nicely placed lemon and yellow pear notes to balance out the White Avenger Speedy McSpeedster mineral and crunchy melon rind elements. Skipping over the…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Le Mont des Chrétiens

A bitter bumpkin, with exceptional focus and a chiseled drive, but equally piercing and abrupt in delivery, especially on the finish. After trying to massage my way through half a glass, I was over…

Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

Vanillin coconut and pineapple notes kick off a rich and full attack that instantly becomes pillowy and creamy. The dosage (9g/L) is noticeable, frosting over the yellow citrus, white/yellow melon,…

Adrien Dhondt Champagne Grand Cru Les Coullemets Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Just as impressive as last year, if even a bit more resolved and affable. Yellow and green pear, along with honeydew, limestone, lemon, and yellow apple notes dominate. Finishes full and enveloping.…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée L'Aphrodisiaque

At first, the 2019 L'Aphrodisiaque presents as especially angular and pushy, with full-throttle power bombarding the palate, finishing brassy and abrasive. The extra pump of alcohol (13.5%) is…

Julien Prélat Champagne Presle

A bit shrill and frothy at first pass. White fruit, chalk, lemon pith, and fresh lemon juice. Hints of grapefruit masked mostly by an otherwise hyper-primary and linear attack. Finishes fairly…

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

Cut and paste my previous notes. "Grilled lemon, hazelnut, and yuzu are hugging it out with more mineral and spice components." A perfect combo of oxidative notes and measured vibrancy. Went…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

I still think this is a solid Champagne. I'm liking Bereche's BdBs more than their BdNs these days (though Cran is usually very compelling). In fact, I have often favored their 1er Cru over their GC…

Déhu Père & Fils Champagne Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Extra Brut Rosé de Saignée

There's a fruity element here that battles the stricter and meaner forward facing Meunier core, making for a less-than-seamless entry. Dry and chalky; a one-note raspberry dollop of fruit then…

J-M Seleque Champagne Premier Cru Soliste Chardonnay Pierry Les Tartières et Les Porgeons

Chardonnay with bubbles. It works with caviar and chips. Not sure it works by itself enough to hold attention for more than a minute or so. Lemon and effervescence. If your conversation in good…

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne VV/R22

Rich and ripe, with even a bit of sweetness on the back end. Flavors of mirabelle plum, kirsch, white cherry, fig, red apple flesh, smoke, and ginger present as full and enveloping. A gastronomic…

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

This bottle was a lemon hound tonight. Riper and more succulent than expected. Lemon curd and. lemon. Lacked some of the electricity of previous bottles. Stemware was pretty weak, so that may have…

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

Honeydew, yellow pear, quince, citron zest, lemon and lime pith, white melon rind, lemon curd, creme fraiche, and white stone flavors. More inviting with increasing depth as time goes on. Extremely…

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

At Tiya, SF

Pertois-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru Les Chétillons N°15

Oxidative and a bit superficial, lacking a sense of depth and layering. Golden raisin, grilled lemon, limestone, and poached pear. Finishes a bit brassy. A far cry from the more compelling Bateau and…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

This bottle was strict and bitter upon opening. With air, it opened up and offered some funky pear and gravel notes. Finished a little wooly.

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

Blind.

Leclerc Briant Champagne Abyss

Blind.

Jérôme Prévost Champagne La Closerie Extra Brut Les Beguines

Blind.

Leclerc Briant Champagne Premier Cru Brut Zéro Les Monts Ferrés

Blind.

Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru "Les Robarts" Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Millésime

Well, this bottle was all sorts of awesome. Yellow pear, olive oil, limestone, yuzu, grilled lemon and orange, almond skin, and ripe yellow apple. In a solid drinking window with just a little bit of…

Adrien Dhondt Champagne Grand Cru Blaise Oger

Another success from Adrien Dhondt's namesake label, the Blaise Oger sports a beautiful core of yellow, green, and white fruit and mineral elements that make for an excitingly fresh and full profile.…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Mailly

Somewhat surprisingly, this is my least favorite vintage of Mailly. I thought the 2013 and 2016 were especially good, with the 2017 trailing a distant third. The 2017 actually tops this 2018, at…