Reviews

Leclerc Briant Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Meuniers Brut Zéro

A somewhat strict and mineral-driven showing at the onset, especially when compared to the more-gushing bottle I had back in July at Maison Leclerc Briant, which had indeed been open for a bit of…

Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru VP

This was supposed to be 2013 base (ordered as such) but it looks like this is 2014 base given the disgorgement is 07/2022.

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Campania Remensis Extra Brut Rosé

Initially, this appears like it's going to be a little too light on its feet, as its seemingly delicate translucence forecasts a wine that will be lacking stuffing. Not so, it turns out, as this…

Pertois-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru Derrière le Mont Aigu N°13

Brought to Madcap restaurant in San Anselmo.

Domaine Nowack Champagne La Tuilerie Extra Brut

Though it initially presents as a little brassy, the Tuilerie starts out with a nice push of red apple flesh, grilled lemon, pineapple rind, wet granite, and bruised yellow pear notes on the front…

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

This initially sachets in with a veil of funk that dances over the fruit expression for the first 10-15 minutes, but then it comes into form rather quickly, offering succulent lemon and mandarin…

Le Brun-Servenay Champagne Exhilarante Vieilles Vignes

Lemon and dough intermingle with an affable but fairly predictable execution of flavor, one that is a bit cheapened by the round and yeasty finish carrying a percolation of confection on the tail.…

Vouette et Sorbée Champagne Blanc d'Argile Brut Nature

So, I started off calling this an off bottle. Stern and clipped. Offered very little/no fruit. No mid-palate expansion or density. Finish was sharp and angular, with a sterile, almost anesthetic…

Doyard Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Clos de l'Abbaye

Linear, sterile, barely giving way to any fruit expansion, and slightly vegetal. Air did very little to offer relief from the strait-laced profile. Clipped finish. Drinkable, but not enjoyable. This…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

Once this gets air and has a chance to stretch it legs for a bit (30-45 minutes), it shows beautiful yellow and green pear, lime pith, lemon bars (not sweet), wet travertine, honeydew rind, and hints…

Leclerc Briant Champagne Grand Cru Chateau D'Avize Blanc De Blancs Extra Brut

This tasting note below was also posted on the Brut Zero wine in Cellar Tracker, though this was a 5g/L dosage and disgorged in 2019 (as opposed to the Brut Zero's 2g/L and disgorged in 2022). I just…

Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé

This really is a nice Champagne. The QPR makes it extremely appealing. Similar to my experience six months ago at the domaine. Lemon and chalk dominate, with a nice medium density that lingers on the…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Blanc de Blancs Heurtebise

Astringent, bitter (especially on the finish), bent out of shape, angular, lacking any fruit, and generally angry as all getup for the first hour of consumption. I would have called this flawed if I…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Hors Serie

Well this is a pleasant little sipper. Unique with its array of flavors, leading with spicy pear, red apple flesh, orange rind, lime, river rocks (more limestone than chalk), citrus pith, melon rind,…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Chemin de Reims

I'm liking this a bit more than the 2018, which was rounder and more medium-bodied by comparison. This 2019 carries notable energy and lift, as well as an extra gear that is missing in the 2018. The…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize

Solid stuff. In a great window right now. Golden apple (without being too apple or cider-dominant, which can be hugely distracting), grilled lemon, quince, limestone, yellow poached pear, almond, and…

Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill

Consistent with previous notes/experiences. Stays pretty bristly and chiseled throughout consumption. Spritely now. Will deepen and become more complex over time. Hold for a number of years and be…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Chemin de Reims

Whoa.! A strong nose of Bananas Foster and vanilla signals an oak influence that is initially more than a bit worrisome. Is this going to be a sweet bourbon-tini of a Champagne?! Wildly (and…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Blanc de Blancs Heurtebise

Excellent precision and drive marks the front end of the attack here, with bright and fresh lemon juice, chalk, sea spray, limestone, yellow and green pear skin, and hints of lime zest making for a…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Le Mont des Chrétiens

Medium bodied all the way around, with an oxidative vein that runs through the otherwise spritely lemon and yellow stone fruit flavors. It's a little straightforward at first and fires off at about…

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

Now this is what I'm talking about. A beautiful BdB that delivers on all fronts. This maintains impeccable balance all the while delivering perfectly cadenced expansion with an array of energetic…

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

Hey now, this is some pretty rock star stuff right here. For the most part, I've admittedly been dismissing the 2017 vintage as a whole in Champagne, but in the right hands, this and a few other…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

A 100% Chardonnay version of the historically Pinot Noir Crayeres from Marguet is a solid Blanc de Blanc that pushes lime juice and zest, lemon, wet limestone, and white flowers forward in a…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée L'Aphrodisiaque

On first pop, this is a powerful and almost brutish showing, with an angularity and pushy posture that makes that extra 1% of alcohol (listed at 13.5%) seem like a shot of Wild Turkey. Fear not…

Philippe Lancelot Champagne Grand Cru Cramant

Lemon, quince, and chalk drive the attack, with a medium-bodied delivery of balanced fruit-to-white rock. The finish lacks a little persistence, but it rounds-out nicely nonetheless. Pure, clean, and…