Reviews

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.

Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rosé

Previous notes apply. A really nice cut of acidity and effervescence holds the frothy black cherry and cream-laced light purple fruit nicely together. Floral notes (rose pedals) lift the wine as…

Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois

Same as my tasting notes from a couple of months ago. Paired fantastically with an array of raw and broiled oysters from Saltwater Oyster Depot!

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Bubbles faded fast in coupe stemware. A blasted-out white winey effect occurred almost immediately. More air equated to a quick decline in tension and effervescence. Not a fan this time around. Some…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut

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

Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon

This was the sparkler of the evening, with superb balance and delivery of flavors across the palate from entry to the finish. Mature oxidative notes of salty butterscotch, bruised lemon peel,…

Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Special Club

A really enjoyable Special Club. Clean yellow citrus with the perfect amount of yeast and saline to provide a beautifully enticing body and cut. Nice oyster shell and salted lemon curd additions made…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 165eme

Previous notes from two months ago apply, except that I bumped this up another point primarily because of the nice oxidative butterscotch and plantain notes that developed over time in the glass with…

Famille Moussé Champagne Special Club Les Fortes Terres

Crisp and refreshing, but with that signature Pinot Meunier funkiness that pushed out earthy, saline notes of peach and red apple skin, strawberry seed, watermelon, white stone fruit, and rocky soil.…

JCB Gala Brut

2008 base. Yellow citrus, bruised lemon peel, marmalade, dried banana chips, hay, and some wet white stone. A nice hit of earthiness on the back end made for an interesting finish, elevating this…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

All previous notes apply. Improved with air over the course of two+ hours.

Salmon Champagne Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut

PnP with a beautiful pink rose colored hue. Once the bubbles tapered off, the nose showed hints of watermelon, strawberry, and lemon peel. On the palate, a lovely delivery of pink grapefruit,…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Same as all previous notes. An ok starter to the evening meal. Served in a flute (usually I prefer a BDX stem). A bit chalky and linear on the attack. A decent amount of bubbles drawing away from the…

Gosset Champagne Célebris

Previous notes apply. Good lift and tension, with just enough subtle oxidation to provide interest and depth. Classy and elegant. Still has years of life ahead of it. Paired great with potato rosti…

Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Les Maillons

2013 base. Disgorged 2/15/2017.

Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois

Notes of yellow and red apple skin, marzipan, quince paste, freshly grated ginger, wet limestone, crab shell, and hints of Dalmatia fig orange spread (but without the sweetness). A bit of a funky but…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 165eme

2009 base. Seemingly more mineral driven and acidic, with an initial pucker factor that needed some time in the glass to sort out before it started to display what I would consider any semblance of…

Salmon Champagne Special Club

Similar to my notes on this wine a few months ago. A little more push and energy down the center of the palate than I recall from last time. Also, a little less ripe than I recall from the last…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Same as my previous notes. This displays a nice steely-driven push of white stone fruit and some upper register light yellow citrus notes. Effervescence was strong but not distracting. Compared to…

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…

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut

My previous note from March 23, 2018 applies. Unfortunately, I find very little interest to be had here with this Champagne. It doesn't do much to offend necessarily, but it sure ain't trying to win…

Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rosé

Nice body and depth, with an effervescence that needed a little time in the glass to settle down before this really started singing. Black cherry, unripe plum, rose petals, crema, purple Skittles,…

René-Henri Coutier Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé

Slightly better than my last attempt with this Champagne, but not enough to compel me to ever come back to it once I finish with my small stash. This is super dry without having any noteworthy fruit…

Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Pierrières

2013 base. The nose on this Champagne was utterly captivating. Freshly washed green apple skin and chalky sea foam. PnP was hyper-punchy and steely, with aggressive white stone fruit and heavy chalk…

Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut

Beautifully mature and resolved, with nicely oxidative notes of dark yellow citrus, bruised Meyer lemon rind, grilled pineapple, lightly toasted brioche, and light colored toffee. Tiny bubbles that…