Reviews

Salima et Alain Cordeuil Champagne Altitude 350m Bio

Less compelling than the previous bottle I had recently, with every flavor dialed down and quieter, making for a more pedestrian delivery. Yellow fruit. Less tension than before. 90-92 on this…

Huré Frères Champagne L'Inattendue Blanc de Blancs

A similar showing here as with the 2018, this 2020 version exhibits the same chalky freshness and white fruit spritz, but too with some of the yellow fruit elements poking out to make an appearance.…

Huré Frères Champagne L'Insouciance

This performed exceptionally well, with wonderful lift and precision, while also maintaining notable volume and depth. Strawberry, watermelon, cranberry, and travertine notes. Dialed-in on the…

Charles Dufour & Françoise Martinot Champagne Bistrøtage B.20 Extra Brut

Bristly and herbal at first pass, with rhubarb, grilled lemon, spicy ginger, crunchy red apple, red pear skin, sea salt and spray, and Mirabelle plum. Gains extra points for the exiting and tingly…

Salima et Alain Cordeuil Champagne Altitude 350m Bio

Lemon and pear notes are pleasantly intertwined, making for a balanced unfolding of flavor and volume. Once the chalky bubbles calm in the glass, the fruit really shines through with wonderful…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

This is the last of these bottles from the cellar. Again, the red apple flesh and juice notes dominate the profile. It's quite tasty, and still maintains all the requisite freshness and focus to make…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut

An alluring honey note touches off a seductive and contemplative delivery of poached pear, grilled lemon, limestone, yuzu, cardamom, and subtle ginger flavors. Some red apple shows up to the swanky…

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

Nose seemed fine. Flat on the palate with little-to-no fruit. The slightest alkaline aftertaste. Not indicative of previous bottles.

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

Once again, a stellar performance. I very much appreciate the freshness here that counterbalances the seriousness of the 100% Pinot Noir profile. Barrel spice is in check (which has sometimes been a…

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

Once again, a stellar performance. I very much appreciate the freshness here that counterbalances the seriousness of the 100% Pinot Noir profile. Barrel spice is in check (which has sometimes been a…

Éliane Delalot Champagne Meuniers d'Exception Impressions

Very orange and olive oil driven at first pass, with chamomile, cardamom, grilled lemon, red poached pear skin, ginger spice, and bark. A rustic, brassy, and woody finish that is somewhat abrasive…

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

Even better than last year, this vintage of Nogers is the most compelling version of the cuvée I've had to date. Similar to before, notes of pear, chamomile, yuzu, limestone, brioche crust, and…

Ruppert-Leroy Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Martin-Fontaine

Simple apple juice (red apple flesh) note on the front end, with golden raisin and yellow pear adding a modicum degree of interest. The finish is both round and a bit bitter. Minimum complexity.…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Bulle de Rosé Extra Brut

Similar to my tasting note last year, this bottle was slightly funky in the nose but the palate was clean and vibrant, with strawberry, chalk, orange rind and spray, and white melon rind. A bit less…

Pertois-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru le Mont de Craie N°17

This is quite a nice specimen, with hallmark Pertois-Lebrun notes of grilled lemon, olive oil, limestone, and red and yellow apple flesh. Slightly oxidative elements add depth and complexity, with…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 172ème​

Lemon and yeast make for a spritely delivery, with quince, crisp yellow and white pear, yellow apple skin, limestone, and white travertine notes making up the core profile. This is already a very…

Gaspard Brochet Champagne 333.f Rose

Raspberry, rhubarb, cherry, white rock, and hints of wood. Solid energy and freshness. Slightly weighty and candied on the finish. Excellent volume while maintaining precision and layered flavoring…

Gaspard Brochet Champagne 333.f Extra-Brut

With the pop of the cork, the delivery here is somewhat restricted and thin, with limited expansion and a sterile and linear presentation of flavor. Hyper clean and chiseled, but initially shy on…

Huré Frères Champagne Mémoire Extra Brut

2020 base. Similar to the 2019 base, this 2020 exhibits bruised apple, wood, pluot, chamomile, apricot, fig, and lemon pith flavors in medium fashion. Perhaps a little more shy than the 2019, here I…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut

This bottle was a later disgorgement than the previous 2013 Levant I had last year (September versus May, 2022), and consequently the best showing of this vintage so far. An extra layer of depth and…

Huré Frères Chardonnay Champagne 4 éléments

A bit broader and less revved up than the spunkier 2015 4 Elements Chardonnay, this 2018 version carries a full but delineated profile with ripe lemon, yuzu, and clementine flavors beautifully…

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize

This was my third time trying the 2016 Chemins d'Avize. My first bottle was at the Chateau - great! My second was at home - great! This third bottle was at a restaurant (I brought the bottle). This…

Huré Frères Champagne L'Inattendue Blanc de Blancs

A very charming wine, with notable chalky pep and freshness counterbalanced with hints of toasty elements that ultimately make for an easy sipper. Lemon and yellow pear notes are elevated by white…

Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill

Honey and brioche notes dominate here, with yellow pear skin, wet granite, and olive oil flavors rounding out the profile. Finishes smooth and suave. Missing some of that limestone and prickly pear…

Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

Poached pear, grilled lemon, and butterscotch. This bottle seemed more advanced than what it should be, with some oxidized notes I don't normally associate with a young Cristal, even in an otherwise…