Reviews

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Campania Remensis Extra Brut Rosé

Followed over the course of four days. This was actually at its most interesting on the fourth day. Deeper orange and grapefruit notes emerge, while still retaining some of its signature crunchy…

Dom Pérignon Champagne Rosé

From Magnum.

Krug Champagne Brut Rose Edition 24eme

Blood orange, ripe grapefruit, grilled lemon, yuzu, muddled strawberry, hazelnut, and olive oil flavors make for an enveloping profile that is rich and satiating. This is truly a pink Krug, with the…

Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru C + C Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

This was originally advertised as a 2019 base, but ended up being a 2014 base when it arrived. Weak.

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,…

00 Wines Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard

Grilled lemon and hazelnut touch off a medium attack that is slightly brassy, but is lifted by focused beams of acidity. Finishes with notes of lemon verbena, herbs, white melon rind, and dried…

00 Wines Chardonnay Freya Hermann Cuvee

Grilled lemon, hazelnut, dried apricot, poached pear, and toffee notes make for a profile that is more contemplative and gastronomic than immediately punchy or bright. Freshness and acidity are…

Christopher Tynan Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines Meleagris Gallopavo

Dark, chewy, and brooding, this carries a thicker and richer texture than other MGs. Deep and ripe black cherry, cassis, black currant, wet bark, purple plum skin, and soil. Finishes slightly warm,…

Bellavista Franciacorta Riserva Vittorio Moretti

The peach note is especially strong with this bottle. Wonderfully balanced otherwise, with a voluminous mouthfeel and weighty mid-palate, but it moves along beautifully and doesn't get gummed-up by…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Kinsman Eades Syrah Aberro White Hawk Vineyard

This bottle was a shy guy and completely muted on the nose throughout consumption. Boysenberry, blackberry, and some meaty olive notes lurk within an otherwise texturally superior Syrah.

Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Red cherry and blackberry pie, red and black licorice, black current, vanilla, and red cherry syrup. Comes on strong and finishes hot. Missing the black earth and LPV rock elements, presumably masked…

Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard

Lemon curd, creme fraiche, lemonade, lemon juice, vanilla, marzipan, and yellow pear. A ripe offering, but one that is controlled and texturally inviting (as Lauren often is). There is sophistication…