Reviews

Jerome Blin Champagne Extra Brut Le Champs de L'Epinette

It's a little confusing, since the front of the label states this is Pinot Noir Extra Brut, but the back of the label states "cepage: meunier et chardonnay." The internet "confirms" Pinot Noir, but…

Vouette et Sorbée Champagne Blanc d'Argile Brut Nature

2020 vintage base. "09-10-23" disgorgement (which is probably October 9, 2023).

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée L'Aphrodisiaque

Well, well, well. This performed exceptionally well, with its flawless combination of power, acidity, profundity, depth, energy, and layered flavor profile. This bottle really did everything right…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards

Lime and lychee powers activate! A beautiful combination of zing and flavor expansion. There is a nice fullness to the profile here that adds concentration and depth to an otherwise energetic BdB. I…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Mailly

This is essentially a Pinot version of Bereche's Cramant Grand Cru, with a near identical composure and delivery of flavor. A bit more golden apple, honey, and poached pear here, with a seamless…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 169eme

A wine like this makes me wonder why I bother trying to hunt for all these other different Champagne. Variety is the spice of life and all that, but this right here is such a solid operator every…

von Winning Deidesheim Riesling Sekt Extra Brut

Some might say all bubbles are the same, and it shan't not matter where the wine doth came; but Riesling spritz, with its lemon and its lime is better when still and picked at its prime. Cuz if this…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

After having this a few times now, I ultimately think this is just too round and doughy for me. The balance and delivery are sound, as is the body, but the core fruit is masked by what seems to be…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Keefer Ranch Sonoma Coast

Hey wouldn't cha know it, this lil monkey wasn't flawed at all. Lemon, wet stone, white melon rind, and lime pith all make for both an energetic and fuller bodied experience. It's slightly blocky in…

Bellavista Franciacorta Riserva Vittorio Moretti

I decided to give this the at-home test to make sure I wasn't just being starry eyed given the Michelin star setting at Petra Segreta where I last had this wine. This is a crazy complex wine with a…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Michael Mara Sonoma Coast

So, it is not wet asparagus, but there is indeed overt tarragon and wet green grass notes that swat you right in the mouth on the initial sips. It's just too much; so much so that I had to leave this…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 169eme

Hard to find fault here. Continues to improve each year. The 2013 vintage base has made for a stellar Champagne that simply has wonderful intensity, a complex and ever evolving menagerie of flavors,…

Peter Lauer Riesling Sekt Brut

Refreshing and fun, with a nice delineation of flavors that provide a finer-boned frame of chalk and limestone that make for keen focus with the higher riding yellow and green citrus, green apple,…

Marguet Sapience

A contemplative and dimensional wine, trading some of its would-be vibrancy for more serious bass tones. Poetry (Robert Frost.or rather Edgar Allan Poe) in a bottle vs. a Pitbull party in a bottle.…

Von Schubert Maximin Grünhauser Riesling Sekt - Brut

Well, I don't think the French have anything to worry about insofar as the German's stealing their bubble-thunder any time soon.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Beurys

I thought this was a fantastic showing. I initially wondered if my score was slightly inflated, but this bottle was truly a standout and deserves recognition. Green and yellow apple notes intermingle…

Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Le Cotet

Disgorged October 21, 2023, this Cotet is a much more put-together specimen than the Colline Inspiree I had the other day. Very nice intensity and focus kick off notes of lemon pith, nougat, white…

Champagne J.Vignier Champagne Grand Cru QVFMR "Les Jardins d'Elise" Cramant

Pros: Pure, clean, focused, crystalline lemon. Cons: Angular, sterile, superficial, lacks mid-palate.

Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs La Colline Inspirée

I initially couldn't find a disgorgement date or any info on the bottle to save my life, with no clue what vintage(s) base this is. However, thanks to CT'r Ghoulardi, who told me it was the barely…

Westborn Perpetual Reserve 01

2020 base. 50%/42%/8% Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier. 4g/L dosage. "Perpetual reserve" (NV) from a project that started in 2018. Vineyards from "Northern California. Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino,…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

Stupid. The fruit was there this time and there was no wet Pomeranian smell, but the effervescence came and went faster than a Tik-Toker's attention span. To call it a still wine after a few minutes…

Ultramarine Blanc de Noirs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

This is probably the freshest Ultramarine BdN I've had, especially given the bottle variation and duds I've experienced over recent years. White raspberry water, yellow and red pear flesh and skin,…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Chaillots Gillis

Strikingly better on Day 2. More depth and a broader flavor expansion. So, either hold for a few more years or give it plenty of air so it can fan out and deepen.

Savart Champagne Grand Cru Haute Couture Le Mesnil

It's been two years since my last tasting note on this wine and there has been some notable development over that time, specifically a bit more depth and flavor expansion. However, it requires air to…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Bermonts

This bottle was slightly off, which is just icing on a flattened cake of tears and sadness since a huge percentage of Marguets I went fairly deep on turned out to be flawed. I love this producer when…