Reviews

Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

At Les Avises (Selosse), Avize.

Guillaume Selosse Champagne Largillier Extra Brut

At Les Avises (Selosse), Avize.

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV18 Aÿ

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Argonne Brut

At Domaine Henri Giraud in Aÿ.

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Zero Dosage

Flawed again. Won't buy Blin anymore.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

3 bottles in a row flawed. Unacceptable.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

Seems like I got the donkey's end of a bad batch of Marguets recently ordered. This bottle of Le Parc marks yet another busted monkey. Nothing on the nose, but the palate is aggressive bitterness,…

Champagne Christophe Baron Champagne Les Alouettes

Day 1: Pours a golden brass color. Decanted for a total of three hours. A little sharp and alkaline on the finish for the first hour or so, with a coppery delivery that lacks envelopment and polish.…

Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron

Blasts of oxidative elements roar through the front end, initially making for a brassy and almost banana-y entry. Swirl, swirl, swirl. Ah! Now comes the signature orange zest, grilled lemon, toasted…

Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Oxidative apricot, tangerine, and funky mushroom. Lacking a bit of freshness. Tasty and unique as always from this producer, but lacking that dollop of verve and focus overall. Bubbles were light,…

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

Give this air. It is a billion times more elevated when it can stretch its legs a bit. Perhaps even a decant if you can keep it cold. The 2012 is still the one to beat, but this 2014 isn't anything…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères

Tons of suds and a strong bitter alkaline flavor. No fruit at all. Sharp and biting. Bottom of cork covered with black specks.

Marguet Sapience

Better than the previous bottle I had 6 months ago, this performance was a bit more focused and direct, which helped keep the nutty and oxidative notes from overwhelming the requisite tension and…

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Le Cran

Along with a nicely lingering oxidized layer, there is a bit of funk and savage that circle the profile wagon here, with bruised lemon, limestone, quince, mirabelle plum, and hints of cherry water…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

Dough and yeast give off an initial sluggishness to the front end, with the focus a bit of a misfire upon first pour. With time in the glass and slowly draining the bottle over a few hours, it calmed…

Doyard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Continues to impress. Knocking out a Henri Giraud Fut de Chene in the first round, the Doyard maintained a heightened freshness and brightness that the Giraud lacked. Lemon and chalk highlight the…

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV16 Aÿ

Third and final bottle of this. A bit of a rollercoaster among the three, with this particular bottle exhibiting a more well honed focus by which to house the yellow, semi-brassy core fruit. There is…

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Le Parc

One of my new favorite QPR BdBs. My previous note from earlier in the year still applies, but this bottle had extra layers of lime and green pear that really added complexity. I dunno.get crazy and…

Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

I just love this Champagne. It is super solid every time I have the opportunity to hang out with it. It may not have a 30-year-old Taittinger tiger lifespan necessarily (as is the case with a number…

Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée

This was good. It wasn't amazing. I wanted an extra layer or two here. White fruit on the initial pop, with brioche and more yellow tinged fruit coming to the fold with air. It stayed a steady Edward…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

I finally figured it out. Any time I can't decide between a Hefeweizen or a Champagne, I reach for Ultramarine. The brats and kraut sparkling wine. The chotomy to my dichotomy.

Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

This bottle was all sorts of good. It had the energy and freshness I expect, with the elevated budding complexity and focus I expect from Cristal. This bested a 2015 by a decent margin (which most…

Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

This was a much better showing with this bottle than the one I had a few months ago. This was a bit more relaxed, slightly oxidative, but with notable concentration. Blind, I initially thought this…

Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV16 Aÿ

Even more ripe and Martinelli's "apple cidery" than the previous bottle I had a little while back, this is a miss overall for me unfortunately. It's in the good/not great category. As others have…

Claude Cazals Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Clos Cazals

Even better than last year. With a bit of air, this becomes a phenomenal BdB, marrying controlled depth and ripeness with judicious acidity and chalky cut. Finishes both savory and uplifting. Drink…