Reviews

Doyard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Skillfully balanced and easily accessible, the front end creaminess and texture fool you into thinking this is going to be all dough and no go, but the speed kicks in midway through its smooth…

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Extra Brut

A nicely developed expansion of lemony yellow citrus notes are given frame with chalk and white lemon seed elements. The Chardonnay "still wine" fruitiness is balanced well with the bubbles and…

Paul Dethune Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Millésimé

A lemony, lemony, lemony Chardonnay Champagne with medium perlage. There's no question this is a BdB. In fact, this was quite a wine-y Chardonnay-y flavor delivery, like a readymade village Meursault…

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Apogée Extra Brut

Red apple flesh, olive oil, and ginger roll along the palate with the assistance of yellow citrus (grilled lemon) and limestone notes, making for a broad and balanced delivery. A pleasant bead keeps…

Marie-Courtin Champagne Présence

I've been following a few of these Champagne from Marie Courtin particularly over the course of this year; specifically with the Presence, this is now my third bottle (March, June, and now October).…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Franc de Pied Les Coupés

Coming into a prime drinking window now. In fact, I'll likely be drinking these sooner than later. Perfectly balanced and flavor-giving all the way around. Previous notes apply otherwise.

Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine

This bottle wields broader swaths of ginger, red apple, cherry water, almond skin, and bruised lemon notes, flaunting a bit of a big house blend loftiness. There is still the obligatory freshness and…

Jerome Blin Champagne Les Caillasses Brut Millésime

Good, friendly, fun, tasty, and all that. It's a little more bready than I typically prefer, but thankfully it is far from a doughball yeast bomb. Medium all the way around here. Serve to your…

Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Villers-Allerand Les Loges

Similar to my note in February 2021. Pours a translucent light salmon color, with super food-friendly/complimentary flavors that highlight light mousse-injected yellow and orange citrus juice, cherry…

Famille Moussé Champagne Terre d'Illite

My previous note from a technical and primary content standpoint still applies. Additionally, what especially catches my eye (or rather, palate) this go-around is the brilliance by which this wine is…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 169eme

Similar to the most recent bottle of 168 I had where I found there to be more freshness and energy than some of the previous heavier and oxidative iterations (looking at you 165 and 166!), this 169…

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

Though I do get how a more purist palate might find the wood treatment here to make for a more lush and sumptuous mouthfeel, I do find this to be a superbly executed BdB with enough requisite acidity…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Les Barres

Similar to my notes from last year. There is a profile here that reminds me a bit of Krug in that it contains a beautiful richness that is compelling and flavorful without being heavy or overly…

Masot fiabe di vino Col Fondo

As expected from a Col Fondo, this hazy and yeasty frizzante is encapsulated by an exceptionally dry casing, but unfolds with layers of unripe white peach, quince, yellow citrus, yellow pear, sour…

Marie-Courtin Champagne Éloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Binary is an apt descriptor indeed for this wine. Lean and linear, with a simplistic and exacting delivery that polarizes the palate with strict execution. It's truly a wine of two parts. Lemon and…

Jerome Blin Champagne Cuvée Octave Zero Dosage

Less of a tense and nervy showing as was seven months ago, this clean and precise Champagne also offers a nice degree of gravitas and flavor to accompany its higher register execution. A worthy…

Billecart-Salmon Champagne Vintage

Bright and crunchy, with a citrus and alkaline profile that marries steely elements with zesty fruit notes. No real signs of aging, with a linear cut that races over the palate and dances into an…

Ultramarine Blanc de Blancs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Lemon, sea foam, and salt rock flavors are speedy on the front end and rounded on the back. A little Ultramarine funk typicity adds interest. Compared to other vintages, the 2016 seems to be a…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Édition 168ème

A brighter showing than the last few bottles I've had - which I appreciate. Still, there is that slight oxidative characteristic that is indicative of all things Krug. Some love Krug for that exact…

Laherte Frères Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Les Grandes Crayères

An instant crowdpleaser type of Champagne, with a rounded mouthful experience that is front-loaded with flavor and fun. Lemon confit, yellow pear, and almond sliver notes welcome the palate with open…

Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Vignes d'Autrefois

This continues to progress nicely each year I open a bottle. A little more complexity. A little more depth. A little more character.

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Les Barres

A broader-shouldered performance from last year, this bottle pushes red apple flesh, cherry water, bruised lemon, and salt rock flavors with a bit more might and flex. The front end is full but…

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

Flawed. A bitter 9V battery note bore down on the steely stone and lemon notes desperately trying to claw through. The would-be flavors became caught in the crossfire of the astringent oxidation that…

Laherte Frères Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Les Longues Voyes

Strike three with this Champagne. The Vinges d'Autrefois is so much more compelling than this snoozer. The Les Longues Voyes is a hollow swallow as far as I'm concerned. Can't say I didn't try here.…

Bruno Paillard Champagne Nec Plus Ultra

So smooth, integrated, and savory, you'd almost think this hailed from the early 90's, but the freshness and purity push through beautifully and make for a mesmerizing and cerebral Champagne. This…