Reviews

Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut

Beautifully mature and resolved, with nicely oxidative notes of dark yellow citrus, bruised Meyer lemon rind, grilled pineapple, lightly toasted brioche, and light colored toffee. Tiny bubbles that…

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

PnP was high-pitched and a bit steely, with lemon seed, slate, chalk, and limestone notes. Ultra, ultra pure, with a unique, exacting focus that I have only found in a handful of Champagnes.

Gosset Champagne Célebris

Beautifully balanced, with seamless flavors of yellow pear, lemon, stone fruit, white peach, brioche, crema, and some subtle minerality. Resolved and utterly captivating. The elegance and silky…

Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

A extremely pleasant and inviting Champagne, with yeasty but pure flavors of almond paste, fresh pizza dough, white peach, white stone fruit, green apple, quince, and some chalk and salt rock. A good…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Severine

Notes of stone fruit, olive oil, quinine, bruised apple, yeast, banana peel, kerosene, lacquer, and dry white wood. A somewhat clumsy attack, with the back end stifled by the wonky flavors stammering…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Same as previous notes. Nice cut and bright acidity; a higher toned, whiter stone fruit profile. The bubbles persisted for hours. A fun and easy sipper for sure.

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé

Ripe green apple, buttery brioche, banana peel, bruised lemon, roasted cashew, mesquite honey, and some oyster shell. On the riper side of the spectrum; missing some of the vivaciousness of the…

Salmon Champagne Special Club

At Mr. Jiu's in SF.

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut

An easy going sipper that rewards with the most basic of pleasure; essentially zero cerebral eminence to be had here. Nevertheless, straightforward notes of yellow and white citrus, bread dough, and…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Same as my notes from a couple of months ago. An easy-going sipper that has some elevated flavor elements and is wonderfully balanced (not too much of the bubbly going on to distract from the…

Mumm Napa DVX

A fairly resolved and approachable sparkler, with mature yellow citrus, grilled Meyer lemon, yeasty bread dough, brioche, toasted almond, quince, olive oil, and subtle plantain. A super easy sipper,…

Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs

Previous note applies. A good first-start-sipper kind of sparkler. Simple but flavorful and balanced enough to hold interest and offer pleasure. An "easy does it" beverage.

Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial

I quite enjoyed this bottle of Champagne. Nothing overly stimulating about it from an intellectual standpoint, but a easy drinker with a healthy dose of flavor, drive, and depth to keep the sips…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée

A lovely bottle of Champagne, with yeasty brioche, lemon chiffon cake, Asian pear, ripe green and red apple, sea foam, toasted pignolia, and a banana nut bread note that added depth and character.…

Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Veuve Clemence Brut Blanc de Blancs

Of the three sparklers served at the table, this was the best expression of the trio in terms of overall purity, complexity, cut, and balance. Sophisticated notes of Asian pear, green apple pie,…

Ultramarine Blanc de Noirs Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast

Baked pear, apple pie crust, fried plantain, brioche, sea foam, and gray slate notes. A little ripe and heavy mid-palate, with a more voluptuous mouthfeel overall; somewhat funky on the finish,…

Wente Vineyards Brut

Notes of Asian pear, grilled lemon spice, ripe red apple pulp, and bread dough. Medium-bodied and a touch heavy for a sparkler, missing some of the higher toned zing on the back end to provide lift…

Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs

Crisp and refreshing, with a frothy, brioche note on the back end that carried the light yellow citrus fruit on through the finish. Nothing super enticing or complex, but paired well with a spicy and…

Schramsberg Vineyards Reserve

Similar to last year's notes, except that this had a lot less verve than what I remember experiencing from the holidays last year. This drops some points when factoring in the overall QPR. Drink now.

Michel Gonet Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Prestige Blanc de Blancs

As before, this Champagne was a great way to end a tasting of fabulous reds at Vice Versa. Crisp yellow and white core fruit, pumice dust, and some light lemon zest. 93-94 points.

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

Pure, clean, balanced, and superbly focused without being too linear or biting in any way. Beautiful yellow citrus and white stone fruit, subtle pear, and elegant minerality. Laser-like precision,…

Thienot Champagne Brut

Same as my previous notes. I've admittedly felt less and less drawn to this Champagne over this past year. Time to start looking elsewhere I suppose. Drink now.

Michel Gonet Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Prestige Blanc de Blancs

A great way to finish off a tasting of an immensely unctuous lineup of 2015 Vice Versa Cabernets, this Champagne was a welcome delivery of frothy stone fruit, pumice, and light lemon. I could've…

Thienot Champagne Cuvée Alain Thiénot

Very mature and rich notes of creme brûlée, lemon curd, fried ripe plantain, olive oil, and roasted hazelnut.

Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Napa Valley Carneros Tognetti Vineyard

A very smooth and inviting style, with creamy almond and brioche notes to compliment the ripe pear and lemon curd flavors. More on the round side, with the acid and minerality in the background from…