Reviews

Pertois-Lebrun Champagne Grand Cru Le Fond Du Bateau N°13

This bottle was a bit more filled out than the one a few months ago. There are some wood and oxidation influences that add depth, with a finish that maintains freshness and precision. Better focus on…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Blanc de Blancs Heurtebise

Much better this time around, especially with extended air. Compelling cut and drive. A slight herbal note shows up on first splash, but dissipates with swirling. Lovely drive from this bottle. Less…

Abelé 1757 Champagne Le Sourire de Reims Brut

At Restaurant Sissi, Merano, Italy.

Jacques Selosse Substance

At Ristorante NIN, Brenzone su Garda, Lake Garda, Italy.

Bellavista Franciacorta Riserva Vittorio Moretti

At Val di Sogno, Lake Garda, Italy.

Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Beurys

Mousy and feral. Stooopid. Again. I need to stop calling these flawed and just call them terrible. 70? if scoring.

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Vieille Vigne Le Bateau

A bit rounder and broader than some of Dhondt's more precise offerings, the Bateau shows wonderful depth and budding profundity on the front end, with a mid-palate girth that presents as full-first…

Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill

This is showing some development and resolve since my last having it a couple of years ago, with a more red apple flesh-driven profile that makes for a fuller and slightly richer delivery. There are…

Michel Fallon Champagne Brigitte Fallon Avysia Avize

With a similar profile to the 2014, this edition of 2015 carries the white melon and yellow-white citrus profile that is hallmark to these wines. The first pop of the cork is unsurprisingly linear…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 171eme

This go-around, the 171 was inched out by a Dhondt Roc Solare. It was close, and the Krug and Dhondt's profiles were extremely similar, but the group agreed the Dhondt carried a bit more freshness…

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Roc Solare

This inched out a Krug 171 and 2016 Leclerc Briant Blanc de Meuniers. It was all close, and the Krug and Dhondt's profiles were extremely similar, but the group agreed the Dhondt carried a bit more…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Astre Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé

100% Pinot Noir 1er cru from Trépail, the L'Astre shows stylistic similarities to it brawnier brother L'Aphrodisiaque, though L'Astre's barrel spice is a little less overtly pronounced and leading,…

David Leclapart Champagne Premier Cru L'Astre Blanc de Noirs Pas Dosé

100% Pinot Noir 1er cru from Trépail, the L'Astre shows stylistic similarities to it brawnier brother L'Aphrodisiaque, though L'Astre's barrel spice is a little less overtly pronounced and leading,…

Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

I've written a decent amount on this vintage of Comtes. I like it quite a bit and find it representative of a solid young big house Champagne. That said, I need to keep hands off these for another…

Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Les Mottelettes

A solid BdB with accessible and giving lemon and melon flavors that both enliven and coat the palate. There are fullness and breadth here, with a travertine-laced delivery providing a sporty lift for…

Savart Champagne Premier Cru Le Mont des Chrétiens

Waaaay better than the ping-pongy bottle I had back in April, this shows quite a bit more refinement and balance. With air, it becomes fuller and more enveloping, with a beautiful kiss of subtle…

Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cramant

Aggressive bubbles turn flat in the glass. Pours a beautiful deep golden yellow color. Muted nose. Front end is all stewed lemons. Back end is bitter alkaline and sour, burnished finish. Gets even…

Philipponnat Champagne Extra Brut Clos des Goisses

A strong red apple flesh flavor dominates the profile, with burnished and brassy lemon/grilled lemon, yellow apple, walnut, red cherry, red grape, limestone, wet grated ginger, bark, and hints of…

Domaine Nowack Champagne La Tuilerie Extra Brut

Notably better than the 2018, this vintage carries an extra level of intensity and focus. Melon and pear notes dominate on first pass. With air and a few hours to open up, it evolves into a riper and…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Chemin de Reims

Best bottle of this so far. A nice bead of minerality to counterbalance the spiced apple, lemon, limestone, olive oil, and salty yuzu flavors. After an hour or two it really opens up beautifully.

Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Clos Sainte Sophie

Previous notes apply, though I will say this particular bottle shows the wood quite a bit more than previous samples; it makes me wonder if, as this ages, the barrel influence will continue to take…

Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Expression Brut

From Magnum. 2017 base. Doughy and chewy on entry, with a dosage-driven attack that is rich and lactic. Some wet chalk and white/yellow stone fruit claw their ways through the bread, but this is…

Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 171eme

Amalgamated power, finesse, texture, breadth, and focus all come together in an alluring package of nutty oxidative flavors intermingled with poached pear, grilled lemon, salty yuzu, limestone, and…

Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Chemin de Reims

An upfront yeastier showing this go-around. Time in the glass shows more evolved white melon, yellow pear, lemon, and travertine flavors. Drink or hold, though I would recommend the latter. On day…

Jacques Selosse Initial

The best combination of unctuous/umami and vibrancy. Oxidative orangey notes combine with yellow lemon, pear, yuzu, apricot, and limestone flavors. Beautiful execution, with a full and lifted finish.