Champagne Wine

Winemaker Description

Blend of têtes de cuvée from terroirs in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry. Practicing organic; use of high quality organic compost for the soils and vines; all fruit is hand-harvested.Natural yeast fermented; 100% malo; 25% of wine aged in older 600L casks; no fining nor filtration.25% aged in older 600L casks, the rest in tank; ageing sur lie 32-44 months; manual riddling; bottled unfiltered; 5 grams/liter dosage. SO2 50 mg/liter.

Expert Review

95 Points James Suckling | Creamy and flavorful, yet it remains precise and vertical, with an array of lemons, green apples, pie crust, almonds, hazelnuts and chalk. Medium-bodied with creamy, fine bubbles. Lots of energy, with zesty citrus notes at the end. Layered blanc de blancs. 100% chardonnay from 4 Grand Cru villages. 40% from 2018 and 60% from 2017. 

Winemaker Desription

Every Barons de Rothschild Champagne has exceptional characteristics that make each unique and great. The  Barons de Rothschild Brut is aerial Champagne that is rich and complex. The blend uses three to four-year old Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs from the best land in Champagne.

This subtle blend produces a wine with fabulously fine bubbles, elegant golden colour and fine, delicate nuances of white fruit. Low dosage and at least six months’ time after disgorging gives this Champagne beautifully balanced structure on the palate that is highly appreciated when served as the aperitif or throughout the meal.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A well-cut Champagne, with a fine bead, this offers a mouthwatering range of nectarine, salted almond, honeysuckle and biscuit flavors. Elegant, featuring a lightly spiced finish.

James Suckling 92 Points | Lots of bread-dough and dried-apple character with lemon undertones. Roasted-nut and bread-dough undertones. Fine bubbles. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description

78% Pinot Noir, 22% Pinot Meunier; Cuvée Initiation is the newest addition to the Déhu lineup. Made from Pinot Noir and his signature variety Pinot Meunier, which Benoît planted using massale selection of Pommard clone from Burgundy. Oak vinification and ageing, unfined and unfiltered, low dosage. The wines is zippy and round with a persistent finish.

Winemaker Descrption

A pure Pinot Noir blanc de noirs from the premier cru village of the same name, is sourced from a half-hectare of 36-year-old vines in the Les Sablons lieu-dit.

Food pairing: Roast White Meats, Stinky Cheese, White Sauce, Fried Food

The Domain: Two of Champagne’s rising stars, Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche have been working alongside their father Jean-Pierre at their nine-hectare estate of Bérêche et Fils since 2004, and today they are putting an increasingly personal stamp on this thoughtfully-run Domaine.

The Bérêche estate owns vines in several different sectors of Champagne, with the three primary areas being the immediate vicinity around Ludes and Craon de Ludes, the gravelly terroir of Ormes in the Petite Montagne, and the area around Mareuil-le-Port, on the left bank of the Vallée de la Marne. In the eastern Montagne de Reims, a small parcel is also found in Trépail. Most recently, the estate has acquired its first grand cru vineyard in 2012, a tiny, 15-are parcel in the village of Mailly.

The estate's vineyards are planted with roughly equal parts of the three varieties, and increasing attention is being paid to natural viticulture—Bérêche completely stopped using chemical herbicides in 2004 and has planted cover crops in all of the vineyards, and since 2007 a portion of the vineyard is being converted to biodynamics.

Sharp-eyed observers will note that beginning in 2013, Bérêche has changed its status from RM (récoltant-manipulant) to NM (négociant-manipulant). This was done for two reasons: the first was to augment the production of the Brut Réserve by about 15 to 20 percent, selecting grapes from three trusted growers in the villages of Ludes, Maily and Rilly-la-Montagne. These grapes will be used exclusively for the Brut Réserve, and the rest of Bérêche's wines remain entirely estate-grown. The second reason was the creation of a négociant range called Crus Sélectionnés, released under the label Raphaël et Vincent Bérêche. These are wines selected from various sources across the Champagne region, designed to illustrate and reflect their respective terroirs, with the first series of wines to be released in 2014.

At Bérêche, vinification tends towards the traditional: parcels are vinified separately, with natural yeasts used for smaller tanks and selected yeasts for larger ones. The family has slowly been increasing the percentage of oak used in the cellar, and today about three-quarters of the production is vinified in barrels. The malolactic is systematically avoided, and the wines are bottled around May, without filtration and with a natural cold-settling, achieved by opening all of the cellar’s windows and waiting for three days. Disgorging is still done entirely by hand, and unlike many growers who are embracing the idea of a concentrated must for the dosage, Bérèche adamantly prefers a traditional liqueur.

Recently the Bérêches have begun to work more with cork for the second fermentation, believing that it results in a wine of more character and complexity. Raphaël’s father was always a firm believer in cork, but it requires a lot of extra work—now that Raphaël and Vincent are working with him at the estate, it’s easier to accomplish. Today, a quarter of the production is bottled with cork instead of capsule, spread over five different cuvées: Les Beaux Regards, Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche, Le Cran, Reflet d'Antan and the Campania Remensis rosé. 

Winemaker Description

For its 170th anniversary, Maison Besserat de Bellefon gave its cellar master, Cédric Thibault, the freedom to imagine an exceptional cuvée expressing the best of his style. Perfect for special occasions, this extraordinary champagne will pair perfectly with lobster or haddock.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This limited-edition wine is a blend of grand cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Aged for 10 years in bottle, it is a steely, structured wine that brings sophistication to the white fruits and lively acidity. Drink now.  

Winemaker Description

Its pale and bright pink colour is adorned with warm glints of gold and its delicate slowly rising bubbles give it a persistent mousse. This cuvée unveils a subtle aroma leading to an elegant, delicate bouquet of fine notes of red fruits and zest of citrus fruits. Its special method of vinification gives this cuvée a light, elegant flavour, followed by a fresh finish with a taste of raspberry.This rosé champagne is an ideal partner as an aperitif and can also accompany a dish of wild salmon or sushi. For dessert, it will add a sublime touch to red fruit flavours. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | Such an elegant, ethereal wine, this orange-pink wine is dry and crisp with fruity raspberry flavor at the fore. This particular bottling could improve for a year, but makes a great food Champagne now.

James Suckling 94 Points | An subtle nose with plenty of fine autolysis aromas of fresh bread and sweetly fragrant yeasty notes, plus some gentle spice and chalky notes. The palate unleashes beautiful wild strawberry fruit flavors, super fresh, fleshy and pure. Great balance and depth. Drink now. 

Expert Reviews

98 points James Suckling | Richly complex nose of spiced yellow plums, brioche, toasted lemons, butterscotch, baked apples, strawberries, coffee cream, praline, earthy mushroom and truffle hints. It’s creamy, layered and generous, with soft bubbles. Complex toasty and spicy elements carry through to a long finish. Opulence and sophistication. Single parcel pinot noir, 100% vinified in oak barrels. No malo. 1g/l dosage. Drink now or hold.  

98 Points Vinous | The 2005 Brut Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is sublime. Silky and understated, the 2005 is a model of class. The mousse alone is utterly captivating. Dried pear, gentle hints of spice, dried flowers and mint are some of the many notes that grace the 2005. In this vintage, Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is quite soft and medium in body, a Champagne of refinement more than power. Orchard fruit, white flowers and bright saline undertones frame the long, very pure finish. 

95 Points Wine Advocate | Disgorged at the end of 2019 with a dosage of one gram per liter, Billecart-Salmon’s 2005 Brut Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is the eighth edition (the release sequence is 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2005; Mathieu Roland-Billecart released this vintage after the 2006, to give it more time to mature in bottle.) This 100% Pinot Noir from the single vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ has a bright, vibrant, fresh nose of orchard fruits, dried fruits, nuts, pastry and spices. The palate is tense, delicate and medium-bodied and evokes notes of white pepper and chalk with a saline finish and a gently bitter aftertaste due to the vintage. It's a little more austere than the 2006 vintage but precise and crystalline. 

Jancis Robinson 17.5 Points | From the walled vineyard behind Billecart's HQ in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ planted exclusively with Pinot Noir. It was all vinified in oak. Apparently 'this micro cuve´e will pair wonderfully with a wild turbot and Burmese coffee'. The label is made of cherry wood sourced from sustainable forests. Each individual wooden label is distinguished by differences in grain and colour, making each bottle unique. Full of life on the nose and richly textured on the palate. Thoroughly satisfying wine with quite a bit of body that reaches every crevice of the palate. Firm, savoury finish. A serious, dense champagne for the table. 

Winemaker Description

To the eye : Bright and deep gold. To the nose : Abundant stewed and candied fruits, accompanied by touches of sweet spice. With time, notes of mirabelle and preserved orange unfold in the glass. On the palate : A grand generosity. Intense cooked fruit and tarte tatin flavours express themselves in a mouth that is full and harmonious.

Expert Reviews

99 Points James Suckling | Amazing aromas of sweet uncooked pie crust with almonds. Then you smell dried apples, apricots and pineapple. Grilled fruits, too. Full-bodied. So tangy and energetic with sizzling acidity and creamy tannins. Flavorful and lightly oxidized at the finish. Smacking my lips. Agile. Ginger and spices. A touch of bitter complexity with some salinity. Extreme character that grabs your attention. 13 years and six months aging on the lees with cork. 3 grams dosage. 71% pinot noir and 29% chardonnay. Don’t serve too cold. Drink or hold.

98 Points Robert Parker | When I was tasting Bollinger's brilliant Grande Année in this vintage, I was trying to imagine how good the 2008 Extra-Brut R. D. would be, as the style of the vintage seems almost perfectly adapted to this cuvée. Four years later, we have the answer, and the wine is brilliant. Disgorged in 2022, it's more reserved out of the gates than the dramatic Grande Année was on release, unwinding in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, orange peel, freshly baked bread, subtle hints of fino sherry, wet stones and macadamia nut. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit that's animated by racy acids and a refined pinpoint mousse, concluding with a bone-dry finish. Extremely harmonious and full of youthful energy, it's the finest R. D. of the decade and one that will richly reward a bit of additional age on cork. In style, the most obvious comparison is with the 1996, but the 2008 is more integrated and harmonious on release. These bottles were disgorged late last year with three grams per liter dosage.

97 Points Decanter | Bright in colour with gold reflections, the aromatics are immediately captivating, with marzipan, acacia, apricot and patisserie all vying for attention. It’s impossibly youthful yet reassuringly mature, a bread basket of delicious contradiction. Cerebral seduction ensues on the palate, with dried fruits, bergamot and lime joining the party, then come the hazelnut notes – which have been identified as a leitmotif for the vintage – and a clean, almost chalky finish to restore rigorous harmony. Precision in no way undermines generosity, and generosity in no way undermines potential. A very fine piece of work all in all, tasted from magnum, alongside bottle and jeroboam. Disgorged: November 2022. Dosage: 3g/L. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2050

96 Points Vinous | At times the R.D. is quite exotic, even if there is a good kick of energy from the bright, salivating acids and low dosage. The 2008 R.D. is very much a Champagne for the dinner table, a wine that benefits immensely from aeration. In 2008, the blend comprises fruit from 18 villages, 71% Pinot Noir, mostly from Aÿ and Verzenay and 29% Chardonnay, mostly from Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. Dosage is 3 grams of dosage. I would give this a few more years in bottle to fully come together. Disgorged: October 28, 2022. 

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | (Tasting Date November 17, 2023) |  A rich though youthful golden hue, the NV Champagne Special Cuvée Brut is classic and ripe with lush, rounded, and complex aromas of golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone, and black cherry. Made with 45% of the wine coming from the 2019 vintage, with 55% reserve wine, it’s full-bodied yet elegant and light on its feet, with a ripe and luxurious feel and just a hint of warmth on the finish. The mousse is refined and rounded. Long on the palate, it's inviting now but will have plenty of life ahead of it if stored property. This exceptional cuvée with its distinctive personality continues to be one of the best entry wines to the range from this house and is a benchmark wine for them.

James Suckling 93 Points |  (Reviewed August 7, 2023) Lovely density and a fine-bubble texture. Dried apple and apricot with hints of dried flowers. Medium to full body. with medium-rich fruit. Spice, zest and ginger character. Usually 10% in barrel. 60% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 15% pinot meunier. About 40% reserve wine kept in magnums. Always really well done. Drink now.

Decanter 95 Points | If it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for you. Bollinger Champagne has made a number of cameos in James Bond films over the year. This non-vintage Special Cuvée is an example of a classic Champagne done well. Notes of marzipan on the nose and the palate give toastiness and leesy notes, specifically sourdough. It’s classic for a reason and would only elevate any table it finds itself on. 

Jancis Robinson 17/20 Points (Tasted October 14, 2022) |  Look out for that lot code, as this is a particularly stunning rendition of Bollinger, almost certainly improved with the bottling in magnum. Very fine texture, quite deeply coloured, remarkably fine mousse. Savoury, biscuity notes on the palate. Great length – a lovely example.  - Jancis Robinson 17

Robert Parker 92 Points |  Like its rosé counterpart, the latest release of Bollinger's NV Brut Special Cuvée is showing especially well, bursting from the glass with aromas of honeyed apples, crisp stone fruit, buttery pastry, ripe lemons and fresh walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vinous, with a deep core of beautifully ripe fruit, racy acids and a pillowy mousse, it's a charming, characterful wine that proves that Special Cuvée is firmly back where it belongs.  Drinking 2021 - 2025.

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada 67wine.com | Charles Heidsieck Reserve Brut set itself apart from many other NV Brut Grande Marques in many ways: It is composed of equal proportions of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. 40% of the blend is Reserve wine and Cru selection is optimum. Mr. Ceryl Brun, Charles Heidsieck's chef de cave is a master at the craft of blending.

Aromas of Apple compote combined with whiffs of yeasty salinity and fresh citrus fruit: Meyer Lemon and orange Peel. Medium-bodied with velvety mouth coating effect, tiny bubbles that show signs of a well-matured NV Blend. Elegant finish with great gastronomic qualities.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 94 Points | Very impressive for a "regular" non-vintage Brut, not only in terms of aromatic complexity - candied citrus, dried peach and fresh mirabelle plus a hint of bread dough - also in terms of texture, the creamy, rich and crisp sides of the wine neatly interlocking. Long, structured finish. A cuvee that's half 2018 and half reserve wines, some of which are a couple of years old, but many of them are five- to 10-years-old, with several over 10-years-old. 

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This nonvintage Champagne shows the hallmark of the producer. With its 50% reserve wines to bring out maturity, the wine is full of fruit, touched by toast.

Wine Advocate 92+ Points | The Charles Heidsieck NV Brut Réserve is elaborated with 150 different wines from most of 60 crus. This is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier with 50% of reserve wines. Disgorged in 2022 with a dosage of nine grams per liter, it has a delicate bouquet with aromas of orchard fruit, apricot, warm biscuits, praline, pastry and lemon hints. Medium to full-bodied, creamy and fleshy, the palate is charming with lively acids and a chalky finish. It’s approachable now but also evolving with grace.

Winemaker Description

The Vallée de la Marne is the subregion within Champagne where pinot meunier dominates. Christophe Mignon’s family vineyards in Le-Mesnil-le-Huttier lie right in the meunier heartland, and Christophe himself is dedicated to growing that particular grape variety. 

Growing biodynamically for two decades now, he has attuned not only his farming practices but also the processes in the cellar to the rhythm of the moon cycle. He harvests his grapes at optimal ripeness and uses minimal sulfur. This brut nature combines equal parts of two recent vintages. It ages in the bottle for two years and receives no final dosage. Apricot and spice, with a touch of richness, lead to a bright, mineral palate and a long, dry finish. Biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.

Winemaker Description 

Les Pleiades is a blend of equally Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from Saulchery in a lieut-dit called Les Chapelles. 100% from harvest 2018. The wine fermented in barrels and right after malolactic racked to a stainless steel tanks. It was bottled in July 2020 and disgorged with 0 dosage in November 2022.

Jerome Lefevre name this cuvee Pleiades in reference to his 7 different parcels he debuted his domaine with, also The Pleiades, in greek mythology, were the companions of Artemis, the seven daughters of the titan Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione born on Mount Cyllene.
Just like the artist Ben Shahn said ““Art is always visionary. Art always disturbs present realities, however satisfactory they may seem to the rest of the world.” I believe Jerome Lefevre is an artist consistently pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in Champagne. His farming and winemaking can be described nonconformist.

Jérôme Lefevre, from Champagne Delalot, is one of those exciting artist that continues the fundamental idea of seeking unknown gems that propels Avant-Garde movement.
Jérôme is a native of the “Far West” of the Marne valley, at the edge of the Champagne appellation, in the towns of Saulchery, Charly Sur Marne, Bonneil and Crogy.  Here, Jérôme creates Champagne Delalot and Champagne Jerome Lefevre. 

Jérôme’s teenage years were guided by a deep passion for heavy metal and the family life of vineyards trained by his mother, Eliane Delalot.  Not till several years of working as an art critic and art curator did Jerome’s passion towards the craft of Champagne arise.  Elaine’s respectful farming practices became organic certification under Jerome’s direction in 2009. Inspired by the Fukuoka principals of farming, Jerome began his journey into winemaking. Since his first harvest in 2013, Jerome has grown his vineyards from 1ha to 1.5ha while tending to his land like a gardener.  He does not use any heavy machinery, including tractors.  The vineyards are located on slopes facing south and southeast with predominately sandy soil and some clay.
It’s impossible to classify Jerome’s style. Each cuvées come from specific parcels and are experimental. He seeks the boundaries of what Champagne allows him to do and sometimes tries new techniques while maintaining respect of the terroir. As it is hard to find more vineyards, Jerome’s Champagne Delalot production is limited to 5,000 bottles.

Seeking to further push experimentation, Jerome started an additional project in 2017 with a micro-negoce named Champagne Jérôme Lefevre. These cuvées are even more avant-garde, Rated X (named in honor of the Miles Davis’s album) is a wine without dosage but full or residual sugar backed with acidity.  The Coteaux Champenois Composition #2 is made from red grapes vinified white and aged in barrels with some oxidative moments through the aging.

As Champagne changes, Jerome is at the forefront of a new generation of wine producers that offer us wine lovers with that thrill of a first-time or second-time discovery. 

Winemaker Description

The balance between the dominant Pinot Noir and the smaller percentage of Chardonnay in the Delamotte Rosé gives this wine its beautiful pale rose color. The wine has tiny bubbles with strong red fruit aromas and flavors. It is vivacious, supple and round with a hint of acidity.

It makes a wonderful aperitif, as well as a good companion to poultry dishes or red fruit desserts.

Expert Reviews 

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The NV Champagne Rosé is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with the base of 2019, and 15% still red wine. It pours a salmon/orange-tinged hue and opens in the glass to fresh, floral, pretty aromas of nectarine, salted orange, fresh rose petal, and curry spice. Medium-bodied, it has a wonderful chalky and pithy texture, with a pinpoint mousse that’s almost an afterthought. Ripe with fruit but well-balanced and long, with mouthwatering acidity, its spicier notes (cardamom, perhaps?) start to reveal themselves as it opens, and the wine lasts long on the palate. It is quite distinctive.

93 Points James Suckling | An amber-colored rosé with aromas of cherries, praline, dried flowers and some spiced plums. Gastronomic and flavorful, with a medium to full body and dry, spicy and smoky elements. Tight bubble.

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | A crisp Champagne veering towards dryness, this is textured, with a touch of red fruits set alongside the citrus flavors. The wine is so fresh, so light and poised. Drink the bottling now.

91 Points Wine Spectator | This elegant rosé is a pretty wild-salmon hue, with a hint of honey enmeshed with flavors of dried apricot, oyster shell and anise. Lightly juicy and appealing, with a refined finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now.

90 Points Robert Parker | The latest release of Delamotte's NV Brut Rosé offers up expressive aromas of red apples, crisp stone fruit, cherries and fresh pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping palate. Comparatively rich and textural for this routinely elegant, fine-boned cuvée, it's more gastronomic than usual.

Winemaker Description

This rare release takes Dom Pérignon's superb 2002 vintage to the next level. Filled with a new energy and intensity, the champagne has reached its second plénitude – the point at which it evolves into a different expression.

Many consider 2002 the best year for champagne in the last 30. And, after 15 years on its lees, the P2 boasts an even greater longevity. So, while its exotic aromas and subtle salinity are exquisite today, it is also ideal for the cellar.

2002 was a remarkable moment in Champagne’s history. With near-perfect growing conditions, it became widely regarded as the best year in the last three decades, culminating in an extraordinarily concentrated and creamy vintage from Dom Pérignon. Now, the House invites champagne lovers to share an even more spectacular expression of this vintage. Rare and precious, with even greater potential, it is Dom Pérignon 2002.

Expert Review

99 Points Decanter | Here we have drive, vinosity and incredible length. The sweet and savoury balance indulges with a seductive embrace. Gustav Klimt in a glass maybe. Outstanding.

98 points John Gilman | Somehow, I never managed to cross paths with the initial disgorgement of the 2002 Dom Pérignon, so I was delighted to see the coming P2 version waiting in the wings in our tasting lineup in March at the Abbé d’Hautvillers. It would be fascinating to compare the P2 with the first release of the 2002 Dom Pérignon, in much the same way I tasted the two 1996 versions side by side, as this is a great Champagne vintage that dovetails so beautifully with the house style of this bottling. The 2002 P2 delivers a stunning young nose of pear, apple, stony minerality, iodine, dried flowers a touch of nuttiness, menthol and gentle upper register botanicals so emblematic of this cuvée as it starts to first stretch its wings. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and absolutely rock solid at the core, with lovely mousse, laser-like focus again and stunning backend mineral drive on the very, very long, perfectly balanced finish. The 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 looks to be almost unreachable by the passage of time and could easily last a century.  

98 Points James Suckling | Intense, rich and dense P2 with butterscotch and toffee character, together with apricot compote, mango crumble and pie crust. This is at its height right now. Tremendous pleasure and generosity. 

97 Points Vinous | The 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 is wonderfully open in its aromatics, but a bit less giving on the palate, especially next to the regular release. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and white pepper open up first, followed by hints of apricot, honey, chamomile and light tropical notes. Interestingly, the P2 is quite a bit less tropical than the original release. Chef de Caves Vincent Chaperon told me he thinks the original release shows more of a buttery character because of the combination of the ripeness of the vintage and the natural evolution of the wine post-disgorgement under crown seal, as opposed to the P2 which stayed much longer on its lees. It is hard to know if that is an exact explanation, but the reality is that the two 2002s are quite far apart stylistically. (AG) 97+  Inner quote mark (7/2019)

96 Points Wine Spectator | This graceful, bright Champagne features a chime of Meyer lemon peel and mouthwatering acidity, with finely meshed flavors of baked yellow plum, pastry, pickled ginger and smoke-laced mineral that intensify as they expand on the lightly mouthcoating and creamy mousse. Seamlessly knit, this is hard to stop sipping as it dances across the palate. 

95 Points Wine Advocate | The 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 is showing very well indeed, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, dried white flowers, orange oil, smoky peach, peat and praline. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad and textural, with a ripe and muscular core of fruit, ripe acids and fine concentration, concluding with a long and elegantly toasty finish. As I wrote earlier this year, this is a ripe and powerful Dom Pérignon that finds its closest stylistic analogy in the 1990 vintage, and it is considerably less evolved than the more tertiary 2000 P2 today. While the P2 is a bit drier and more precise on the finish than the original release, given the wine's slow evolution, the difference between the two is less pronounced than it has been for any vintage since 1996. (WK)  Inner quote mark (4/2020)

Jancis Robinson 19.5/20 Points | Now this is Dom P at its most classic! Biscuity nose with butter and biscuit dough but with great freshness and delicacy too. Really lovely. Great poise and – still – lots of tension! 

Winemaker Description

The delicate nose unfolds in swaths of color. The green of eucalyptus, mint and vetiver, the yellow-orange of mirabelle plums, apricot and orange blossom, the brown of pepper, cardamom and licorice sticks, and finally silvery saline and toasty hues.

The mouthfeel is elegant, expressing luxuriant simplicity and precision. The attack is enveloping and ethereal. The refined and silky foundation becomes more pronounced at the heart. The finish is dominated by a salinity that leaves a deep sensation of consistency.

Expert Reviews

97 Points James Suckling | Perfumed with apple, green mangoes, perfume and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with a creamy and integrated texture and a subtle finish. Bitters. Botanicals. Intense. Drink or hold.

96 Points Wine Spectator | Vivid acidity and a chalky underpinning make a crystalline frame for finely detailed notes of ripe melon, mandarin orange, toasted brioche and candied ginger in this harmonious Champagne, which is expressive and expansive on the palate, but with a sense of finesse and restraint. Long and creamy on the mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2037.

96 Points Decanter | Silky, narrowly sculpted and serene, Dom Pérignon 2013 is a less hedonistic release than the 2012 (and less intensely energetic than the 2008), but showcases a beautiful mid-place between tension and expressiveness already. Orange-coloured fruit – apricots, mango and orange – play along with snappy lemon syrup and delicate red fruits, the palate teased into considerable detail and length with some trademark Dom Pérignon smokiness. There is immediate pleasure here, although cellaring will let some of the inner complexity unfurl, revealing this to the among the finest Dom Pérignon releases of recent times. 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay.

96 Points Jasper Morris | Yet another scintillating wine from Dom Perignon. A youthful but complex bouquet: flowery notes of acacia honey emerge from a base of yellow plum. On the palate, the attack is dry and intense; succulent yellow fruit drenched in walnut oil builds on the mid palate. Superb balance! Long, zesty acidity returns to the finish refreshing the palate. Already very approachable with its generous fruit and sapid mouthfeel.

95 Points Robert Parker | Disgorged in October last year, the 2013 Dom Pérignon is a lovely wine, defined by the long, cool growing season. Offering up aromas of crisp stone fruit, tangerine oil, buttered toast, pear, almonds and clear honey, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, bright acids and a pillowy, enveloping profile, concluding with a long, saline finish. Vincent Chaperon recalls that shatter at fruit set moderated yields and that a drying east wind in the weeks before harvest helped to maintain the good sanitation necessary to wait to pick at full maturity.

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. The Carte d'Or cuvée is the very expression of the Drappier style. With its very high proportion of Pinot Noir, one is almost tasting a Blanc de Noirs. Champagne with a fine aromatic richness, it opens with aromas of stoned fruits such as white vineyard peach. A spicy hint announces a powerful complex palate. A vinous Champagne of lovely complexity with a characteristic note of quince jelly. 

Ideal as an apertif. At the table, it goes with white meats, rolled fish fillets, Chaource cheese. 

Expert Reviews

91 Points Robert Parker | Disgorged in April 2021, Drappier's new NV Brut Carte d'Or delivers attractive aromas of golden orchard fruit, stone fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it's charming and elegantly vinous, with a flavorful core of fruit, lively acids and a chalky finish.

91 Points James Suckling | This has aromas of pear tart, pie crust, praline and apricot. Bright, with a creamy mousse and attractive biscuity and nutty layers. Dry feel at the end. 80% pinot noir, 15% chardonnay and 5% pinot meunier. Dosage 5,5 g/L.

91 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The NV Champagne Carte d’Or Brut is 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier, and the remainder Chardonnay, with 6.5 grams per liter dosage. There is 80% base wine from the 2019 vintage and the remainder reserve wine. This is their historical style, with the nose offering up aromas of ripe apricot, yellow flowers, and cherry liqueur. The palate is round and a bit more structured, with more stone fruit and kirsch. Best after 2022.

90 Points Wine Spectator | Racy acidity enlivens this crisp and lacy Champagne. Well-knit, with the delicate mix of ripe white cherry, blanched almond, yellow plum and grated ginger flavors.

The Carte d'Or cuvée is the very expression of the Drappier style. With its very high proportion of Pinot Noir, one is almost tasting a Blanc de Noirs. Champagne with a fine aromatic richness, it opens with aromas of stoned fruits such as white vineyard peach. A spicy hint announces a powerful complex palate. A vinous Champagne of lovely complexity with a characteristic note of quince jelly.

Ideal as an apertif. At the table, it goes with white meats, rolled fish fillets, Chaource cheese. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points |  (Tasted November 7, 2022) The NV Champagne Rive Gauche Brut is fresh with pure fruit, including peach and red berries, as well as wet stone. The palate is inviting, with a light note of bitter almond on the finish. Although the finish falls off a touch early, the wine is quite pleasurable otherwise. It will be exciting to see where these wines go in the future. Drink over the next 10 years.  -

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada 67Wine.com | A sublime Vintage Champagne! The 2012 Release from Champagne Gatinois is beautifully crafted. A blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay from the famed Grand Cru village of Ay.

Nose: Orchard Fruit, Citrus fruit and Brioche

Palate: Medium-bodied, Elegant with well-integrated acidity and minerality. 

Finish: Effortless yet elegant. The perfect Vintage Champagne for special occasions.

Winemaker Description

It is a blend of 2012 exclusively from the Ay vineyard classified Grand Cru and composed of Pinot Noir 60% and Chardonnay 40%.

The brut cuvée was aged on slats for 6 years.

It is after a long aging in the cellar, the duration of which is adapted to the characteristics of the year that they are finally offered for tasting.
The Gatinois house only vintage its wines in the best years, produced in limited quantities. The 2012 vintage is a perfect example, it is the balance between aromatic power and finesse.

The color is golden yellow.

The nose brings notes of honey, candied yellow fruits and brioche notes.
On the palate, great elegance on the generosity of ripe fruit, typical of the Aÿ Grand Cru. Deep and structured finish, superb length at the end of the mouth.

Food / wine pairing: to be served between 10-12 ° C accompanied by canapes of foie gras, either duck or goose from Périgord. Also goes perfectly well with a grilled butcher's piece, creamy risotto with scallops.

Producer Description

H by Hine is whimsical. If it were a young man, it would have the keen eye of Dick Diver in Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night. Adventurous, lively and elegant, it is the ideal sidekick for daring cocktails and a flamboyant soloist when served neat with a dash of cold tonic. Expressive yet discreet, its notes of iris, fresh apricot, acacia and white pepper chime with its sprightly and joyful demeanour. Feels like Coachella in a bottle.

H by Hine is a young cognac with a taste for adventure and originality. Serve frozen in a shot glass with sashimi. Or simply over ice with tonic, cider or ginger ale, garnished with a twist of lime, cucumber or rosemary. Add as a surprising twist to a punch when too many friends show up with very little time, or simply drizzle over a fresh peach salad.

Producer Description

Hardy XO Rare Cognac is a version of the “Tradition” range from the house of Hardy Cognac. The brandy mixture is deliciously aged, giving a spirit of a beautiful amber color. The layered palate is a continuous evolution of inspiring flavors. This smooth Cognac has irresistible aromas and a deliciously long finish. 

Winemaker Description

Very floral, very pure with notes of baked brioche and hints of vanilla. You can’t miss the subtlety of its soft and gentle texture. With a great finish and a zesty freshness, it leaves you wanting for more.

BRUT SABRÉ stands out for its fresh distinctiveness, with aromatic elegance - a perfect host for weddings and christenings, or a great aperitif for intimate events and parties. 

Winemaker Description

The Rosé Vintage 2012 presents shades of coral, is vivid rather than pale, and is both elegant and intensely flavored. The color makes its vibrant, potent presence felt, only disturbed by the bright reflections in the glass. A gossamer string of bubbles takes form and reveals its delicate foaming mousse. On the nose, delicate fruit-laden notes underscore a fresh, striking minerally streak. On the palate, the texture comes through in the piercing aromas and mellow softness of wild and gariguette strawberries. 

The rich ripeness of the fruit is joyously on point, presenting a vast spectrum of aromas and bracing freshness, underpinned by perfectly balanced complex structure. The flavors are consistent and linger on the palate as they whet the appetite, accompanied by a creamy edge so typical of the Henriot style. The aromas show all the potential to transform over time and err towards slightly tropical notes of orange at the end of the palate.

Expert Reviews

97 Points Decanter | Aromas of smoke and raspberry cede to a delightful mousse on the palate, with brisk acidity propelling complex notes of pear, melon and brioche. Impressively long, this never wavers in its elegance.

93 Points Wine Spectator | An elegant rosé Champagne, layering flavors of ripe cherry, blood orange sorbet and orchard blossom on the delicate, finely detailed mousse, with lightly mouthwatering acidity and a zesty underpinning lending focus through to the lightly spiced finish. Drink now through 2027. 400 cases imported.

93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | Offering up attractive aromas of blood orange, red berries, peach, orchard fruit and brioche, Henriot's just-released 2012 Brut Rosé Millésimé is medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with fine concentration, ripe but racy acids, a delicate mousse and a long, saline finish. This is one of the more intense, vinous wines to emerge from Henriot in some time, and it's very promising.

93 Points James Suckling |  Aromas of sliced ripe strawberries with pomegranate. Some granite and earth, too. Full-bodied and very vinous with firmness to the texture and fine bubbles. Mushroom, berry and earth in the aftertaste with some citrus fruit. Very vinous. Pinot noir and chardonnay.

92 Points Wine & Spirits | This blend of 55 percent pinot noir with chardonnay gets its deep pink-rose color from an addition of 10 percent red wine; all of the fruit comes from either premier or grand cru sites. It’s elegant, vinous and dry, with some tannic austerity from the pinot noir that brings to mind crushed flower petals. There’s yeasty richness to balance that austerity, filling out the flavors and suggesting it will age well.

Winemaker Description

The Extra Brut Solessence Nature unwinds in the glass with scents of white flowers, crisp green apple, spring blossom and almond paste. Medium to full-bodied, ample and precise, it's a bright, vibrant wine with chalky structure and a long, saline finish.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Lovely spice and apple blossom notes are an enticing, aromatic thread in this elegant Champagne, wafting from the glass and winding through flavors of ripe yellow plum, salted Marcona almond, candied ginger and toast point on the palate. Fresh and creamy, with a minerally underpinning that lingers on the fine finish. Disgorged August 2019. Drink now through 2025. 20,000 cases made, 800 cases imported.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | Aged in wood, this is the latest iteration of the producer's nonvintage cuvée based on the 2015 vintage It is impressive in its white-fruit richness that is perfectly balanced by intense acidity. Bottle aging has added to the Champagne's complexity. This is a fine wine that is ready to drink.

James Suckling 93 Points |  Complex and fresh aromas of freshly baked baguette with lemon rind, apple pie and light pear rind. Full-bodied with layers of fruit, fine bubbles and a fantastic interplay of fruit and acidity. Just a touch of fresh ginger to further energize the palate. Drink or hold.

Vinous 92 Points | The NV Extra-Brut Cuvée No. 743 (2015 base) is soft, open-knit and caressing. The natural radiance of 2015 comes through in the wine's ample, creamy feel. Apricot, spice, dried flowers, hazelnut and lightly honeyed notes are all beautifully laced together. The 743 is already a touch forward, in a good way, which makes it a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Dizy and Hautvillers) and 40% Chardonnay (from Avize and Oiry). Disgorged: August 2019 and bottled with no dosage.

Winemaker Description

Its traditional production makes Vocation Champagne a Blanc de Noirs to enjoy on any occasion and turn it into a memorable moment.

The Champagne region is synonymous with excellence, hard work and continuous work to continue offering recognized world-class wines and bubbles. Our vocation and respect for nature, as well as our lives, manage to create the best fruit which is the basis and structure for our final offering.

Vocation is the living representation of what has been our home for centuries and radiates our values ​​as a family by making and respecting the traditional way of making champagne, the precious liquid.