109 products
Jacquesson Champagne Avize Champ Cain 2009 750ml
he 2009 Extra-Brut Avize Champ Gain captures an intriguing combination of the richness of the year and the clean, mineral inflections that are such signatures of Avize. All the elements are turned up a few notches. Petrol, apricot, dried flowers, orchard fruit, orange confit, honey and marzipan all develop in the glass. Even with all of its intensity, the 2009 retains striking translucence. It's a big wine, but there is plenty of complexity too. Disgorged May 2019. Dosage is 1.5 grams per liter.
Robert Parker William Kelley 94 Points | Disgorged in May 2019 with 1.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2009 Extra-Brut Grand Cru Avize - Champ Caïn is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, blanched almonds, freshly baked bread and mandarin. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and precise, it's elegant and refined, with a pinpoint mousse, discreet depth at the core and a long, chalky finish. Beautifully balanced with minimal dosage, it shows the results the Jacquesson brothers' viticulture were already delivering over a decade ago.
Jacquesson Champagne Cuvee No 746 Extra Brut NV 750ml
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.
Joseph Charvy Champagne Cuvee Vocation Blanc de Noirs NV Brut 750ml
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.
Krug Champagne Millesime 2008 750ml
Winemaker Description
At the House of Krug, every Krug Vintage celebrates the distinct character of a particular year. A Krug Vintage is a blend of the most expressive wines from a single year enhanced by a stay of over ten years in the cellars. Every Krug Vintage is different: it is the Music of the year, captured by Krug.
Krug 2008 is the elegant and intense story of a cool and balanced year, nicknamed “Classic Beauty” by the House’s Tasting Committee members.
The year 2008 was one of Champagne’s coolest in 14 years, and also one of the region’s least sunny in almost half a century. It was a classic northern climate, one that has not been seen much since. Rainfall was normal, the summer was dry, and temperatures were constant throughout the growing season. This absence of extremes resulted in slow and steady grape maturation.
▪ An expressive nose that is rich and ample with patinated aromas of honey, liquorice, menthol, orange peel and grapefruit.
▪ Vivacious, intense and harmonious with great tension on the palate, expressing notes of quince, candied fruits and citrus, yellow kiwi, star fruit, honey, apple tart, butter cookies, orange peel, peony and fennel, with floral and menthol undertones. It has a long, balanced and precise finish with astounding structure.
FOOD & WINE PAIRING INSPIRATION:
▪ Krug 2008 is a beautiful match for oyster tartare with a lobster emulsion, parmesan shortbread, pistachio Chaource in pastry sheets, rabbit terrine with sorrel, tagliatelle with mussels and basil, dishes prepared with aromatic herbs like oregano and thyme or whitefish in a lemon and pepper sauce, as well as desserts that contrast vivacity and roundness such as passionfruit and lemon meringue.
Expert Reviews
Laherte Freres Champagne Les Longues Voyes Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
The 2018 Les Longues Voyes cuvée produced by Aurélien Laherte is a delicate and silky Blanc de Noirs, with a nice tension. This champagne will be perfect for an aperitif or at the table. The Pinot Noirs that make up this cuvée were harvested in 2018 and come from Premier Cru terroirs of the Montagne de Reims.
The grapes were harvested at perfect maturity, pressed, then vinified in oak barrels with an aging period of 18 months. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to promote the expression of the terroir. After disgorging, the wine is dosed Extra-Brut at 2 g/L to preserve this great freshness. The nose reveals notes of black fruits, and the palate is lively, tense, fine, tasty and tonic. The wine is of great purity with a very persistent saline finish. This Les Longues Voyes 2018 champagne has superb aging potential.
Expert Reviews
Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The NV Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Longes Voyages Extra Brut is rich with coiled concentration of cherry liqueur, toasted graham cracker, and violets. It is balanced and has a refined mousse, with focused energy and eau de vie of black fruits, wet stone, and a fresh floral note that lingers on the long finish. It strikes a wonderful balance between power and finesse. Drink 2022-2040.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous 94 Points | The 2018 Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Longues Voyes 1er Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, is the most engaging of the three parcellaire wines today. Aromatic, deep and exquisitely layered, the Longues Voyes is super-expressive today. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, white pepper, crushed rocks and bright acids lend vibrancy throughout. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: December, 2021.
Laherte Freres Champagne Rose de Meunier Extra Brut 750ml
Expert Reviews
Vinous 91 Points | The NV Extra Brut Rosé de Meunier is bright, punchy and super-expressive, with notes of cranberry, blood orange, mint, crushed rocks and dried flowers. Deceptive in its mid-weight feel, the Rosé de Meunier packs a pretty serious punch. The blend is 60% Meunier (white pressed), 30% Meunier with maceration and 10% still red Meunier. Dosage is 2.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2023. Drinking 2023 - 2030. - Vinous 91
Robert Parker 91 Points | Disgorged earlier this year (March 2021), the NV Extra-Brut Rosé de Meunier bursts with aromas of red berries, peonies, licorice and spices. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's layered and vinous, with a ripe core of fruit and brisk girdling acids. As usual, it's a blend of 60% direct pressed Pinot Meunier, 30% macerated Pinot Meunier and 10% red Pinot Meunier.
Lanson Champagne Le Rose NV Brut 750ml
Winemaker Description
Since 1760, the house of Lanson has remained family own. Faithful to its heritage, Lanson Champagnes have always been made the original way, offering an exceptional development of flavors while preserving the natural purity of the fruit. This historical commitment makes Lanson wines more fresh, crisp and elegant with a longer ageing potential.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling | Pale salmon-copper hue with notes of strawberries, tangerines, persimmons, bread dough and some chamomile. Lovely freshness and fruitiness, with a medium body and sleek bubbles. Vibrant red and orange fruit throughout. 53% pinot noir, 32% chardonnay and 15% pinot meunier. 7% red wine (pinot noir from Bouzy and Les Riceys and meunier from Vallee de la Marne). Base wine 2017 with 35% reserve wine. 8g/L dosage.
Jeb Dunnuck | Fruity and primary up front, the NV Champagne Le Rose pours a pale salmon with an orange tinge, which they achieve with the addition of 7% red wine from the villages of Bouzy and Les Riceys. Offering attractive aromas of orange zest, nectarine, and white strawberry, it’s medium-bodied and has a rounded mid-palate, with a supple mousse, a juicy and fresh style, and a floral flourish on the finish.
Robert Parker | Based on the 2014 vintage and disgorged in December 2019 with eight grams per liter dosage, Lanson's NV Brut Le Rosé is showing nicely, offering up aromas of peach, crisp orchard fruit, pink grapefruit and warm brioche. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with a racy spine of acidity and a pretty pinpoint mousse, it concludes with a saline finish. This is quite tightly wound out of the gates, and I suspect it possesses a bit of upside.
Wine Spectator | A clean-cut, snappy version with a creamy bead delivering a fine range of peach, toast point, graphite and smoke flavors that expand on the palate. It's lightly honeyed and mouthwatering on the finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
Wine & Spirits | This clean, fresh rose presents ripe citrus flavors up front, hinting at tangerine and sweet clementine. Then it turns toward bitter-almond notes in the finish. Built for roast fish.
Lanson Champagne Le Vintage 2012 750ml
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 94 Points | This is a solid vintage Champagne with depth and structure, as well very fine bubbles that frame the wine beautifully. Full-bodied with fine layers of fruit and lots of flint, stone, chalk, spicy ginger and lime character in the palate. 52% pinot noir and 48% chardonnay. Dosage 7g/L. Disgorged in July 2021. Very drinkable now, but will age beautifully.
Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | This Champagne, still young, has almost equal proportions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. That results in a ripe, balanced wine. Its white fruit is cut with citrus giving a full-bodied mouthfeel. The wine should age further, so drink from 2025.
Wine Spectator 92 Points | A fresh, minerally Champagne, with accents of fleur de sel and oyster shell and flavors of ripe green apple, pink grapefruit sorbet, toast point and pastry cream. This has a light plushness that wraps the bright spine of acidity in a fine, cashmerelike texture. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2030. 250 cases imported.
Lanson Pere & Fils Brut Champagne NV 750ml
Expert Reviews
Yohan Castaing of the Wine Advocate writes 90 Points | Disgorged on June 2023 and based on the 2018 vintage, the NV Brut Black Label has a delicate, herbal bouquet with aromas of orchard fruit, spring flowers, lemon oil and spices, followed by a medium-bodied palate with tensile and bright acids. It concludes with an energetic, elegant finish.
James Suckling writes 92 Points | A fresh, balanced palate with green apples, pie crust and pears. Medium body, fine bubbles and a crisp, dry finish. Nice center palate. Four years on the lees. Drink now.
Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 91 Points | Racy acidity is tightly meshed to flavors of ripe red and black currant, preserved lemon, chopped almond and honeycomb in this sleek Champagne, with a fine, chalky bead. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged September 2020. Drink now through 2024.
Simon Field MW of Decanter writes | Ripe and bold, with a silky texture and a dark, pinot-driven fruitiness, underlined by savoury notes of lees.
Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Les Chemins d'Avize Blanc de Blancs GG Extra Brut 2014 750ml
Expert Review
Wine Advocate 96 Points: The 2014 Extra Brut Les Chemins d'Avize Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fabulous. Rich, ample and potent, the 2014 possesses tremendous density from start to finish. Apricot, spice, dried flowers, graphite and lemon confit all build in a Champagne of enormous resonance. The pedigree here is evident. Chemins d'Avize is a blend from the Chemin de Plivot and Chemin de Flavigny lieux-dits. It was vinified in neutral oak and bottled with dosage of two grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2021.
Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Non Brut Nature 1er Cru 2016 Organic 750ml
Expert Reviews
Laurent Perrier Champagne Cuvee ROSE Brut 750ml
Expert Reviews
Audrey Frick writes: (Tasted November 7, 2022) The NV Champagne La Cuvée Brut Rosé is entirely Pinot Noir from 10 crus in the Montagne de Reims. It is forward in the glass with ripe currants, fresh herbs, and smoky perfume. This continues to the palate, with notes of ripe wild raspberry and tangerine, and it has a medium to full-bodied texture that is pure and lightly savory on the finish. Fantastically paired with beef tartar and other richer raw preparations, this is a wonderful and food-friendly expression. Drink 2022-2032. - Jeb Dunnuck 92
Laurent Perrier Champagne Grand Siecle No 26 750ml
Winemaker Description
A white gold in color with delicate and persistent bubbles, Grand Siecle No. 26 offers a very complex nose which mixes honeysuckle, lemon, clementine and fresh butter aromas, followed by notes of hazelnut and a touch of honey. The feel in the mouth is very delicate and fresh with candied lemon and fresh hazelnut aromas. The palate is silky and mineral with notes of honeysuckle, flaked almonds and clementine.
It pairs with high quality produce and refined dishes, including shellfish, noble fish and white meats such as Thai style langoustine tartare and fine roasted poultry.
Expert Reviews
100 James Suckling James Suckling's #1 Wine of 2023 | This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage.
97 Points Wine Enthusiast | Tautly textured, the Champagne is delicious with a poise between white and citrus fruits along with touches of maturity coming through. Drink this magnificent wine now for its great balance and intensity.
96 Points Decanter | This iteration of Grand Siècle is almost entirely composed of two of Champagne's greatest recent vintages, so expectations are high. The wine more than meets them, tempering the generosity of 2012's fruit – ripe apricots, white peach, clementines and sunny, zesty citrus – with a pitch-perfect streak of 2008 tautness and structure. There are some fleshy, creamy notes of papaya and toasted white sourdough, but everything is as delicately rendered as expected and impeccably shaped, with a sleek, silky mousse. A little more approachable than Itération No. 25, it will welcome extended bottle age rather than demand it. The blend is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir from eight grand cru vineyards. 65% is from the 2012 vintage, 35% from 2008 and 10% from 2007.
96 Points Robert Parker | Unfurling in the glass with scents of crisp nectarine, pear and honeyed citrus fruit that mingle with notions of fresh mint, blanched almonds and iodine, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated and tightly wound, with broad structural shoulders, tangy acids and a long, intense finish. It's a great Grand Siècle in the making.
95 Points Wine Spectator | A graceful Champagne, with flavors of boysenberry and black cherry fruit, toast, blanched almond and grapefruit pith, graphite and fleur de sel gliding across the satiny mousse. Reveals racy acidity that sculpts fine definition, allowing the detailed profile to expand on the palate, while minerally hints of chalk and oyster shell linger on the finish.
Laurent Perrier Champagne La Cuvee Brut NV 1.5L Magnum
Expert Review
Lettie Teague writes: The de Nonancourt family, which took over Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 1939, holds majority shares of this very large Champagne house. (The rest are publicly traded; Laurent-Perrier is listed on the Euronext stock exchange.) Interestingly enough, though one of Laurent Perrier’s greatest claims to fame is its lush, 100% Pinot Noir cuvée rosé, the non-vintage La Cuvée brut is produced from a high proportion of Chardonnay. The result is a round, relatively soft and approachable, medium-bodied Champagne with a fresh acidity. Not every Champagne is substantial enough to serve with food, but this one certainly proved to be so, pairing perfectly with a piece of grilled fish. - Wall St. Journal, Dec 16-17, 2023
Laurent Perrier Champagne La Cuvee Brut NV 750ml
Expert Review
Lettie Teague writes: Champagne Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Brut | The de Nonancourt family, which took over Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 1939, holds majority shares of this very large Champagne house. (The rest are publicly traded; Laurent-Perrier is listed on the Euronext stock exchange.) Interestingly enough, though one of Laurent Perrier’s greatest claims to fame is its lush, 100% Pinot Noir cuvée rosé, the non-vintage La Cuvée brut is produced from a high proportion of Chardonnay. The result is a round, relatively soft and approachable, medium-bodied Champagne with a fresh acidity. Not every Champagne is substantial enough to serve with food, but this one certainly proved to be so, pairing perfectly with a piece of grilled fish. - Wall St. Journal December 16-17, 2023
Laurent Perrier La Cuvee Champagne NV BRUT 375ml HALF BOTTLE
The wine comes from the purest grape juice and it alone allows Laurent-Perrier to craft 'La Cuvée', a champagne of great finesse and a beautiful freshness obtained after a long ageing process in our cellars.
Pale gold in color. Fine bubbles feed a persistent mousse. A delicate nose with hints of fresh citrus and white flowers. The wine’s complexity is expressed in successive notes like vine peach and white fruits notes. A perfect balance between freshness and delicacy with fruity flavors very present on the finish.
This fresh and pure wine is perfect for an apéritif. Its citrus and white fruits notes and its remarkable balance supported by a subtle effervescence, make it an ideal accompaniment to poultry and the finest fish.
Points Tasting Panel | Boasting the texture of billowing silk, this Chardonnay-dominant brut cuvée openly appeals with aromas of buttery brioche, lime blossom, and ripe peach-the latter of which Laurent-Perrier forms a bridge on the palate between the creaminess of pear frangipane and lemon sherbet and the freshness of lemongrass and yuzu, edged by a light stroke of chalk.
James Suckling | This is lovely, the aromas and flavors run long into the finish with notes of light butter biscuits, subtle cooked apples and peaches. It's full yet balanced and long. Lovely texture. Lots of flavor and polished textured bubbles. The base in the current release is 2016 vintage. 50% chardonnay, 35% pinot noir and 15% pinot meunier.
PointsJeb Dunnuck | The NV Champagne La Cuvée Brut is aged for 4 years and sees 8 grams per liter dosage. The nose is very pretty and elegant, with floral aromas of brioche and sweet orchard fruits. Fresh with apricot, it is expressive of its lovely Chardonnay character. The palate is soft and approachable, and in line with the nose. This is a great aperitif style to begin with. Drink now or over the following 10 years.
PointsWine Enthusiast | As an indication of its complexity, this Champagne is a blend of more than 100 different wines. This non vintage cuvée is rich, with a hint of toast contrasting with the wine’s mineral texture. White fruits give a vivid character to the aftertaste.
PointsDecanter | Sourced from over 100 Grand Cru villages, this well balanced and delicious Champagne is appley and creamy, with richer apricot and brioche towards the finish giving a soft impression.
Points
Leclerc Briant Champagne ROSE Extra Brut Biodynamic Organic 750ml
Winemaker Description
Brut Rosé is racy and high-toned, due to its high percentage of Chardonnay (95%). 5% Pinot Noir provides a pale melon color. Natural malolactic fermentation. Aged in stainless steel tanks with a small percentage of Pinot Noir in oak barrels. Aged over 2 years on the lees in bottle (sur lattes). Dosage is kept below 3 grams per liter and the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Expert Review
91 Points Wine & Spirits | A fruit-for-ward sweetness infuses this wine with scents of golden peach and passion fruit, though the wine remains tight, with a grapefruit and mineral acidity. It’s big enough to take on a tuna steak.
90 Points Wine Spectator | A delicate rosé Champagne, displaying a fresh and tangy range of white cherry, star fruit and pink grapefruit zest layered with a subtle chalky underpinning. Lively.
Leclerc Briant Champagne Vertus 1er Cru Monts Ferres 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
Leclerc Briant was an early adopter of organic practices beginning in the 1960’s and pioneered the concept of single-vineyard Champagne starting in the 1970’s. Fifth generation vigneron, Pascal Leclerc began to follow biodynamic principles in 1988, with part of the production Demeter certified since 2003.
Expert Review
Wine Advocate 94 Points | The 2018 Les Monts Ferrés Blanc de Blancs derives from vines planted in the eponymous parcel in the 1er cru village of Vertus. It reveals a delicate, fine bouquet with aromas of fresh bread, acacia, spring flowers and ripe orchard fruits. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced, it’s enveloping and structured with both racy and bright acidity. This is a tension-filled, ethereal Champagne with a dosage of 1.4 grams per liter.
Leclerc-Briant Champagne Blanc de Meuniers 1er Cru Brut Zero 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
An open-knit nose of wild plum, almond and orange with underlying notes of salted bread. On the palate, the wine shows considerable body and a complex array of flavors including lemongrass, peppermint and quince. As the wine breathes scents of orange blossom and honeysuckle come to the fore and mingle with the soft, spicy accents of cumin and nutmeg.
Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 242 1.50L MAGNUM
Winemaker Description
The Collection 242 blend is dominated by Chardonnay which was of exceptional quality in the 2017 vintage. The perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes lend the wine its aromas of ripe, sweet fruit complemented by subtle oaky notes. The palate is rich and ripe with a luxurious texture that coats the palate, the signature of an outstanding Chardonnay. The Pinot noir and Meunier grapes from the Vallée de la Marne complete the wine’s broad, luscious, smooth and juicy character. The finish is energetic and fresh.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 94 Points | Aromas of cooked apple, bread dough and lemon tart follow through to a full body with round, delicious fruit and a rich, flavorful finish. Yet, it remains tight and fine with lovely, compressed bubbles. New energy and freshness. Medium-to full-bodied with layers of fruit and vivid intensity. 42% chardonnay, 36% pinot noir and 22% pinot meunier. 8 grams dosage. Four years on the less. A new-format non-vintage that designates the year of the 242nd harvest, 2017, plus reserve wine of 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Drink or hold.
The Somm Journal 94 Points | For all its freshness and finesse, Roederer’s new multivintage release (see page 64 for the technical details) also exhibits notable warmth and generosity. On the nose, ginger joins baked apple and frangipane tart; the mouth, meanwhile, fills all the way up with sunbathed orchard fruits, plus hints of lime zest and oak spice. The finish, like the perlage, goes on and on.
Wine Advocate 93+ Points | Roederer's Brut Premier was created in the 1980s to prove to consumers that we could deliver consistent quality with a blend that compensated for less than perfectly ripe vintages," explains Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. "We were blending in pursuit of maturity, of ripeness. The concept behind the Brut Collection is the opposite: we're looking for freshness—and we are embracing singularity, something we're emphasizing by enumerating each year's blend." This project has been in the making since 2012, when Lecaillon set aside 21,000 liters of wine to constitute a perpetual reserve aged in large tanks without malolactic fermentation. Sourcing has evolved too: less must is coming from cooperatives, and only vineyards cultivated without the use of herbicides inform the blend. A dedicated team oversees all this, visiting every grower three times per year. And vinification is parcel by parcel to deliver a maximum of blending components.
Decanter 92 Points | Softly shimmering straw gold, green tints, with a delicate filigree dancing at will around the glass. The nose is gently authoritative; spring flowers garlanding stone fruit, a hint of hawthorn maybe, then lemongrass. The palate has encyclopaedic depth, the intricacies of the Perpetual Reserve weaving their early magic; almond, sloe, gingerbread and apples; the finish has a pleasing twist of bitterness, courtesy of the small percentage of oak-aged reserve wine. Maybe the dosage (8g/L) can come down even further, such is the engaging and subtle complexity harnessed elsewhere?
Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 244 Brut NV 750ml
Winemaker Description
Lovely golden yellow, very champagne-like, hue. Dense and steady flow of extremely fine bubbles. Deep, broad bouquet of ripe fruit (wild peaches, William pears) combined with citrus (lemons, blood oranges). The iodized and smoky notes, associated with the autolysis and the ageing in wood, add aromatic freshness. Then come notes of chalk and a hint of reduction, suggesting that the wine will be concentrated and powerful. The entry to the palate is delicious showing a rich and robust texture. There is a very juicy and concentrated sensation as if you were biting into a ripe fruit. The substance is caressingly soft, coating the palate but is then immediately lightened by the delicate bubbles. The length is created by a lovely backbone of chalky freshness. The wine is both delectably rich, with a slightly roasted character, and super fresh thanks to a salivating finish. The smoky notes then take over to underpin a very flavorsome finish.
Collection 244 marks the return of the texture of the Meunier from the Marne and the Montagne, which adds a lovely richness to the well-structured and saline Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.
Expert Reviews
William Kelley writes: Based on the 2019 vintage, Roederer's NV Brut Collection 244 is the finest release of the house's reimagined non-vintage Brut to date. Offering up aromas of pear, peach and nectarine mingled with notions of white flowers, beeswax, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a pretty pinpoint mousse, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. The quality of the base vintage really shines through. Drinking 2023 to 2032. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93+
Alison Napjus writes: An elegant Champagne, with bright acidity buoying a well-integrated range of ripe pear and white cherry, almond skin, fleur de sel and apple blossom notes. Fine and seamless, with a lingering, spiced finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator 93
Tom Hewson writes: The powerful, ripe side of 2019 is on shown here, with white peach and mandarin flavours held in place by the toasty, savoury citrus oil snap of the perpetual reserve. Still feels youthful and fragrant with juicy pear, blossom and almond notes. Will show even better with another six months. 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 26% Meunier. 54% from the 2019 base vintage, with 36% perpetual reserve and 10% reserve wines in oak. Drinking 2023 to 2028. - Decanter 93
Stuart Pigott writes: The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more. A cuvee of 41% chardonnay, 33% pinot noir and 26% pinot meunier. Of these, 15% fermented in oak and 85% in stainless steel. The final blend contained 36% reserve perpetual and 10% reserve wines of the 2012 - 2018 vintage from oak. The dosage is 7 g/l. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 94
Audrey Frick writes: A pale silver/straw hue, the NV Champagne Collection 244 has 2019 as its base, with 42% Chardonnay, 26% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir. Expressive on opening, it’s fresh with a beautiful floral perfume and reveals pure notes of red berries, cherry, fresh peach, and a lovely fresh bit of primary fruit. It has a fine and refined mousse, and the palate is supple and inviting. Medium-bodied and elegant, with a ripe core, it has a delicate salinity to balance its freshness and has an attractive, lightly tannic feel while retaining a refined and precise profile. Approachable and fantastic now, it will be exciting to see how this develops over time. It continues to be an exceptional value. Drink 2024-2036. They have dialed the dosage back by a gram from the previous edition to 7 grams per liter of dosage. - Jeb Dunnuck 93
Richard Hemming MW writes: Light nose but the palate fights back with plenty of mature, dried fruit, yeastiness and a very savoury umami style with dosage on the trendily low side. If anything, I'd prefer a gram or two more sugar, but that more austere style is very much on trend. Based on the 2019 vintage. Drinking 2024 to 2027. - Jancis Robinson 16.5
Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut Vintage 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
A perfect combination of softness and concentration, matched by a masterful maturity, The 2015 Cristal Brut delivers intense and delicious aromas with a superb energy and a magical vibration.
This is a timeless champagne with a chalky temperament, sustained by its soils, freed from the sunny character of the vintage.The nose begins with hints of yellow fruit, toasted almonds and wheat from the Chardonnay, combined with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot Noir.
Then comes the great surge of energy from the wine's structure, a vibratory intensity that transforms into a gentle caress, a silky texture interwoven with fine flavors of candied citrus and iodized spices.The vintage's chalky character thus bursts forth in a bracing, vertical effervescence, with an insistent, precise and finely honed freshness.
The finish is underpinned by subtle oaky, sappy and saline notes, which creates the ultimate sensation of delicacy and concentration.Cristal 2015 remains a wine of supreme balance and measure, resonating from the chalky nature of its soils rather than the sunny character of its vintage.
A perfect Cristal, intensely of the 2015 vintage, with enormous ageing potential.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 97 Points | The warm and dry vintage this has tremendous freshness and elegance. The complex nose of citrus blossom, mint, lemon and lime zest opens up slowly as this aerates in the glass. The wine’s ample structure is still quite firm, which is a vintage characteristic, the mousse very fine but also very lively for an eight-year-old champagne. Cristal fans will love this as it is, but a year or two more in the bottle will do a lot for the very long mineral finish of this youthful masterpiece. A cuvee of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, picked from all 45 Cristal vineyard plots. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023.
96 Points Wine Spectator | This mouthwatering Champagne has an ethereal quality, with a frame of chiseled acidity and focused precision to the pointillisme-like, vibrant mousse. Yet this shows depth and generous expression, with the finely spun notes of patisserie apple and blackberry fruit opening beautifully on the palate and through the minerally finish, with notes of grated ginger, blood orange granita, salted Marcona almond and anise.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck | I had the opportunity to taste the 2015 Champagne Cristal twice, both at the house in Reims as well as at my home office. On both occasions, the wine offered a terrific balance of decadence and notable freshness for this vintage, which was highly expressive on opening. The release reveals layered custardy notes of lemon balm, incense, apricot, and hazelnut. Medium to full-bodied, the mousse is fluffy and rounded out beautifully through the palate. Round and approachable, it has a well-managed richness along with underlying savory sapidity and saline to keep this going over the coming three or more decades, with a chalky tannin structure to support it.
95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | If the 2014 vintage was especially open and demonstrative, the 2015 Cristal is going to require more patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp stone fruits, white flowers, crushed mint and subtle hints of buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a deep, concentrated and rather introverted core of fruit framed by chalky extract and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse. This is a serious, vinous Champagne that has considerable substance to age and may well evolve along the lines of the lovely 1985.
95 Points Decanter | An open and inviting nose references cream, oatmeal and Amalfi lemon with the slightest edge of smoke. The palate immediately strikes with a mouthwatering lemon ripeness and a juicy, mouthfilling generosity reminiscent of yellow plum. It stays true to the trademark sleekness of Cristal and speaks of the concentration of 2015. Fine mousse accentuates the fullness and roundness of the wine while the long finish hints at chalky depth which, for now, is dominated by ripe stone fruit and more of that textured, rich notion of oatmeal. Definitely a Cristal to enjoy soon.
Louis Roederer Philippe Starck BRUT NATURE Champagne 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
Yellow hue with shimmering highlights and an even flow of lively bubbles. The bouquet is pure, elegant, vertical, rich and concentrated. Nuances of ripe fruit combined with exceptional finesse: fine, delicate citrus peel (lemon, orange) and vanilla (Madagascar bourbon vanilla) along with warmer notes of baked apple and Tarte Tatin that gradually give way to aromas of nougat.
The palate offers a marked and singular contrast: it is very expressionist thanks to the broad, juicy, almost sensual texture of the Cumières clay soils in a sunny year, yet distinctly minimalist due to a fresh, pure, mineral and mouthwatering backbone associated with its zero dosage. Ripe citrus fruit combines with warm stone notes further accentuating the mouthwatering, umami sensation. The finish is light, energetic and ethereal.
Expert Review
Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2015 Champagne Starck Brut Nature is forward with vinous and spicy aromas of saline and red currant, orange blossom, and smoke. It is expansive on the palate while maintaining a core of fresh acidity, with peach, dried flowers, and wet stone. This complex and unique expression is full of energy and has great gastronomic appeal. Drink 2022-2040. (Drink between 2022-2040).
Michel Gonet Champagne Extra Brut Blanc De Blancs Les 3 Terroirs 2019 750ml
Winemaker Description
A creamy and complex wine with fresh notes of fruits and flowers with hints of pastry fragrances. This classic chardonnay is fruity, vivacious and aerial, with a slight acid scent and a beautiful mineral purity. The freshness and the mellowness of this wine makes it a perfect aperitif champagne which could go well with spicy light dishes.
Champagne Gonet was founded in 1802 and since then, six generations of family members have ensured that the House has grown and prospered. In 1973, Michel Gonet, whose Champagnes bear his name today, modernised and increased the wine cellars with only one objective; to improve the quality of the wine making.
Today, Michel Gonet Champagne covers 40 hectares of the best champagne soil stretching from South of Epernay Grand Cru villages of Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil sur Oger to the hillsides of Sezannes to Vindey. The vineyards are situated in the Côte des Blancs, which benefits from an exceptional climate, being protected by the mountain of Reims from the cold North winds and rainfalls in the Marne valley. The characteristically chalky sub-soil combined with ideal exposure to the sun and protection from more unstable climates
The Pinot Noir vineyards are located in Fravaux on the hillsides of Bar sur Aubois in the south of Champagne. About 20% of the grapes grown are Pinot Noir used for Rosé Champagne, with the rest dedicated to Chardonnay.
Michel Gonet has now retired and he has put his daughter Sophie at the helm of the Gonet Champagne House. Sophie has the honor to be the President of Women Winegrowers of Champagne and also "l' Universe du Gout en Champagne."
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne BLUE LABEL Brut Reserve 750ml
Expert Review
Lettie Teague writes: Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Brut, Produced in very large quantities (over 10 million bottles yearly), this non-vintage bottling is produced by a sizable group of Champagne growers, too. Founded by Nicolas Feuillatte in 1976, the company now sources grapes from a staggering 6,000 growers—one out of every three growers in Champagne, according to the company’s press materials. The wine is an equal-parts blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (40% each), with 20% Chardonnay blended in. It’s fresh and clean and easy to drink—a real crowd-pleaser—with a crisp acidity and pleasant citric note. According to a 2023 Nielsen report, in France it is the most popular Champagne brand of all. - Wall St. Journal, Dec. 16-17, 2023
Oudiette Filles ‘Les Sablonnières’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne NV (2019) 750ml
Winemaker Description
Les Sablonnières comes from a tiny plot (23.64 ares) near the village of Beaunay in the Coteaux du Petit Morin. The parcel has a south-southwestern exposure at 200m planted to pinot noir and pinot noir droit (a small-berried clone prized for its structure) on sandy-clay topsoils, over a chalky subsoil. 2019 was the first time this vineyard was fermented alone and the results are stunning. Les Sablonnières is particularly suited to producing fine pinot noir that is both well-structured and immediately inviting, with a beautiful nose and effortless grace.
Handed harvested fruit is taken to a state-of-the-art press house located just five minutes from her vineyards in the village of Vert-Toulon, where they were pressed in a Coquard press with an inclined plate (the latest generation of Coquard). Only the heart, or the coeur de cuvée, of the first pressing is utilized. 90% of primary fermentation occurs in used (5-7 years old) 228L Burgundy oak barrels, and 10% in new barrels, without fining, filtration, or cold stabilization. Malolactic fermentation is natural and spontaneous in the barrel. Wines are naturally stabilized and aged for ten months in the same oak barrels with bâtonnage three times. Aged 36 months in bottle before disgorgement and a dosage of 3g/L from concentrated grape must from her vineyards.
Palmer & Co Champagne Rose Solera NV Brut 750ml
Winemaker Description
Exceptionally fruity! Palmer & Co has created a rosé combining exceptional fruitiness and delicate notes of spice. At the heart of the blend lies a unique Solera of Pinot Noir, a perpetual reserve of several decades reflecting the House’s celebrated expertise. The intense nose is dominated by the energising aroma of wild strawberries with tantalising light notes of red and black currants in the background, overlaying very delicate notes of vanilla and cinnamon spice. Fresh and full-bodied on the palate, it is drawn out in finely tannic, succulent bubbles in the same register of fruity elegance.
Expert Reviews
Palmer Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ml
Expert Reviews
Palmer Champagne Grands Terroirs Millesime 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
Champagne Palmer & Co concentrates its vineyard holdings in the Montagne de Reims: in the grand cru villages of Mailly and Verzenay and the premier cru villages of Trépail and Villers-Marmery. While they also have holdings in the Marne Valley, the Côte de Sézanne and the Côte des Bar, their prestige cuvée Grands Terroirs, channels those north- and north-east-facing slopes with power and precision.
The 2015 vintage is blended from 50% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Meunier, sourced from Mailly and Verzenay as well as Trépail, Villers-Marmery, Ludes, Chigny-les-Roses and Rilly-la-Montagne. Palmer & Co refers to the vintage as “exceptional” because it combined high temperatures and little rainfall – spelling little disease pressure and even ripening. Sunny days and cool nights in August, they say, allowed for “perfect” ripening.
The nose, subtle and charming, opens with notes of orange blossom and acacia, mixed with notes of yellow fruits, then it evolves towards lovely and delicately spiced aromas of fried pineapple and tonka bean. The palate is characterized by freshness, with citrus fruits sublimating the notes of brioche and dried fruits. Its creamy texture stretches deliciously into a persistent finish.
Expert Reviews
92 Points Wine & Spirits | Markedly youthful in its smoky reduction, this wine sees its sulfur blow off quickly, leaving a flinty scent and an impression of clarity. It’s bright with pretty scents of black tea and herbs, firmed up by strong acidity.
92 Points James Suckling | A chalky and mineral Champagne with aromas of blanched almonds, chalk, seashells, biscuits, lemon pith and dried apples. Creamy mousse. Dry and bright, with a rounded finish. Drink now or hold.
Philipponnat Champagne Grand Blanc Brut 2011 750ml
Winemaker Description
The wine making land at Maison Philipponnat spans 21 hectares, and the work carried out here leans increasingly towards a closer relationship with the terroir and the nature of its vines. This modest, vintage cuvée is made entirely from Chardonnay and is a blend of first-press premiers and grands crus. This cuvée was vinified in vats, with a partial malolactic fermentation followed by an oak-barrel stage. It has a low dosage of 4.25g/L. In the glass, it has a clear and golden appearance with delicate bubbles. On the nose, floral and citrus notes come through. Its palate is elegant with notes of Mirabelle plum. It should be served cool and will pair nicely with fruit sorbet, lemon tart or scallops.
Philipponnat Champagne Royale Reserve Brut 750ml
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 92 Points | The latest rendition of the NV Brut Rosé Royale Réserve is based on the 2019 vintage and was disgorged in March 2023 with nine grams per liter. Revealing a fresh, fruity bouquet with aromas of strawberries, rose petals, menthol and pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and generous with a gourmand mid-palate and a long, saline finish.
James Suckling 92 Points | Walnuts, apricot stones, honey, sourdough and orange fruit here. Creamy and balanced, with a medium body and fine bubbles. Excellent persistency. 67% pinot noir, 31% chardonnay and 2% meunier. 2019 base with 34% reserve wines. Disgorged January 2023.
Decanter 93 Points | Few producers do Pinot Noir-dominated NV as well as Philipponnat, the latest edition showcasing ripe apricot, orange citrus and pale raspberry fruit backed by precise lemon peel energy and subtle resonance from a 34% oak-aged perpetual reserve. Hugely expressive, yet without an inch of fat, this is another irresistible NV: 67% Pinot Noir, 31% Chardonnay, 2% Meunier, largely from the Grande Vallée de la Marne and Vertus, based on 2019.
Wine Spectator 93 Points | A poised Champagne that shows impeccable balance, integrating a delicate frame of acidity with flavors of black cherry, crushed almond, pickled ginger and candied lemon peel. Reveals a chalky note that lingers on the satiny finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged January 2023. Drink now through 2028.
Audrey Frick writes: The current release of the NV Champagne Royale Reserve Brut is 69% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay, and the rest Meunier, mostly from the 2018 harvest and 26% reserve wine. It has a pale straw color and is fresh with white flowers, ripe peach, and rounded brioche. The palate is approachable and refreshing, with pithy citrus of lemon and orange, red fruits, and bread dough. Its ripe but fresh style casts a large net. Drink 2022-2030. Disgorged May 2022. - Jeb Dunnuck 90
Pierre Ferrand Cognac Grande Champagne 1er Cru Ambre 750ml
Producer Description
A very subtle, aromatic Cognac. Its subtle vanilla bouquet also has floral overtones of roses and violets, leading into hints of prunes and apricots. Pierre Ferrand Ambre is superbly balanced on the palate. The aromas found on the bouquet linger on the palate for several minutes.
Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Cuvee de Reserve Grand Cru Champagne 750ml
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 86 Points | (Tasted August 7, 2023) Aromas of Italian croissant, cooked apple and tarte tatin. Medium-bodied with a roundness and freshness. Steely. Floats on the palate like you are in the clouds. 75% from 2019 and 25% perpetual reserve. 5g/L dosage. Drink now.
Tom Hewson of Decanter writes 92 Points | (Tasted October 30, 2023) The reserve wines bring a delicious, savoury sense of sourdough richness to fresh clementine, lemon and pale stone fruit, the tension of classic chalky villages still present but rounded out into a wine of impressive persistence. A benchmark NV Blanc de Blancs. 100% Chardonnay from grand cru villages in the Côte des Blancs. Based on the 2018 vintage with 50% reserves from a perpetual reserve going back to 1988. Drinking 2023 - 2028.
William Kelley of The Wine Advocate writes 92 Points | (Reviewed August 31, 2022) Based on the 2019 vintage (which Péters declares "the best of the decade") and disgorged this year, the NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée de Réserve bursts with aromas of crisp stone fruit, orange zest, freshly baked bread and beeswax. Medium-bodied, ample and pillowy, with a fleshy core of fruit, racy acids and a saline finish, it's animated by an attractive pinpoint mousse.
Alison Napjus of The WIne Spectator writes 92 Points | (Reviewed 2022) A lively Champagne, offering pretty floral and ripe, macerated fruit aromas that accent nectarine and grainy pear flavors, with hints of pickled ginger, verbena and slivered almond and a fine, lacy mousse. Elegant. Drink now. 150 cases imported.
Jancis Robinson writes 16.5 Points | (Tasted March 18, 2021) A more friendly, approachable wine than the Extra Brut – and more tight knit. Very fine bead and great, sappy balance between the delicate fruit and something more substantial – presumably the reserve wines. I don't really see why this is less expensive than the Extra Brut. Really quite fine and rewarding with this more mature undertow beneath the particularly zesty initial impression. Drink 2021 - 2023.