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The Bonville family's selection is made only from the Chardonnay grape and is characterized by its fine perlage and the typical scent of chalk and hazelnuts.
Minerality, purity as well as a tasty chalky appearance come out of this delicious bottle, perfectly suited for an aperitif and to awaken the taste buds. aromas of citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit) and green apple marry with distinction with very fine bubbles giving the whole thing an extremely airy side. pleasant. A superb Blanc de Blancs to put in everyone’s mouth !
92 Points Robert Parker | The intensely yellow colored NV Brut Nature Fluence assembles 60% Pinot Meunier and 34% Pinot Noir with 6% Chardonnay. The most recent issue is based on the vintages 2012 (30%) and 2013 (70%) and was disgorged in June 2017. The wine opens with an intense and ripe fruit aroma on the nose that has a lot of Chardonnay features. On the palate, this is a beautifully pure, precise and fine yet very intense Brut Nature with a firm, tight structure and a long and complex finish. A stunning, great Champagne with a mineral finish and lots of pineapple and terroir flavors.
Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | The fine and creamy bead of this elegant rosé carries an attractive mix of white cherry, peach, blood orange granita and biscuit flavors, enlivened by a firm frame of mouthwatering acidity.
Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points | The NV Champagne Grand Brut Rosé pours a medium salmon hue and is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (8% of which is red wine). It is juicy with ripe raspberry, crushed flowers, and sweet citrus. The palate is ripe with apricot, sweet tangerine, and a soft texture. It is ready to drink now or over the next 6-8 years.
This Grand Rosé has a high percentage of Chardonnay, which creates freshness and precision, complemented by Pinot Noir with delivers very fine and crunchy fruit. With 4 years minimum ageing in the cellars, this Rosé balances between freshness and fruit without masking the wine’s character and purity. The nose reveals aromas of citrus and strawberries with subtle notes of red berries and spice. The palate is well-built with a constant balance between the tension of the acidity and the smoothness of the fruit, while the finish shows a nice roundness and lovely minerality.
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.
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.
Apolline Henriot believed Chardonnay to be a light with multiple intensities that she wanted to show to the world. When Paul Henriot, fourth generation of the family, married Marie Marguet in 1880, owner of vines in the Côtes des Blancs, Apolline's desire for Chardonnay is fulfilled, twenty years after her passing. In order to pay tribute to this new vineyard for Maison Henriot, the family started to craft this multi-vintage Champagne made exclusively from the lands planted with Chardonnay.
Sparkling, crystalline pale gold with slight green highlights. Abundant effervescence, with fine, delicate bubbles. Pure, concentrated and expressive, with floral (honeysuckle, orange flower, linden), fruity (lemon, dried apricot, almond) and pastry aromas, followed by spicy notes. The attack is dynamic, full and powerful, with aromas of lightly toasted brioche, quince jelly, and acacia honey. The clean, delicious finish develops on a light menthol note and shows excellent length.
Lovely as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to dishes such as foie gras terrine, roasted chicken, lobster rolls, smoked salmon or sushi.
Wine Spectator 93 Points | Elegant, refreshing and harmonious, with a lacy mousse and notes of apricot, lime peel, quince and biscuit. Well-honed by chiseled acidity, this expands nicely through the mineral-driven finish.
James Suckling 92 Points | Lovely richness for a blanc de blancs with aromas of pastries, brioche, hazelnuts, roasted lemons, figs and apple crumble. Open and delicious, with silky bubbles and layers of nuts, fresh fruit and pastry elements, tied together with fresh acidity. 100% chardonnay. 32% reserve wine.
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | The Champagne has a fine maturity, the bright citrus fruit softened into a touch of toast. This is the perfect moment to drink this wine.
The Brut Souverain is the most historical cuvée in the region, as it was the first cuvée Apolline Henriot produced in 1808. Apolline aspired to put the light on her vineyards through the expression of a champagne. According to her, one year was not enough to tell the story of the terroirs, so she decided to put wines in reserve each year to incorporate them into a future blend.
Therefore, she founded the House by creating a Champagne that would have blending as its fundamental principle. The House respects this philosophy today and uses every terroir in this multi-cru, multi-vintage cuvée. It was named Brut Souverain by Ernest Henriot, Apolline's grandson, when the House was appointed the official champagne supplier to the Courts of the King of Holland and of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary.
Wine Spectator 92 Points | This vivid Champagne is tightly meshed, with a firm spine of acidity married to notes of poached apricot, toast point, preserved lemon and white cherry. Minerally through the creamy, focused finish.
James Suckling 91 Points | This has aromas of chopped apples, biscuits, croissants, walnuts, praline and lemon pie. Dry, tasty and toasty, with a medium body, fine bubbles and bright acidity. All in balance. 48% pinot noir, 42% chardonnay, 10% meunier. Base 2016, with 38% reserve wine.
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | The nonvintage Champagne from this producer is beautifully textured, its white fruits lightly touched by a more steely edge. A fine Champagne to drink now.
Wine Spectator 94 Points | Lightly toasty on the nose, with grilled brioche, smoke and spice accents, this is fresh and citrusy on the plushly creamy palate. Reveals Meyer lemon, poached apricot, grated ginger and fresh lemon thyme enriched by chopped almond and biscuit. Long, well-honed finish. Chardonnay. Drink now through 2031. 200 cases imported.
Wine Advocate 94 Points | When Gilles de Larouzière took the reins chez Henriot and tasted the vins clairs of the 2016 vintage with his team, one cuvée from Avize stood out from the crowd enough that it seemed to merit a tirage of its own. The result is the 2016 Brut L'inattendue, disgorged after four years on the lees with four grams per liter dosage. It's a demonstrative, expressive Champagne, bursting with aromas of white peach, crisp orchard fruit and confit lemon mingled with subtle hints of buttery pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and attractively vinous palate, its fleshy core of fruit complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse. Already drinking well, it's testimony to the exciting things happening at this historic house.
Decanter 94 Points | Slightly smoky, bolstered by a chalky touch to the flint-accented nose which expresses an array of white and citrus fruit, as well as an enticing floral component. The mouthfeel has crystalline purity and is finely balanced, with citrussy acidity that delivers freshness and lift on the chalk-textured, flower-infused finish. Just the right amount of refreshing bitterness makes this an ideal partner for gastronomic dishes. Malolactic fermentation is de rigueur for Henriot. Ageing on lees before bottling was carried out in stainless steel. Dosage of 4g/l and disgorged in June 2021.
The Brut Rosé is one of the most unexpected creations from Maison Henriot. After several years of blending experimentation, the it was added to the House's signature collection in the early 1980's by the seventh generation of the family. The challenge for the House was to create a Champagne Rosé that truly reflects the Henriot style, while remaining anchored to one of the fundamental principles of the House: the art of blending.
Thus, the Brut Rosé is a non-vintage or multi-vintage blend. The most delicate of Henriot's champagnes, it is dominated by an intense, fruity nose and has a balanced palate with delicate red fruit notes.
Decanter 95 Points | Spicy baked red and blackberry nose with a whiff of struck-match. The palate offers almond cake and red berry notes and glimpses of butter, nuts and lemon macaroon. A very good rose to match salads and barbecued fish.
Tasting Panel 93 Points | Coral pink; smooth, lush and juicy with crisp acidity and smooth texture; long and balanced, refined.
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | An attractive red-fruit flavored Champagne with a balanced crisp textured, this bottling is just ready to go. Its fruitiness coupled with the soft texture from the dosage are packed with fruitiness and ripe acidity.
Wine Spectator 92 Points | This mouthwatering rosé shows finesse and style, as flavors of pink grapefruit sorbet, white cherry, lemon blossoms and blanched almond dance across the palate on a lightly chalky mousse. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now.
James Suckling 92 Points | Pretty copper and light-pink color with fine bubbles. Strawberries and minerals with some earth undertones on the nose, following through to a full body with a dense, condensed palate and a firm yet creamy finish. This is very vinous and complex. Pinot noir and chardonnay. Drink now.
Wine & Spirits 90 Points | Quince-like fruit rounds this wine, lifted by scents of ginger and green edges of spice that bring to mind piquillo peppers. For a Cantonese banquet.
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.
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.
Wine Enthusiast 98 Points | This is the most recent bottling of this iconic Champagne. There is a touch of toast as well as enticing apple and citrus aromas. On the palate, this wine is rich, intense, poised between maturity and ripe white fruits.
Decanter 97 Points | The 172ème édition, based around the 2016 vintage, is a delicate, floral and saline Grande Cuvée at this early stage in its life. The palate it taut, tightly wound, gradually unfurling into toasted fruit bread, rye bread and roasted nuts, wrapped around an intricate and taut lemon core. It's exceptionally long, spicy, rounded and spherical in shape. Notes of sweet unsalted butter round out the finish, which has such length, elegance and balance. 58% of the wine is from the 2016 vintage, which saw a lot of rain in the spring and close to flowering, with 42% from reserve wines. The blend is made up of 146 separately vinified wines from 11 different years, and the oldest wine in the blend is from the 1998 vintage.
James Suckling 97 Points | Beautiful notes of dried citrus fruit, lemon curd and dried apples with hints of spices, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I like the polished and caressing texture and steady, refreshing acidity. It’s fresh and even austere, with notes of ground spices. So vertical and firm. Structured and long. Drink or hold.
Wine Spectator 96 Points | This classy Champagne waltzes across the palate with fluid poise and grace. The mousse's pointillismlike beads and a vivid frame of acidity buoy the detailed range of aromas and flavors, including chopped cherry, dried apricot, tangerine peel and plum cake notes, plus fragrant hints of grated ginger, lime blossoms, ground coffee and grilled nuts. A tang of salinity drives the racy, lingering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. Disgorged winter 2022 to 2023 (Krug ID 123003). Drink now through 2040.
The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The new Krug release, the NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition, based on the 2016 vintage and comprising 11 vintages in total (the oldest is 1998), is outstanding. It reveals a complex, slightly spicy bouquet of white fruits, beeswax, marzipan, hazelnuts, dried herbs, ripe orchard fruits and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated on the palate, it has a subtly spicy entry, an enrobing and layered texture and a fleshy core of fruit framed around a perfectly balanced, fresh and mineral finish. Crafted primarily from Pinot Noir (44%) and complemented with 30% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, it was disgorged in the first quarter of 2023 with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter. Keep it for 5-10 years.
A light golden color and fine, vivacious bubbles, holding a promise of pleasure. Aromas of flowers in bloom, ripe, dried and citrus fruits, as well as marzipan and gingerbread. Flavors of hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds, brioche and honey.
Blend: 38% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Meunier, 51% Pinot Noir
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.
Wine Spectator 92 Points | Well-spiced and mouthwatering, this vivid Champagne offers a finely detailed bead and expressive flavors of black raspberry, dried apricot, orange blossom, fleur de sel and crystallized honey. Clean-cut and minerally on the finish."
Vinous 92 Points | The NV Brut Ultradition is the same base wine as the Extra Brut Ultradition. Here the higher dosage seems to give the wine greater fleshiness and immediacy, while changing the wine's shape. Some of the mid-palate creaminess seems to have been achieved at the expense of a bit of persistence. Disgorged: November 2016. Dosage is 6-8 grams per liter.
John Gilman 92+ Points | The current release of Laherte Frres non-vintage Ultradition Brut is composed from an atypical and highly attractive cpages of sixty percent pinot meunier, thirty percent chardonnay and ten percent pinot noir and was finished with a dosage of six to eight grams per liter. This is from the base year of 2012 and the wine is outstanding, offering up a very refined, meunier dominated constellation of white peach, loads of spring flowers, chalky soil tones, gentle smokiness and a dollop of brioche in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied and extremely elegant, with a fine core, superb soil signature, refined mousse and a very long, complex and dancing finish. This is a beautiful bottle of non-vintage Brut! 2017-2035."
Produced from a small walled vineyard close to the Lanson winery in Reims, this is a splendid wine. Its richness is balanced by the intense freshness and minerality of the Chardonnay, with apple and citrus flavors that still in the background. Now mature, this wine is ready to drink.
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | Produced from a small walled vineyard close to the Lanson winery in Reims, this is a splendid wine. Its richness is balanced by the intense freshness and minerality of the Chardonnay, with apple and citrus flavors that still in the background. Now mature, this wine is ready to drink.
Wine Advocate 94 Points | Disgorged in July 2016 with only three grams per liter dosage, the 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs Clos Lanson is showing very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of dried white flowers, citrus oil, toasted brioche, oyster shell and smoke. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and vibrant, with a racy spine of acidity, good concentration and chalky structuring extract. This is quite a tightly knit, tensile wine, despite the warm mesoclimate and two years on cork, which suggests it will enjoy a long future.
Vinous 93 Points | Clos Lanson's 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs is a very pretty, soft Champagne that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Bright citrus and floral notes, along with soft contours, give much of its immediacy and sheer allure. Understated and classy, the 2007 will drink well for a number of years, but it is also remarkably giving and enjoyable today for a relatively young Blanc de Blancs. Although it is not super-complex, the 2007 offers quite a bit of freshness and character. An open bottle was still in great shape when I re-tasted it a few days later. Disgorged: July 2016.
Wine Spectator 93 Points | Fragrant, featuring lime blossom and ground spice notes, this fine and creamy Champagne offers a broad range of lemon parfait, chopped hazelnut, spun honey and dried cherry flavors, underscored by chalky minerality. Elegant and well-knit, with a firm, focused finish. Disgorged July 2016. Drink now through 2030. 665 cases made.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Laurent & Michelle are grower Champagne located in Mareuil-Sur-Ay in the Valley of the Marne. They are the fourth generation. After a sickness due to contact with chemicals, Laurent along with his wife Michelle decided in the mid 2000's to start a new label called Champagne Laurent Benard. The new winery will focus on farming in biodynamie, craft vintage designated and long solera non vintage with little no added sulfites sparkling wines. They started with 2.5ha out of the 8ha they own. The soil is predominantly chalky. The vines are on average 35 years old and planted with Pinot Meunier, then Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Laurent is a well known researcher in the microcosme of wine, he has done extensive studies about yeasts at the C.N.R.S. (National Scientific Research Center). Therefore, the first fermentation is carried out with wild yeasts in oak. The wine is bottled 10 months later and the second fermentation is done with in-house cultured yeasts from Laurent’s vineyards. The wines age on the lees for a period of 3 years minimum. Depending on the vintage, the cuvees and the balance, Laurent decides of his dosage. Each one is different but never goes above Extra-Brut level.
The blend of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir shines in this Mareuil-sur-Ay chalky terroir. The wines of Laurent and Michelle are with definite personality, ripe flavors leaning on the oxidative sides, firm and persistent texture, saline finishes. Since 2020, Charles, their son, has joined the team and been step by step in charge of the biodynamic farming and winemaking.
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
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.
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.
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
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
Yohan Castaing writes: A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, the NV Réserve Brut from Champagne Leclerc Briant is showing well today, evoking a lively, fresh bouquet of pear, verbena, lime tree, herbs and menthol. Moderately weighted and tense, it's vinous and energetic with an incisive mid-palate and a mouthwatering, fresh finish. Based on the 2020 vintage with only 5% vins de réserve, it was disgorged in October 2023 with 4.5 grams per liter dosage. Drinking 2024 to 2030. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90
Alison Napjus writes: A lithe and graceful Champagne, with sleek acidity animating flavors of chopped raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon and oyster shell. Fine and satiny in texture, offering a persistent, lightly spiced finish. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2029. - Wine Spectator 92
Audrey Frick writes: Pouring a bright pale yellow hue, the NV Champagne Reserve Brut is from 2019, with 40% each Pinot Noir and Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. It opens to reveal notes of wet asphalt, ripe white peach, and fresh redcurrant. Medium-bodied and approachable, it has a rounded mid-palate, a chalky and pithy texture with a lively yet fine mousse, and a light note of brûléed grapefruit rind on the finish. It’s an attractive and balanced wine with a clean finish. Drink 2023 to 2030. Disgorged March of 2023. 4.5 grams per liter dosage. - Jeb Dunnuck 92
Jancis Robinson writes: Really quite mature nose with a suggestion of wild flowers (the biodynamic effect?). No shortage of acidity! The palate seems more youthful than the nose. 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, from organic and biodynamic vineyards. Apparently this is actually Extra Brut, though labelled Brut. Drinking 2023 to 2026. - Jancis Robinson 16.5+
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
