Sitewide Sale - Champagne and Sparkling

Winemaker Description

Well-balanced, delicate on the nose, with fruity and floral notes that range from apple, pear and citrus to hawthorn.

Exquisitely acidulous, velvety, full-flavored on the palate, unfolding to a complex array of white-fleshed fruits nuances and smoothing out to a fresh, persistent finish.

Winemaker Description

Created as a tribute to Louise Pommery, Cuvée Louise is an absolutely pure wine which quintessentially conveys the wine-making expertise of the Pommery champagne house. 

The wine has a yellow, slightly golden color with an exceptional brightness and limpidity. The effervescence is fine and delicate.

This 2005 is marked by floral notes in all their complexity. Owing to the long aging, notes of linden, hawthorn and vineyard peach. With its high purity, the bouquet is delicately blended with buttery notes. After aeration, the Pinot Noir expresses itself and the wine gains aromas of roasted hazelnuts and mild tobacco.

This wine is like a caress, its texture is velvety and creamy. The attack is frank, without asperity and imbalance. With incredible harmony and minerality, the heart of the tasting is intensive and structured. The finale, with the gentleness of honey and lemon, comes to punctuate this wine and provides the vintage with signature delicate flavor, noble bitterness and structure.

Expert Reviews

97 Points James Suckling | Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is tight and solid with fine phenolics and a long, intense finish. Pure and extremely linear and lively. Sophisticated and thought-provoking.

92 Points Wine Spectator | A fresh and lacy Champagne, with a pleasing, creamy range of golden apple, blanched almond and lemon pound cake underscored by a streak of minerally saline and brine.

92 Points Wine & Spirits | A ghost of chardonnays past, this tastes like white grapefruit without the acidity, as if a grapefruit could age past its acidity and still remain fresh. From three estate parcels— chardonnay from Avize and Cramant, pinot noir from Aÿ—this is an elegant Champagne at a peak moment of maturity, flinty and airy with a deep leesy savor.

Winemaker Description

Varietal Composition 66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay

Schramsberg Brut Rosé is fruitful, complex and dry, making it both versatile with food and delicious by itself as an apéritif. The character of the wine is most strongly influenced by bright, flavorful Pinot Noir grown along the coast from southern Mendocino County to northern Marin County. A few small lots of Pinot Noir are fermented in contact with their skins to add depth and subtle color to this vibrant sparkling wine. Chardonnay gives spice, structure and length on the palate.

Hand picking, careful handling and gentle pressing produce a wine of delicacy, aromatic purity and depth. Following the fall harvest and fermentation of the base wines, extensive tasting trials are carried out in the spring to create a polished blend reflective of the vintage. The finished blend undergoes a second fermentation in bottle before aging on its yeast lees for about two years, just enough to achieve refined effervescence and toastiness without diminishing its refreshing, vibrant appeal.

Enjoy this rich, delicious sparkler on almost any occasion: at your favorite restaurant, a special dinner at home, at a beach picnic or a backyard barbecue. A very versatile wine; try it with sushi, salmon, rock shrimp, pizza, roast chicken, BBQ ribs, caprese and Panzanella salads, red berry tarts, and an array of cheeses, charcuterie, nuts and fresh fruit.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Generous yet steely at the core, with fragrant raspberry, rose petal and gingerbread accents that dance on the long, zesty finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Forbes Magazine | Almost 54 years ago, Robert “Kool” Bell along with his younger brother and childhood friends, started a band. The iconic band Kool & The Gang is now one of the longest non-stop touring bands in industry. An avid lover of Champagne, Kool had always envisioned having his own brand out of Europe. For many years, he sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot, a Multi-Vintage Grand Cru Producer since 1884.

A Cava of the traditional method, the grapes for this blush sparkler are sourced from clay and calcareous vineyards. A hand-gathered harvest selects the best of the plots, before pressing and a 12 hour maceration. The wine then ages for 24 months on the lees.

Bright strawberry notes are at the forefront of this energetic sparkler, backed by tropical, citrus aromas. Touches of minerality show through the fine mousse and lead into a bright finish of grapefruit acidity.

Garnatxa and Pinot Noir

GOLD MEDAL – GILBERT & GAILLARD INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE 2018

91 POINTS - GOURMETS GUIDE

Winemaker Description

Our Grand Reserve cuvée is a sparkling Blanc de Blanc traditional method consisting of 100% Chardonnay. The 2019 vintage base also includes 25% reserve wines from the 2017 and 2018 harvests, and blends various terroirs from the Sta. Rita Hills.

A pale, lemon colour with a delicate mousse. This wine exudes freshness and pure fruit on the nose, showing rich and creamy notes thanks to the minerality of Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay.

Winemaker Description

Viarae Prosecco is the brainchild of Issa Rae, the celebrated creator of "Insecure," in partnership with the California-based E. & J. Gallo Winery. This sparkling white wine is crafted with the aim of celebrating candid, unfiltered moments with friends, toasting to achievements, or simply enjoying the "any-occasion kind of vibe." Viarae represents a fresh take on Italian wine, embodying the freedom to let loose and be authentic, much like Issa Rae's own brand ethos.

Viarae Prosecco D.O.C is a testament to the traditional winemaking practices of the prestigious La Marca cooperative in Treviso, Italy. This sparkling wine is bright, crisp, and lively, offering a refreshing blend that's perfect for any occasion. On the nose, it presents a delicate bouquet of white flowers, green apple, and citrus, leading to a palate that's effervescent and filled with flavors of ripe pear, lemon zest, and a hint of minerality. The finish is clean and refreshing, making it an ideal choice for celebrations, as an aperitif, or paired with a wide range of dishes.

Viarae Prosecco is more than just a wine; it's a celebration of life's spontaneous and joyful moments. Crafted from 100% Glera grapes and embodying the essence of Northern Italy's renowned Prosecco region, this wine is a tribute to authenticity, freedom, and the joy of sharing good times. Whether you're toasting to personal milestones, enjoying a casual get-together, or simply savoring the moment, Viarae Prosecco D.O.C is your companion for making any occasion memorable.

Winemaker Description 

This Champagne is a blend of some 30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards, respectively 40% and 60% of the total, from several harvests of perfectly ripened grapes.

Expert Reviews

95 Points Tasting Panel |  Bright and lively, this is one of my favorite non vintage Bruts. Crisp andPoints balanced, with smooth, exuberant, Chardonnay-driven style; racy, elegant, and totally charming; long and memorable. 

92 Points James Suckling | A dry, fresh and delicious Taittinger with aromas and flavors of apples, fresh lemons and minerals. Full-bodied. Precise. White pepper and salt at the end. 40% chardonnay and 35% pinot noir, the rest pinot meunier. Three to four years on the lees. Drink now.

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.

Winemaker Description 

Mionetto’s Prosecco is made from the Glera grape, which is grown in the hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. The grapes are carefully selected and harvested by hand to ensure the highest quality. The wine is then fermented in stainless steel tanks using the Charmat method, which results in a light, refreshing, and effervescent wine.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.  -

Winemaker Description

100% Chenin Blanc. Pinon makes two traditional-method sparkling wines, from bunches picked earlier than for the still wines and from the more clay and flint-forward parcels. The vines average 45 years old and have been certified-organic since 2007. For the non-dosé--versus the straight brut--the fruit is harvested later and thus riper. The bunches are harvested manually, rigorously sorted and gently and slowly pressed, with the juice flowing by gravity into underground tanks. Fermentation is spontaneous with indigenous yeasts and lasts 4 to 6 weeks. The wine is racked into old tonneaux and steel tanks for 2-3 months of aging on the fine lees. It is then lightly filtered and bottled for its second fermentation; the wine remains on the lees for 4 years before disgorgement. Zero dosage and zero RS.

Expert Review

View from the Cellar 92 Points | Pinon The 2018 Vouvray Pétillant Brut Non-Dosé from Julien Pinon is an outstanding wine. The grapes for this bottling are picked a touch later than those for the regular Brut Pétillant, as they are going to receive no dosage. The wine is fermented with native yeasts, the vins clairs are raised in old tonneaux for three months and the wine is given fully four years aging sur lattes prior to disgorgement. The 2018 version delivers lovely aromatic refinement in its bouquet of apple. citrus peel, a touch of quince, bread dough, chalky minerality and a lovely topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and complex, with excellent balance and grip, a fine core, lovely soil inflection, elegant mousse and a long, seamless and vibrant finish. This is outstanding sparkling Vouvray. 2023-2050.

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! 

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.

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."

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 90 Points:  The latest rendition of Ruinart's NV Blanc de Blancs unwinds in the glass with scents of citrus zest, green apple, white flowers and fresh bread. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and incisive, with a vibrant core of fruit and brisk acids, complemented by a mouth-filling mousse, it concludes with a saline finish.

James Suckling 93 Points:  A vibrant and refreshing Champagne with a bright, enticing nose of lemon (fresh and candied) and sliced pear, as well as some floral and passion-fruit notes. Lovely balance of juicy fruit and acidity that dances nimbly across the palate. A biscuit note from lees lies in the background. Delicate, silky and finish. A blend of wines from Côtes des Blanc, Montagne de Reims and Sézanne. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 93 Points: Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator: "Steeped apricot and candied ginger flavors are an aromatic entry for this graceful Champagne, backed by finely cut acidity and layered with accents of kumquat, toast point and salted Marcona almond. It's fresh and racy, yet there's an effortless quality to the integration that makes this hard to stop sipping. Long, minerally finish. Drink now through 2027.

Winemaker Description

Domaine Pignier is located in the town of Montaigu, in the Jura department. The vineyard, which is the only one still in operation in the village, owes its origin to the Carthusian monks who were the first to cultivate vines on hillsides formed by the foothills of the Jura Revermont. In 1794, the estate was sold as “national property” and was acquired by the Pignier family. Today, the 7th generation shares the management of the estate since 1991. It has been exploited for centuries in organic farming and manual pickax but after the two world wars and the diseases, the activity is undermined, the family had to practice mixed farming and breeding until the 1970s, when they returned to the mono-culture of the vine.

In 1990, the brothers and sisters decided to return to forgotten techniques by adopting the methods of Léandre, their grandfather, who had no other choice in his time but to come to terms with what nature offered him to experience. The meetings with geologist Yves Hérody, then with Pierre Masson, advisor trainer in biodynamics, lead them to consider organic culture then biodynamics as an ultimate goal to be reached.

The results were encouraging, the vines resuscitated and the quality of the grapes produced excellent. Since 2002, the entire vineyard of 13 hectares of vines has been cultivated biodynamically and certified since 2003. The vines are increasingly co-planted with different grape varieties coming only with mass-selected plants from their private nursery.

The Crémant Brut Nature is a blend of Chardonnay (85%) and Pinot Noir (15%). The base wines are fermented in natural yeast and aged in foudres and oak pieces. The draw takes place in spring according to the lunar calendar in flower day, with aging on slats for a minimum of 12 months. It is disgorged without dosage.

Winemaker Description

The Moncuit family has a long history of farming some of the best vineyards in the Côte des Blancs. They began purchasing land in 1889 and by 1928 were bottling at the domaine. The estate has 8 hectares planted in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and 2 hectares in Oger. All the wines assume optimum maturity, through fermentation in barrels (350 liters), systematic malolactic fermentation, aging of three years for the brut and five years for the vintages, aged for their part under cork.

The current winemaker, Pierre Amillet, is the fourth generation to lead the winery. If you spend any time with him you quickly realize he is obsessed with Chardonnay grown in the chalky terroirs of Le Mesnil. 

Expert Reviews

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 92 Points |  Moncuit's NV Extra Brut Les Grands Blancs is a blend of vintages 2014 and 2013. More importantly, it is a terrific expression of Mesnil. Lemon peel, white flowers, almond, sage and chamomile add lovely shades of nuance. The low dosage of three grams per liter works beautifully here. All the elements simply fall into place in this very pretty and deeply expressive Champagne from Moncuit. I loved it. Dosage: 3 gr/L. Disgorged: January, 2019.

William Kelly of the Wine Advocate writes 91 Points | Disgorged in September 2017, this bottle of Moncuit's NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is showing beautifully, bursting with aromas of warm bread, fresh peach, yellow apples and dried white flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and nicely defined, with a pinpoint mousse, a generous core of fruit and attractive autolytic nuance.

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 

Winemaker Description

Being a classic modern vintage, this year is abundant in character. Golden apple and Anjou pear flavors influenced by Knudsen Vineyard fruit add to the natural weight and brightness, while vanilla and toasted cake crust sneak into the flavor mix, adding to the opulence of this blend.

Expert Rating

90 Points James Suckling | Fresh and floral nose with white stone fruit and lemony undertones. Medium-bodied with a foamy mousse and vivid acidity. Easy and refreshing. (2019). 

91 Points Decanter | Lovely creamy nose of butterscotch, cashew, golden apple and pear. Intriguing palate with crisp, ripe flavours and a soft mousse. Blend : 57% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 3% Pinot Meunier.

90 Points James Suckling | Aromas of fresh flowers, garden herbs and grapefruit. Medium-bodied. Mineral, with baked citrus and herbal character.

A vibrant and approachable California Cuvée opens with a pop of tart pineapple and orange blossom on the wonderfully aromatic nose. The palate is lively and rich with layered notes of Asian pear and honeysuckle, overlaying hints of fresh mandarin peel and marzipan before a zesty, focused finish.  Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

Réserve Brut is the result of a subtle marriage of three grape varieties. It is a blend of seven distinct years, together beautifully balanced, a perfect harmony of richness, fruitiness and freshness. A genuine expression of terroir, a tribute to the excellence and singularity of each year’s harvest. Marked by honeysuckle and a hint of vanilla on the nose with an elegant foam. Plentiful in baked fruits: Mirabelle plum with a slight spice on the mid-palate that gives way to a long candied tropical-fruit and brisk mineral finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews 

91 Points Decanter | A savoury style that flies the flag for elegance. Layered with delicate peach, rosemary, mushroom and white truffle notes. Blend : 43% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir.

90 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Produced from 53% Meunier, 31% Chardonnay, and the rest Pinot Noir, the NV Champagne Reserve Brut is based on the 2018 vintage (63%) with 12% from 2017, 12% from 2016, 2% from 2015, and the rest from older vintages. Comprising 80% of the house’s production, it pours a youthful yellow and lifts with aromas of quince, almond, white flowers, and a flourish of smoky earth. Generous on the palate, it’s fruity and inviting, with ripe orchard fruit, a gently fluffy mousse, and a fresh, pithy finish. Its lovely custardy and floral finish is long-lasting and takes this up a notch.

90 Points Wine & Spirits | Pinot meunier (37 percent of this blend) lends a perfumed strawberry note to the brisk, chalky chardonnay (43 percent). It feels clean and cool, a lively aperitif for plump Atlantic oysters.

Winemaker Description

This exquisite blend of grapes, stemming from four different harvests, showcases its strong personality through a symphony of fruits and a full-bodied, elegant presence. Singular in its expression of terroir, a revelation of the variety that nature offers from one year to the next.

Réserve Rosé evokes romance and harmony. The initial nose reveals fresh red fruits with a touch of brioche. The first sensation is reminiscent of biting into a perfectly ripe Morello cherry, bursting with full and mature aromas. Powerful, yet remarkably subtle with an extraordinarily long-lasting finish.