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Champagne
From a simple name of a French province, Champagne has become a magic word that needs no translation. It is synonymous with elegance and savoir vivre, style and refinement. We continue to ship directly from small and large producers, bringing lesser known labels to the attention of Australian Champagne enthusiasts. We also frequently offer very special deals from bigger houses. Browse our top rated Champagnes here.
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Bollinger PN AYC18 ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$215. 00Bottle$2580.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkPN AYC18 is an assembly of 100% Pinot Noir, predominantly from the Aÿ cru. It is blended with other villages on the Montage de Reims, such as Tauxières and Verzenay. The base year is 2018 which is blended with older reserve wines dating back to 2009.
A fine satiny mousse slowly recedes to reveal a straw pale gold coloured base that has a steady bead flowing through it. Nosing draws out aromas of ripe pear, baked bread, yeast lees and hints of strawberries and quince. An energetic, modernist style of Champagne, the palate has a chalk tinged mouth feel with flavours of pear, wild strawberry and quince melding into an oily baked bread, yeast lees and roasted hazelnut back drop. Finishes dry with refreshing acidity and a creamy edged, hazelnut laced aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
The NV PN AYC 2018 is the newest edition in Bollinger’s range of single village-based Champagnes, a series of wines created by former Chef de Caves Gilles Descôtes, who passed away earlier this year. Tense and vibrant, with notable saline intensity, the AYC (based on Aÿ) sizzles with energy. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint, sage, chalk and light pastry notes all race across the palate. This release is 53% 2018 and 47% reserve wines, a big part of which are Bollinger’s famous reserve magnums (in this case 2009 Verzenay Pinot), plus dollops of 2017 and 2016 wines. The 2018 was done in equal parts oak and tank. Dosage is 6 grams per liter, but the impression is of a slightly drier style. The combination of a very warm base vintage blended with a high proportion of reserve wines yields a Champagne of notable complexity and texture. Drink 2023-2038.
92 Points
Antonio Galloni – VinousIncluding the 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2009 vintage, the pale straw-copper hued NV Champagne PN AYC18 opens with stunning notes of jasmine and tropical flowers, followed by pure and expressive aromas of wild cherry, fresh orange, wet stone, and fresh roses. Full-bodied, with freshness throughout and a hint of warmth on its beautiful finish, this is the most successful of the wines from this line that I have tasted to date, offering fantastic length and gorgeous depth of fruit. It’s going to only improve with another few years in bottle, but it’s gorgeous now. Drink 2024-2034. Dosage 6 grams per liter.
93+ points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne (375ml)Champagne, FRANCE$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkBollinger’s trademark depth and richness are on full show here. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier with over 85% of the blend sourced from Grand and Premier crus.
Pours with a fluffy white mousse.The base colour is pale straw with tinges of gold around the edges. Very fine bead with a steady stream of bubbles. The nose exhibits Bollinger’s hallmark richness with pronounced aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and oily toast like characters followed by cashew, almond and citrus notes. Rich, mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast like characters, citrus and cashew. Creamy textural feel with good freshness on the finish. Long aftertaste of baked bread, oily toast like characters, yeast lees and cashew.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc 12%Other Reviews....
Surely the most underpriced champagne on the market today, yet one of the most complex. The 60/25/15% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier blend is of scant importance compared with the 400 components with 60% reserves, the oldest 8+ years old. Majestically complex and layered in a jewelled crown of freshness.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 2020This harmonious Champagne is wonderfully vibrant as it dances across the palate, with the satinlike mousse carrying flavors of white cherry, Marcona almond and ground coffee that show accents of candied kumquat, ginger, aromatic verbena and graphite. A streak of racy salinity emerges on mouthwatering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2025
93 points
Wine SpectatorBollinger’s NV Special Cuvée knocks it out of the park. Made from 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, with 30% of the blend brought up in barrels, it boasts a rich, deep, medium to full-bodied style as well as terrific notes of lemon curd, crème brûlée, caramelized stone fruits, and hints of toasty nuttiness that develop with time in the glass. It’s a big, rich Champagne that stays balanced and pure. Beautiful stuff. Drink 2018-2028.
93 points
JebDunnuck.comFine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.
92 points
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Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkBollinger’s trademark depth and richness are on full show here. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier with over 85% of the blend sourced from Grand and Premier crus.
Pours with a fluffy white mousse.The base colour is pale straw with tinges of gold around the edges. Very fine bead with a steady stream of bubbles. The nose exhibits Bollinger’s hallmark richness with pronounced aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and oily toast like characters followed by cashew, almond and citrus notes. Rich, mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast like characters, citrus and cashew. Creamy textural feel with good freshness on the finish. Long aftertaste of baked bread, oily toast like characters, yeast lees and cashew.
Alc 12%Other Reviews....
Surely the most underpriced champagne on the market today, yet one of the most complex. The 60/25/15% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier blend is of scant importance compared with the 400 components with 60% reserves, the oldest 8+ years old. Majestically complex and layered in a jewelled crown of freshness.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 2020
This harmonious Champagne is wonderfully vibrant as it dances across the palate, with the satinlike mousse carrying flavors of white cherry, Marcona almond and ground coffee that show accents of candied kumquat, ginger, aromatic verbena and graphite. A streak of racy salinity emerges on mouthwatering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2025
93 points
Wine SpectatorA rich though youthful golden hue, the NV Champagne Special Cuvée Brut is classic and ripe with lush, rounded, and complex aromas of golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone, and black cherry. Made with 45% of the wine coming from the 2019 vintage, with 55% reserve wine, it’s full-bodied yet elegant and light on its feet, with a ripe and luxurious feel and just a hint of warmth on the finish. The mousse is refined and rounded. Long on the palate, it's inviting now but will have plenty of life ahead of it if stored property. This exceptional cuvée with its distinctive personality continues to be one of the best entry wines to the range from this house and is a benchmark wine for them.
93 points
Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.comFine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.
92 points
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Bollinger Rose ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $135.00$125. 00Bottle$1500.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkProduced from a blend of 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, 14% Meunier with only 5-6% red wine added. Over 85% coming from Grand and Premiers Cru vineyards.
A pillowy mousse slowly subsides to reveal a salmon pink coloured base that has a nibble stream of bubbles flowing through to the surface. Delightful strawberry, cherry, baked bread and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with hints of blood orange, toast and brioche also evident. Rich and full flavoured yet wonderfully finessed, the palate is engulfed with strawberry, cherry, yeast lees and brioche characters which are complimented by some delicate toast and chalky elements. Creamy textured it finishes dry with invigorating acidity and a long airy aftertaste. A wonderful Rose Champagne to savour through the summer months.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
Deep red-berry nose, plus some nectarine, spice and candied-orange notes. Powerful and fresh, the hint of tannin from the red-wine component of the blend neatly balanced by the creaminess. Excellent textural complexity, then a long, delicately spicy and mineral finish. Disgorged in June 2021. Drink now.
93 points
JamesSuckling.comSleek and elegant, this finely knit rosé Champagne offers flavors of ripe cherry, blood orange granita and slivered almond, with aromatic accents of graphite, star anise and verbena. Long and creamy on the vibrant finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2028.
93 points
Wine SpectatorThe NV Brut Rosé, which was first introduced in 2008, offers classic, slightly tertiary notes of spiced cherries, dried strawberries, and rose petals. Clean, crisp, and chiseled on the palate, it’s much more firm and tight than the Special Cuvée, yet has a great finish, impeccable balance, and bright acidity. A blend of 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, with 30% vinified in barrel, it spent 30 to 36 months on lees. Give it a year or so.
92+ points
JebDunnuck.com
The latest release of Bollinger's NV Brut Rosé is showing especially well, offering up complex aromas of sweet stone fruit, honeycomb, freshly baked bread and orange oil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous palate. Layered and concentrated, with a pretty pinpoint mousse and ripe but racy acids, it concludes with a long, expansive finish.
92 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
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Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: StelvinIncludes 25% reserve wines. A buoyant lacy mousse floats over a pale straw coloured base that has hints of green to the edges. Flowing thru the core is a nibble stream of bubbles. Powerful and complex, the nose is filled with baked bread, yeast lees and citrus scents which meld into notions of oyster shell, cashew and faint dried honey. Graceful and airy across the palate with a satiny feel, vivid pear, citrus, baked bread and yeast lees flavours are complimented by subtle dried honey and cashew nuances. Finishes dry with mouth watering acidity and long refined aftertaste.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews....
“Charles” came through a near-death experience in 2012, emerging stronger than ever. The glistening green hue announces a luscious 100% chardonnay with a full hand based on 10 crus, all eagerly sought. It’s a balancing act between youth and age, a wine of finesse and length, the dosage of 10g/l hidden in the magician’s hat.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 2023 -
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2014 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkCharles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires is a rare gem among Champagnes, showcasing the house’s mastery of Chardonnay. Crafted only in exceptional vintages, its creamy texture and remarkable depth set it apart from the crowd.
Other Reviews....
The eighth rendition of this cuvée, the 2014 Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires evokes a complex, sweet bouquet of candied lemon, confit citrus, blanched almonds, brioche, honeycomb and ripe orchard fruits. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and ample, it features a velvety attack and a vinous, fleshy core of fruit, with a textural mid-palate that leads to a spicy, long and delicate finish. This is a stunning new release of this cuvée, showcasing its depth and elegance. Drink 2024-2044.
95 points
Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Oct 25, 2024)Complex biscuity, yeasty undertones to this blanc de blancs, along with crushed almonds, pears and apples. It’s fresh and beautifully integrated on the palate with silky and elegant layers, fine bubbles and attractive, lingering pastry character. Drink now or hold.
95 points
James SucklingEntirely Chardonnay, the bright straw/silver-colored the 2014 Champagne Blanc Des Millénaires has light reduction with beautiful smoky framing as well as notes of white peach, tangerine, fresh flowers, and chalky salinity. Medium-bodied, it has a refined mousse, a silky texture, and a long, elegant finish. It’s not an obvious wine at this stage, but it’s pleasing. It will benefit from time in bottle and drink well over the next couple decades. I like the fruitiness and freshness on the palate. It should pair well with shellfish. Drink 2024-2044.
96 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comThe only Blanc des Millénaires made during Thierry Roset's brief tenure as cellar master of Charles Heidsieck before his untimely death after the 2014 harvest. The wine was blended by Cyril Brun. It has seen less time on lees than the previous 2007 and 2006 wines – between eight and nine years rather than 12 – but the decision feels apt for this beautifully delicate, bright and serene edition of one of Champagne's top, if lesser-known, prestige Blanc de Blancs, emphasising purity over creamy richness. There are plenty of ripe aromatics, with fuzzy fragrant apricots, mandarin and even some fresh mango playing with hazelnut and coffee macaron complexity just starting to fire up. There's a quiet, calm insistence to the palate, more similar to the 2004 than the tension and drama of the 2007 or the generosity of the 2006. It seems set to be one of the vintage's top performers. Chardonnay from Cramant, Avize, Oger, Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger and Vertus, entirely vinified in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation. Dosage: 9g/L. Drink 2025 - 2038.
95 points
Tom Hewson - DecanterChardonnay from the crus of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, Cramant, Vertus. Nine years on the lees, disgorged 2023. Only the 8th time this wine has been made in over 40 years. Dosage 9 g/l.
Masses of very fine bubbles on first pouring. Inviting, almost ethereal chalky citrus aroma. Masses of mouth-watering tension and freshness, with great precision. Tightly wound but not lean because it is so well balanced. Pure, chalky, crisp and very long. Elegant, gently complex, with only subtle creamy/yeasty autolytic character. The crisp citrus fruit still dominates after all this time on the lees, though the lees ageing shows in the rich texture. Drink 2024-2032.
18/20 points
Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com - 1996 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires La Collection Crayeres Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$1099. 00Bottle$13188.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires is a rare gem among Champagnes, showcasing the house’s mastery of Chardonnay. Crafted only in exceptional vintages, its creamy texture and remarkable depth set it apart from the crowd.
The 1996 Blanc des Millenaires La Collection Crayères hails from the kind of vintage that makes champagne lovers pause in admiration. 1996 is unanimously recognised as one of the most spectacular vintages of modern times, characterized by optimal ripeness, intense freshness, and flavour concentration. After nearly a quarter of a century of maturation, this late release Blanc des Millenaires (known as La Collection Crayeres) will display layered complexity and timeless elegance. A rare release that's a true collector’s dream.
Other Reviews....
This is the follow-up to the legendary 1995, and is only just being released. Intense roasted hazelnut and nougat bouquet, lots of aged characters and very, very complex. An extraordinary wine, beautifully balanced and the acidity which kept it in the cellar for so long is no longer obvious. Drink 2024.
97 points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review -
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2013 Charles Heidsieck Vintage Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
A very striking nose with Reine Claude plums, old-fashioned apple varieties and some Nordic herbs. Structured and crisp with a very firm core, the finish driving and full of energy. Rich long finish with a chalky core. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, the make up of the blend very unconventional for this house. Drink or hold.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.comThe bouquet of the 2013 Brut Millésimé is compellingly fresh and minty, complicated by notes of white fruit—notably pear and apple—citrus and gentle spices, as well as a light touch of smoke. With aeration, elegant pastry notes come to the fore. On the palate, this is a structured, tension-filled but airborne Champagne with racy acidity, fleshy and charming texture and a long, penetrating finish. It should age well over the next eight to 10 years. Disgorged in 2022 with nine grams per liter, this is a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay. Drink 2023 - 2038.
93 Points
Yohan Castaing - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateAn alluring, detailed aroma that is reserved and layered rather than hugely outgoing at present. There’s some maturity though, a measured weight of light apricot, ripe pear and pale strawberry fruit. Delicacy is the main theme, with touches of blossom, white peach, and only a quiet praline and caramelised apple richness. Less austere than the 2008, more focused than the 2012 and already quietly harmonious, this superb 2013 closes with chalkiness and verve. This could well prove the most finely tuned of the recent Charles Heidsieck vintage releases. 57% Pinot Noir, 43% Chardonnay with nine years on lees. Drink 2023 - 2040.
95 Points
Tom Hewson - DecanterDisgorged in January of 2023, the 2013 Champagne Millésime Brut was the last vintage from the cellar master for Heidsieck prior to Cyril Brun. The 2013 Champagne Millésime Brut is a bright straw yellow color and is based on the crus of Les Mesnil, Avize, Averney, and Aÿ. It’s fresh with aromas of wet stones, fresh quince, and fresh jasmine flowers. It has a chalky and focused texture, with ripeness to balance it out, and a long, graceful finish. At this stage, it feels more forward with 57% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay. A more mineral-tinged expression, it has a lot of charm and the promise of longevity over the coming two decades. It will be interesting to see how the Pinot shows itself over time. 8 grams per liter dosage. Drink 2024-2044
95 Points
Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.comAged for eight years on the lees before disgorgement, the Champagne is deliciously toasty with acidity and fine dryness. Balanced and now finely mature, this great wine is ready to drink.
96 Points
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast MagazineIntense aroma that combines ripe fruit – both citrus and pear – and also a touch of jasmine, as well as a deep, inviting yeasty autolytic character. Extremely complex and rewarding. On the palate, that same depth of yeasty/toasty character and the intense freshness of youthful fruit. An endless stream of very fine bubbles rising from the centre of the glass with bigger bubbles clinging to the sides – looks quite unusual. A powerful, long and vibrant wine that seems younger than its years. Extreme but balanced freshness with a slightly chewy finish as it warms up, as well as a suggestion of non-sweet honey. Excellent depth. Drink 2023 – 2032.
17.5 / 20 Points
Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com -
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2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$450. 00Bottle$5400.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkCharles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires is a rare gem among Champagnes, showcasing the house’s mastery of Chardonnay. Crafted only in exceptional vintages, its creamy texture and remarkable depth set it apart from the crowd.
Note: Product comes without gift box.
Other Reviews....
Cyril Brun considers the 2007 vintage more interesting for Chardonnay than 2008, and Charles Heidsieck's 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires is certainly a compelling wine. Unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp stone fruits, honeycomb, buttered pastry, yellow apples, pear and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, ample and seamless, with a concentrated core of fruit and a chiseled, racy profile. Combining generosity and tension, it's a terrific new release. Drink 2023 - 2043.
95 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)Intense oyster-shell and candied-lemon aromas pull you into this very elegant champagne, which is so precise on the sleek and focused palate with a finish of crystalline purity and brightness. Still really youthful, thanks to the uplifting freshness! A Blanc de Blancs from 5 top Crus in the Côte des Blancs. Drink or hold.
96 points
JamesSuckling.comSeven up for Charles Heidsieck; the seventh release of their magnificent Blanc des Millénaires Champagne, the 2007. Their charismatic chef de caves, Cyril Brun, describes the wine as ‘dangerous’, as in dangerously good, and it is hard not to concur. The legendary Daniel Thibault, who made the first Blanc des Millénaires in 1983, was aspiring to make a very specific style of Chardonnay, rich and indulgent at the same time as being classical and rigorous of construction, a deft paradox in other words. The 2007, child of a cooler, more linear vintage than the rather heady 2006, has achieved this ambition with great aplomb. Cyril is confident that stylistically the 2007 will be closest to the 2004 and the 1995, both greatly lauded and both of which have had an unfailing capacity to win virtually every competition into which they are entered. The pale gold shimmers invitingly, its mousse discreet yet persistent, its aromatics hitherto dominated by notes of grapefruit, yuzu, citrus and quince, behind that sourdough, flint-stone and intimations of toast and honey, both of which will become more pronounced over the splendours of a long life. 20% each of five great villages, all but Vertus ranked as Grand Cru, have provided the raw materials for this most magisterial of Blanc de Blancs Champagnes. Dosed at 7.3g/L (the lowest ever at Charles) and disgorged in July 2021, with a smart new bottle design. Drink 2022 - 2032.
96 points
Simon Field MW - Decanter -
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Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkThis blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier is sourced from up to 60 different Crus in order to maximise complexity and is made up of 50% reserve wines, many of them more than 10 years old to provide additional richness. Pours well with a creamy white mousse and pale gold base wine colour. Very fine delicate bead showing excellent persistence. Refined aromas of yeast lees and brioche are overlaid by some toastiness with following notes of baked bread and cashew. Showing both richness and finesse the palate has seamlessly integrated flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and toastiness over some almond and brioche. Clean dry finish with a moderately creamy mouthfeel. Long aftertaste of baked bread, yeast lees, cashew and toasty brioche.
Drink this outstanding Champagne over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
Charles Heidsieck might be nicknamed Poor Man’s Krug given the astonishing number of vintages in the reserve wines, their age (10 years in tank), and the seven years the wine spends on lees once blended and bottled. It is an exceptional wine in the mouth, supple, layered, complex and long.
96 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine CompanionVery impressive for a "regular" non-vintage Brut, not only in terms of aromatic complexity - candied citrus, dried peach and fresh mirabelle plus a hint of bread dough - also in terms of texture, the creamy, rich and crisp sides of the wine neatly interlocking. Long, structured finish. A cuvee that's half 2018 and half reserve wines, some of which are a couple of years old, but many of them are five- to 10-years-old, with several over 10-years-old. Drink or hold.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
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Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkThis blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier is sourced from up to 60 different Crus in order to maximise complexity and is made up of 50% reserve wines, many of them more than 10 years old to provide additional richness. Pours well with a creamy white mousse and pale gold base wine colour. Very fine delicate bead showing excellent persistence. Refined aromas of yeast lees and brioche are overlaid by some toastiness with following notes of baked bread and cashew. Showing both richness and finesse the palate has seamlessly integrated flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and toastiness over some almond and brioche. Clean dry finish with a moderately creamy mouthfeel. Long aftertaste of baked bread, yeast lees, cashew and toasty brioche.
Drink this outstanding Champagne over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
Charles Heidsieck might be nicknamed Poor Man’s Krug given the astonishing number of vintages in the reserve wines, their age (10 years in tank), and the seven years the wine spends on lees once blended and bottled. It is an exceptional wine in the mouth, supple, layered, complex and long.
96 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine CompanionVery impressive for a "regular" non-vintage Brut, not only in terms of aromatic complexity - candied citrus, dried peach and fresh mirabelle plus a hint of bread dough - also in terms of texture, the creamy, rich and crisp sides of the wine neatly interlocking. Long, structured finish. A cuvee that's half 2018 and half reserve wines, some of which are a couple of years old, but many of them are five- to 10-years-old, with several over 10-years-old. Drink or hold.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
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Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne (375ml)Champagne, FRANCE$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkThis blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier is sourced from up to 60 different Crus in order to maximise complexity and is made up of 50% reserve wines, many of them more than 10 years old to provide additional richness. Pours well with a creamy white mousse and pale gold base wine colour. Very fine delicate bead showing excellent persistence. Refined aromas of yeast lees and brioche are overlaid by some toastiness with following notes of baked bread and cashew. Showing both richness and finesse the palate has seamlessly integrated flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and toastiness over some almond and brioche. Clean dry finish with a moderately creamy mouthfeel. Long aftertaste of baked bread, yeast lees, cashew and toasty brioche.
Drink this outstanding Champagne over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
Charles Heidsieck might be nicknamed Poor Man’s Krug given the astonishing number of vintages in the reserve wines, their age (10 years in tank), and the seven years the wine spends on lees once blended and bottled. It is an exceptional wine in the mouth, supple, layered, complex and long.
96 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine CompanionVery impressive for a "regular" non-vintage Brut, not only in terms of aromatic complexity - candied citrus, dried peach and fresh mirabelle plus a hint of bread dough - also in terms of texture, the creamy, rich and crisp sides of the wine neatly interlocking. Long, structured finish. A cuvee that's half 2018 and half reserve wines, some of which are a couple of years old, but many of them are five- to 10-years-old, with several over 10-years-old. Drink or hold.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
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Charles Heidsieck Rose Reserve ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$145. 00Bottle$1740.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2018-2022)ABV: 12%Closure: CorkThis excellent Rose Champagne is typically composed of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes from a single vintage which makes up 80% of the blend. The remaining 20% is made up of reserve wines with an average age of 5 years.
A salmon pink base, interspersed by an exceptionally fine and persistent bead, carries a buoyant lacy mousse well. On the nose delicate peach and winter strawberry aromas meld into elements of toast, yeasty baked bread and citrus notes. Very refined and long there’s a subtle creaminess to the winter strawberry, peach, toast, baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours. Crisp acidity lends itself to a dry refreshing finish. Long winter strawberry, peach, citrus, baked bread, light toast and yeast lees aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 95
Chartogne-Taillet Hors Serie Grand Cru (V19) Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$380. 00Bottle$4560.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChartogne-Taillet is the home of some of the most exciting wines in Champagne. Alexandre Chartogne is a perfectionist in his approach to viticulture and winemaking, something he picked up from his mentor Anselme Selosse. Key to his approach is the importance of expressing terroir above all else. With that in mind, Alexandre separately vinifies a myriad of plots spread across 11 hectares of vineyards in Merfy and the neighbouring villages of Chenay and Saint-Thierry. Over half the parcels are ploughed by horse, and no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers are used. In the winery, all fermentations are wild, and malolactic fermentation is not blocked. Alexandre favours wooden barrels or demi-muids for fermentations, and low dosage levels are used which allow the grapes to speak of their place.
Unlike the main stable of Merfy-sourced wines, this is grown on a cadre of plots in Avize and Oger in the Côte des Blancs. The patchwork of seven plots, located on both the plains and the slopes, contributes to the overall harmony. Chemin de Châlons, Pierre Vaudon, Fosse le Prêtre and Mont Chenevaux, located on the plain, have plenty of sun exposure and a chalky soil profile with very thin (20cm) topsoils. Mont de Cramant is located at the beginning of the slopes, with deeper soils that are likewise rich in chalk. Les Roches Hautes and Les Barmonts are higher again and experience cooler conditions, resulting in taut, linear wines. The wines rests in 228-, 350- and 600-litre barrels before maturing on lees for 4-5 years and receiving a dosage of 1-3 g/L.
Other Reviews....
Chartogne’s 2019 Blanc de Blancs Hors Série hails from several parcels in Avize, predominantly situated on the lower slopes where the topsoil is thinnest—ranging from a mere 20 centimeters to one meter in some plots. These southeast-facing vineyards benefit from generous sun exposure, with soils composed of sand, clay and silt layered over a chalky bedrock. In the cellar, the wine is matured in a combination of 228- and 600-liter oak barrels. Already expressive—shaped by a sunny vintage in a rich terroir—it unfurls in the glass with a bouquet of honeysuckle, pear, white peach and lemon oil. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated yet vividly vibrant, energized by mouthwatering acidity that lends both balance and tension. Combining muscularity with structural finesse, it was disgorged in June 2024 with a dosage of just one gram per liter. This wine promises to evolve gracefully over time. Drink 2025-2039.
95 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
- 95
Chartogne-Taillet Les Orizeaux (V19) Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChartogne-Taillet is the home of some of the most exciting wines in Champagne. Alexandre Chartogne is a perfectionist in his approach to viticulture and winemaking, something he picked up from his mentor Anselme Selosse. Key to his approach is the importance of expressing terroir above all else. With that in mind, Alexandre separately vinifies a myriad of plots spread across 11 hectares of vineyards in Merfy and the neighbouring villages of Chenay and Saint-Thierry. Over half the parcels are ploughed by horse, and no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers are used. In the winery, all fermentations are wild, and malolactic fermentation is not blocked. Alexandre favours wooden barrels or demi-muids for fermentations, and low dosage levels are used which allow the grapes to speak of their place.
Along with Les Barres, Orizeaux is perhaps Chartogne’s best-known vineyard. This north/south orientation parcel of Pinot Noir is much more calcareous than Les Barres and the roots plunge deep—over four meters into the soil. Planted in 1970, the parcel has always been highly prized by Alexandre Chartogne and his father before him, as the wine reflects both the generosity of the sandy soil and the mineral quality of the limestone bedrock.
Other Reviews....
Disgorged in March 2024 with a dosage of 1.15 grams per liter, the 2019 Blanc de Noirs Orizeaux originates from a neighboring parcel to Les Barres, boasting both southern and northern exposures. Planted to Pinot Noir in 1970, the site is defined by 1.6-meter-deep soils of sand and fragmented limestone overlying chalk bedrock. The wine is matured in seasoned oak barrels ranging from two to nine years of age. Already flamboyant in its youth, it opens with a deep bouquet of crisp yellow apple, warm pastries and orange zest. Texturally rich and layered, it is ample and multidimensional, culminating in a long, saline finish. Among the more extroverted wines in Chartogne’s portfolio, it remains controlled by ripe yet racy acidity, striking a fine balance between intensity and elegance. Drink 2025-2034.
95 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
- 96
Chartogne-Taillet Heurtebise (V19) Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChartogne-Taillet is the home of some of the most exciting wines in Champagne. Alexandre Chartogne is a perfectionist in his approach to viticulture and winemaking, something he picked up from his mentor Anselme Selosse. Key to his approach is the importance of expressing terroir above all else. With that in mind, Alexandre separately vinifies a myriad of plots spread across 11 hectares of vineyards in Merfy and the neighbouring villages of Chenay and Saint-Thierry. Over half the parcels are ploughed by horse, and no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers are used. In the winery, all fermentations are wild, and malolactic fermentation is not blocked. Alexandre favours wooden barrels or demi-muids for fermentations, and low dosage levels are used which allow the grapes to speak of their place.
The Chardonnay vines were planted on the Heurtebise plot in 1972, 1985, 1986 and 2010. Exposure is a solar direct-south, but the strong winds that tear through this place mean there's always ample freshness to be found. The soil composition is Thanetian sands mixed with clay on sandstone, and the area is prone to fluctuations covering both water stress and retention. It's one of Alexandre's most variable sites overall, one that has very different requirements depending on the season. Likewise, once off the vine, the wines also tend to take on greater influence from any intervention in the cellar, particularly aging in oak. Crystalline minerality and mouth-watering tension are always evident from this site. Disgorgement is just four grams per litre.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Blanc de Blancs Heurtebise is a single-vineyard expression that spotlights the singular terroir of Merfy, rooted in sandy soils with components of silt and clay, resting atop sandstone. Produced from Chardonnay vines planted between 1980 and 1985, it is aged entirely in 228-liter barrels—predominantly from Cavin—with a modest proportion of new oak. Disgorged in April 2024 with a dosage of 2.4 grams per liter, it reveals a bouquet of white blossoms, lemon zest and freshly baked brioche. The palate is medium-bodied, incisive and poised, with laser-like acidity that carries a core of pristine fruit to a long, mineral finish. It is the most linear and tensile wine in the range, even more so than the Chemin de Reims from the same vintage. Drink 2025-2039.
96 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
- 95
Chartogne-Taillet Chemin de Reims (V18) Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChartogne-Taillet is the home of some of the most exciting wines in Champagne. Alexandre Chartogne is a perfectionist in his approach to viticulture and winemaking, something he picked up from his mentor Anselme Selosse. Key to his approach is the importance of expressing terroir above all else. With that in mind, Alexandre separately vinifies a myriad of plots spread across 11 hectares of vineyards in Merfy and the neighbouring villages of Chenay and Saint-Thierry. Over half the parcels are ploughed by horse, and no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers are used. In the winery, all fermentations are wild, and malolactic fermentation is not blocked. Alexandre favours wooden barrels or demi-muids for fermentations, and low dosage levels are used which allow the grapes to speak of their place.
Chemin de Reims hails from a small plot of just over one hectare, facing south/southeast, and planted 1980, 1995 and 2011. It has Thanetian sands–very iron-rich soils with varied layers and depth before the base of sandstone underneath. The soil character is quite transmissible, particularly in the Chardonnay from this site, which takes on a unique fullness, structure and almost ferric texture. A Blanc de Blancs comprising 85% Chardonnay, and 15% Arbanne, élevage is in both casks (350 to 600 litres) and tanks. Alexandre tends towards a tighter-grained oak for this particular cuvée and this, along with further precision in the cellar, regular topping up and low dosage, allows Alexandre to preserve the purity of expression from this site. The results provide us with Chartogne-Taillet's most powerful and vinous cuvée.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Extra-Brut Chemin de Reims, 100% Chardonnay, deftly marries varietal expression with the tremendous resonance all the wines show in 2018. Citrus peel, crushed rocks, chamomile and dried herbs are all amplified in a Blanc de Blancs that presents the more savory, earthy side of Chardonnay. Even with all its obvious textural intensity and sheer power, the 2018 remains bright and nicely lifted throughout. There is a feeling of translucence here that is beguiling. This is Montagne de Reims Chardonnay at its finest. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: February 2023. Drink 2025-2033.
95 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous -
- 94
Collet Brut Rose ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now (2022)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkAged for a minimum of 4 years on lees. A buoyant mousse rises to the top of the glass eventually subsiding to reveal a salmon pink coloured base that has an exceptionally fine bead flowing through it. Lifted strawberry and yeast lees aromas intermingle with baked bread, citrus and brioche. Satiny in its feel, bready yeast lees flavours mix with hints of strawberry, citrus and delicate ginger. Dry, refreshing finish with a slightly chalky strawberry and yeasty baked bread aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
Collet Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenCellar: Drink now (2017)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkOpens with a frothy mousse that dissipates relatively quickly to reveal a pale straw/gold base colour. Excellent bead showing good persistence. Rich aromatics of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus evolve from the glass with dried honey and subtle brioche end notes. The palate has a slight oiliness to the mouthfeel with flavours of oily baked bread, yeast lees, toast and traces of citrus. Crisp dry finish with an aftertaste of oily baked bread, toast, yeast lees and hints of almonds.
Drink now.
Alc 12.5% -
- 90
De Saint-Gall Blanc de Blancs Champagne Premier CruChampagne, FRANCE$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru displays a creamy, intensely fruity and slightly reductive/yeasty bouquet of white fruit and floral/herbal aromas. Full-bodied and very elegant on the palate, this is a round, lush and textured yet tightly structured Chardonnay with a firm yet somewhat drying finish. Tasted August 2018.
90 Points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 94
- 93
- Reduced
2008 De Saint-Gall Orpale Blanc de Blancs Champagne Premier Cru - ClearanceChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $280.00$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe largest vineyard owners in the Cote des Blancs, Champagne de Saint-Gall is the creation of the Cooperative Union Champagne, founded in 1966, which consists of growers who only hold Premier & Grand Cru Vineyards. Orpale is the flagship wine of the producer, known for its complexity and finesse. Made only in vintage years, this Blanc de Blancs uses grapes from one of the finest Côte des Blancs plots, with some kept from malolactic fermentation to preserve their fresh, mineral character. The result is an elegant Champagne with layered aromas, a refined palate, and a lasting finish—truly exceptional.
Other Reviews....
Complex aromas of quince, dried mango, honey, toasted almond and gingerbread. It’s full-bodied and vinous with creamy, soft bubbles and bright acidity. Toasty and layered. Long, dense and flavorful. Delicious now.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.comThis is a beautifully mature Champagne, with ripe Chardonnay from the Côtes de Blancs now just hinting at toastiness. The wine's freshness is still apparent so that the balance with maturity is just right. Drink this fine wine now, but also age.
93 Points
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast Magazine -
- 94
De Saint-Gall Le Tradition Champagne Premier CruChampagne, FRANCE$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe largest vineyard owners in the Cote des Blancs, Champagne de Saint-Gall is the creation of the Cooperative Union Champagne, founded in 1966, which consists of growers who only hold Premier & Grand Cru Vineyards. Produced from a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir.
A buoyant and fluffy mousse holds well over a pale straw coloured base that has flecks of gold around the edges. A very fine bead showing good persistence. Excellent aromatics with baked bread, citrus and yeast lees leading the way. Subtle toast and almond notes ensue. Well meshed flavours of yeast lees, baked bread and citrus overlay an oily toast and almond back drop. Airy feel with good tension, crisp acidity and a refreshingly savoury aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
- 94
Dhondt-Grellet Les Terres Fines Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkIn 1986, Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet decided to stop selling off grapes to negociants and started Dhondt-Grellet. Their focus on farming translated into honest Champagnes from great holdings across the Côte des Blancs. Now with their son, Adrien, assuming a larger role, they are refocusing their efforts and producing some of the best Champagnes they ever have. Nowadays the company is lead by Eric and Adrian.
The vineyard is situated primarily in Grands and Premiers Crus of Cote des Blancs namely Cramant, Chouilly, Cuis but also Sézanne for their Chardonnays. They also cultivate some Pinot Noir in the Vallée the la Marne. Mainly located in mid hillsides on easy to work, very lightweight calcareous soils, their plots enjoy an outstanding location and a southeast exposure. The average age of the vines is 40 years. They also have their own cellars in Flavigny to age the wines before bringing them on the market. Les Terres Fines is their 100% chardonnay from premier cru vineyards from Cuis.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
Disgorged in June 2021, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Les Terres Fines (2018) offers up aromas of ripe citrus fruit, green apple, fresh bread, peach and toasted nuts. Full-bodied, ample and vinous, it's fleshy and generous, with lively acids and an enlivening pinpoint mousse. Seamless and complete, it concludes with chalky grip. Drink 2021 - 2028.
94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sept 2021)The NV Champagne Blanc de Blancs Les Terres Fines Extra Brut was vinified in barriques and is more vinous in its aromas of toast, baked apple, and Meyer lemon. The palate is dry and ripe, with notes of pear, peach, smoke, and white flowers. It has underlying tension and is persistent in its length. Its assertive style will need some time to unwind and harmonize to its full potential. Disgorged July 2021. Drink 2024-2036.
93 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
- 98
- 97
2009 Dom Perignon Rose ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$699. 00Bottle$8388.00 DozenClosure: Diam CorkOther Reviews…..
The 2009 Dom Pérignon Rosé is a sexy, racy wine that captures all the radiance of the year. Kirsch, blood orange, mint, spice and dried flowers unfurl in the glass. Soft, plush contours wrap it all together. Readers will find a Dom Pérignon Rosé endowed with tremendous textural depth and resonance. The 2009 is a total hedonistic turn-on. That's all there is to it. Drink 2025-2049.
98 points
Antonio Galloni – VinousPeaches, fresh crushed strawberries and roses on the nose. Full-bodied and generous. Fine tannins that frame the wine beautifully and set it up for a fresh finish. Some fruit tea and cedar undertones. Enticing finish with hints of bitterness. Savory. Drink or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2015 Dom Perignon ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$425. 00Bottle$5100.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkOther Reviews…..
The 2015 Dom Pérignon is terrific. Bright and poised, the 2015 shows terrific energy. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint, white pepper and slate all race across the palate. There's gorgeous tension and backbone here, with bright saline notes that extend the mid-palate and finish. This is a fine showing in a vintage that has proven to be tricky. I am intrigued to see how the 2015 develops in the coming years. Drink 2025-2045.
96 points
Antonio Galloni – VinousThere's a well-spiced, zesty edge to the flavors of glazed apple, mandarin orange peel, pink grapefruit pith and crème de cassis as they ride the finely detailed mousse of this fresh, focused Champagne. This vivid display is enriched by notes of canelé pastry, chopped almond, pastry cream, smoke and vanilla, all coming to the forefront through the midpalate and chiming on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2035.
96 points
Wine SpectatorA super-complex Champagne with chewy tension. Aromas of coffee beans, lemon peel, burnt sugar, chalky minerality, barley candy and tarte tatin. Fine pinprick bubbles with flavors of lemon leaves, aspirin and Mirabelle plums, plus a touch of grapefruit bitterness keeping the tension. Zesty yet integrated chewy acidity and a medium body with a toasted finish. Drink of hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.comThe 2015 Dom Perignon pours a bright straw/yellow color and is expressive and layered on the nose with a tropical profile in its notes of cantaloupe, peach, fresh pastry, smokey wet stones, and orange blossoms. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a rounded and ripe but very well-detailed feel, with a soft, chalky texture. This was a very successful vintage for Dom Perignon, producing wines that retain a great deal of clarity and detail in this warm vintage. Drink over the coming 20 years. Drink 2024-2045.
96 points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comDisgorged in January 2023, the 2015 Dom Pérignon shows a singular, ethereal profile with aromas of white pepper, iodine, ripe orchard fruits, toast, smoke, herbs and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and structured, it’s enveloping and round with a delicate phenolic mid-palate that underlines chalky dry extracts, concluding with a sapid, penetrating finish with gastronomic bitterness. This iteration of Dom Pérignon, though replete with the customary charm and vinous generosity that typify the label, distinguishes itself by its structural delicate austerity and a notably phenolic profile, giving rise to a remarkably linear and well-defined style that diverges markedly from the more familiar expressions of Dom Pérignon. This is a blend of 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardonnay with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter; it will age wonderfully and can be enjoyed now or over the next 20 years. Drink 2024 -2054.
95 points
Yohan Castaing – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
- 96
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2004 Dom Perignon P2 ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$1225. 00Bottle$14700.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2004 Dom Pérignon P2 is drinking beautifully on release, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet orchard fruit, fresh peach, pastry cream, buttered toast and cotton candy that display a less reductive profile than the original disgorgement. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and charming, with an ample, enveloping core of fruit, succulent acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse, it concludes with a long, sapid finish. Forward and giving, there's no obvious reason to defer gratification. Drink 2021 - 2035.
95 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)Structured, tight and mineral with so much tension. White grapefruit, lemon rind, dried apple, seashell, iodine, biscuit and blanched almond. Vibrant. Fantastic focus and verticality. Disgorged July 2021. Will be released October 2022. Drink on release or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.comP2 is the acronym for the Plénitude 2 series, Dom Pérignon’s second life. It indicates that bottles are kept by the house to let them age on the lees and to obtain different expressions of the same wine throughout its life, letting time work its magic and thus acquiring additional complexity. This year, Dom Pérignon’s cellar master, Vincent Chaperon, decided to release the 2004 vintage. ‘2004 was a contrast to 2003,’ he said. After rain in January, the spring was hot and sunny, like the beginning of summer. But the summer was wet, with 50% more rain than in an average year. Despite this, the health of the grapes was stable and the crop was abundant. ‘This is quite a perfect vintage,’ he added. The bouquet impresses with its finesse and elegance, its delicate aromas of pastry, orchard fruit, nuts, and lemon oil, and both iodine and chalky hints with air. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, very charming, with a sappy texture, racy acids, and a long and lingering finish. This is a very harmonious and rather chalky Dom Pérignon, which must be approached in its singularity. Time is a real asset here. Dosage: 5g/L. Drink 2022 - 2040.
96 points
Yohan Castaing - DecanterMandarin orange, ripe cherry, raspberry and apricot fruit notes offer an exuberant burst of flavor at the entry point of this otherwise refined and subtle Champagne. The expressive fruit is joined on the lacy mousse by hints of toast, pastry cream and Earl Grey tea leaf, with an underpinning of minerally chalk and smoke. Lithe and graceful on the palate, but with a dancer's sense of restrained power. Drink now through 2037.
97 points
Alison Napjus - Wine Spectator -
- 97
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2008 Dom Perignon Rose ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$799. 00Bottle$9588.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The newly released 2008 Dom Pérignon Rosé is a dramatic, perfumed wine, bursting with aromas of blood orange, iodine, sweet citrus fruit, peach and pear mingled with hints of buttered toast, smoke and spices. Full-bodied, textural and enveloping, with terrific concentration, racy acids and a pillowy mousse, it concludes with a long, penetrating finish. It derives its intense hue from red wine produced from Pinot Noir grown in lieux-dits Chants de Linottes in Hautvillers and Vauzelles in Aÿ. Drink 2022 - 2042.
97 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)The 2008 Dom Pérignon Rosé is magnificent. Rich and deep in the glass, the 2008 offers up an exotic mélange of aromas and flavors. Sweet red cherry, mint, orange peel and rose petal all grace this beguiling beauty. Bright acids and a little less still red Pinot (21%) than in most recent editions yields a Rosé that is delicate and light on its feet, with less of the vinous intensity that marked vintages such as 2006. There is a classic feeling of austerity in the 2018 that is mesmerizing. Drink 2026-2048.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis shows incredible depth of fruit with strawberry, cherry and phenolics. Full-bodied and layered with an incredible, three-dimensional element to the wine. This is so transparent and dynamic with dark fruit, yet it remains vivid and bright. Refined and precise, it goes on and on. Really savory, fresh and incredibly pinot-noir-like. What a wine. 13 years of maturation in the bottle. So drinkable now, but it will age for many years ahead.
99 points
JamesSuckling.comAn impeccably balanced and graceful sparkling rosé, with a plushly creamy mousse. It's hard to tell where the firm spine of well-honed acidity and the expressive range of pureed raspberry, candied ginger, tangerine and lemon thyme flavors begin or end. A rich hint of smoky toasted brioche plays on the finish. Drink now through 2033.
97 points
Alison Napjus - Wine Spectator -
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2008 Dom Perignon ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$599. 00Bottle$7188.00 DozenCellar: 5 - 15 Years (2024-2034)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkA fine lacy white mousse has good buoyancy over a pale straw coloured base. Exceptionally delicate and very steady bead. Very complex and refined the nose features citrus and toast top notes over yeast lees, hints of green apple, brioche and almond. Sophisticated and powerful, the toned, tightly sculptured palate features driving citrus, baked bread, yeast lees, almond, subtlety toasted biscuit, brioche, smoky mineral, and oyster shell like flavours. Dry racy finish with crisp acidity and an airy yet tense feel. Concludes very long and finessed. Still remarkably young and virile, some bottle age will reap great rewards.
Cellar 5-15 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
The 2008 Dom Pérignon is the first time the estate has released a wine out of order (the 2009 was released before the 2008) but the estate loved the wine so much they felt it warranted additional aging. This is a rich, powerful wine that still shows incredible purity and elegance, with a stacked, concentrated feel on the palate. It’s rare to find such a mix of ripe, pure, concentrated fruit paired with this level of purity, focus, and precision. This is a legendary Dom that surpasses all the great vintages of Dom I have experience with, including the 1990, 1996, and 2002. Drink 2018-2038.
98 points
JebDunnuck.comThe 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions. Drink 2020-2058.
98+ points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThere's power to this graceful Champagne, with the vivid acidity swathed in a fine, creamy mousse and flavors of toasted brioche, kumquat, pastry cream, candied ginger and poached plum that dance across the palate. An underpinning of smoky mineral gains momentum on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.
96 points
Wine SpectatorThe finest release of this iconic cuvée since the 1996 vintage, the 2008 Dom Pérignon wafts from the glass with an incipiently complex bouquet of Meyer lemon, green apple, dried white flowers and oyster shell, with only subtle hints of the smoky, autolytic aromas that have been such a prominent signature of recent releases. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and complete, its notable flesh and amplitude controlled by incisive acids, with a youthfully exuberant but elegant mousse and a long, beautifully delineated finish. Considering the sheer size of this cuvée, it's a remarkable achievement and a fitting release with which to conclude Richard Geoffroy's tenure as chef de cave. Given the 2008's intensity and balance, I suspect purists will be anticipating later disgorgements with lower dosage and more time on the lees with particular enthusiasm. Tasted three times, with consistent results. Drink 2018-2040.
96+ points
William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
Seven champagnes were submitted for this tasting at prices significantly higher than this great wine. It’s a simple outcome of supply and demand, for Dom’s production is measured in millions of bottles each year. There are often several vintages on sale, none better than this vibrant, elegant, incredibly youthful 2008.
98 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion
The best Dom since 2002. A vintage with very restrained, powerful style that has been released non-sequentially after the 2009. This has a lighter stamp of highly curated, autolytic, toasty aromas than many recent releases. Instead, this delivers super fresh and intense aromas of lemons, grapefruit and blood-orange peel. Incredible freshness here. The palate has a very smoothly delivered, berry-pastry thread with light, sweet spices, stone fruit and fine citrus fruit. This really delivers. Drink now or hold.
98 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
Duval Leroy Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2021-2025)ABV: 12%Closure: CorkPours with a frothy white mousse that holds well. A very persistent and exceptionally fine bead threading its way through a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edgings. Pear, citrus and yeast lees aromatics combine with baked bread and subtle brioche notes. Quite creamy and airy in its feel the palate is layered with baked pear, yeast lees and citrus flavours with some bready characters and oily toast like nuances in the background. Finishes crisp with a long lacy aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 96
2015 Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Millesime ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$1399. 00Bottle$16788.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. As usual with Francis Egly's millesime, the blend is 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay from the same 40-year-old vines in Ambonnay, aged in barrel until bottling.
Other Reviews....
The 2015 Champagne Millésime is a bright straw color and is ripe and fruity on the nose, with aromas of black cherries, fresh violets, savory saline, and a hint of umami richness. The palate is full-bodied, with no phenolic bitterness, and never feels overtly savory. Pure, juicy, and inviting, it’s lovely and long on the palate, with a very pretty finish and a refined mousse that just frames the wine. It has a delicate note of toast that it needs time to harmonize, but I love what they have done with this vintage. Drink 2025-2045.
96 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2008 Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Millesime Champagne (Disgorged April 2020)Champagne, FRANCE$1750. 00Bottle$21000.00 DozenClosure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. This wine is the second bottling of Egly’s (already legendary) Millésime 2008, first bottled with a July 2019 disgorgement, this edition was almost a year later in April 2020, after 129 months on lees. As usual with Francis Egly's millesime, the blend is 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay from the same 40-year-old vines in Ambonnay, aged in barrel until bottling and with no malo.
Other Reviews....
Revisited from the July 2019 disgorgement, Egly's 2008 Brut Grand Cru Millésime was showing as brilliantly as ever. The wine seemed to shut down a little in early 2020, but it is already beginning to unwind, and this was the most expressive bottle that I've drunk to date. Offering up an incipiently complex bouquet of orchard fruit, citrus oil, pralines and freshly baked bread, now complemented by hints of iodine, clear honey and mirabelle plum, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with immense depth and concentration, racy acids and elegantly muscular structuring dry extract. Long and penetrating, as I've written before, this wine is a monument to what Champagne's grower revolution has achieved over the last 30 or so years. Drink 2023 - 2048.
100 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (May 2021)Just being released now, the 2008 Brut Millésime Grand Cru is quite possibly the most elegant, most refined Champagne I have ever tasted at Egly-Ouriet. Francis Egly captures the freshness and verve of 2008 as expressed in his vineyards in Ambonnay. That interplay yields a Champagne that is deep, resonant and pulsing with tremendous energy. The Pinot really comes through on a finish that just expands with superb resonance. In a word: brilliant! Disgorged: July, 2019. Drink 2019-2029.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA timeless, benchmark expression of Ambonnay. Primary fermentation in barrique, no malolactic fermentation. Aged 10 years on its lees and bottled with 5g/l dosage. A stunning, complex nose of candied walnuts, cherry pits, nougat and red apples. The palate has boundless energy, leading with a punch of apricots, golden raisins, almonds and orange zest. The length of the finish is extraordinary, oscillating between airy weightlessness and muscular power. The combination of Francis Egly's meticulous nature and the sturdy clarity of the 2008 vintage is a thing to behold. A wine to enjoy over the next four decades. Drink 2020 - 2060.
99 points
Matthew Luczy - Decanter -
- 90
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Egly-Ouriet Les Premices Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Les Prémices is the first new cuvée from this Domaine for over twenty years and hails from 3.5 hectares of vines in Trigny (northwest of Reims) in the Massif de Saint Thierry area. Reflecting what is planted in the vineyards, Les Prémices is an equal blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier drawn from mature vines (on average, 40 years old) rooted in clay, sand and sandstone, over chalk bedrock—a soil typical of the Massif de St. Thierry. The main difference between this wine and others in the Egly portfolio is here the wine was fermented and aged exclusively in tank, and spent 36 months on lees and was disgorged with two grams per litre.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
Based on the 2018 vintage and disgorged with only one gram per liter dosage, Egly's NV Brut Les Prémices delivers aromas of sweet orchard fruit, peach, baking spices and fresh bread. Medium to full-bodied, ample and satiny, it's a charming, enveloping wine with a sweet core of fruit and a bright, saline finish. Drink 2022 - 2030.
90 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)A new wine in the Egly range, the NV Brut Les Prémices is a Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Meunier blend from Trigny, all 2016 vintage. Bright floral notes and the natural richness of Pinots come together nicely in this entry-level bottling. There is good energy, but naturally not quite the textural breadth of the top wines.
90 Points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis release of the NV Champagne Les Prémices is based on the 2020 vintage, was bottled in 2021, and disgorged in July 2024. Made from equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, it’s fresh and inviting, with a delicately fresh and fruity profile on the nose offering notes of raspberries, attractive red fruit, and a nice bit of extract and sapidity. It has a pleasing, fresh, savory element on the finish, with delicate spice in its fine mousse. A very lovely wine that’s drinking beautifully, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years. Drink 2024-2031.
92 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru V.P. (Vieillissement Prolonge) Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature, and there's no better example of this than their V.P. bottling. The V.P. stands for ‘Vieillissement Prolongé’ (prolonged ageing), with the wine spending an average of seven years on lees before being disgorged with an extra brut low of 2g/l dosage. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, the fruit comes from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
The NV Extra Brut V.P. Grand Cru (Vieillissement Prolongé) is a rich, textured Champagne that expresses all of the natural intensity gained after having spent eight years on its lees. Baked apple tart, pastry, spice, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes infuse the V.P. with tremendous flavor complexity to fill out its broad, expansive frame. It is a wine of remarkable depth and vinous intensity. In a word: superb.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA benchmark bottling that's a staple of my cellar, newly disgorged Egly's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru V.P. is a blend of the 2014, 2013 and 2012 vintages. Wafting from the glass with scents of pear, freshly baked bread, nougat, praline and clear honey, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated, with racy acids, chalky structure and a long, penetrating finish. Readers won't want to miss it. Drink 2022 - 2037.
94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)The NV Champagne V.P. stands for Vieille Prolongée, because it is aged longer, seeing 7 years on the lees before disgorgement. A blend 70% Pinot and the rest Chardonnay, based on 2016 and with reserve wine from 2015 and 2014, they made this blend in 2017. Offering wonderfully pure aromas of cherry liqueur, eau de vie, fresh flowers, and crushed rocks, it’s full-bodied on the palate and has broad shoulders but retains a very focused and well-defined feel, with outstanding concentration and purity, a fantastically long finish, and a remarkably youthful feel. It’s beautiful now but has the potential for a lot of longevity and is going to be wonderful to check in on.
97 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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Egly-Ouriet Brut Rose Grand Cru ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. Arguably one of the greatest Rose Champagne made, Egly's rendition is fine and perfumed, and with the addition of 5% still Pinot Noir from their Coteaux Champenois Rouge shows magnificent Pinot fruit.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
Based on the 2016 vintage and disgorged in early 2022, Egly's NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru is now bottled in dark glass, protecting it from light strike. Bursting with aromas of pear, tangerine, cherries and toasted almonds, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous, with racy acids and a long, sapid finish. This brilliant, characterful wine is worth a special effort to seek out. Drink 2022 - 2035.
94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)The NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru is distinguished, among other things, by the five years it spent on its lees, which is quite long for Rosé Champagne. Bright and beautifully sculpted, the Rosé sizzles with tension and yet it also possesses a sense of inner suaveness that is impossible to miss. This is such a classy wine.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe NV Champagne Rose Cuvee is based on the 2019 vintage and boasts a pale pink bright hue. Blended with approximately 5% red wine from plots of old vines in Ambonnay, it’s fresh and fruity on the nose, with aromas of fresh raspberries, peach or nectarine, and saline. The palate is powerful and appealing, and the ripeness of the fruit is long on the palate, with notes of orange oil, citrus oils grapefruit, and a clean, stony finish. Drink over the coming 15 years. 15,000 bottles per year are produced. Drink 2024-2040.
95 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comOpulent aromas and flavors of smoky grilled nut and toasted brioche, baked apricot and raspberry fruit, pastry cream and crystallized honey show in this expressive rosé Champagne, yet the spine of rapierlike acidity and the satiny mousse are finely integrated, lending an elegance to the full-throttle flavor profile.
93 points
Alison Napjus - Wine SpectatorRumbling power with delicate finesse, this is a rose of medium salmon hue, bursting with the exuberance and beguiling transparency of Ambonnay pinot noir. Fragrant rosebuds and wild strawberries open into glorious depth of black cherry fruits of exacting ripeness, cherry kernel, fig and mixed spice. Very fresh and focussed for its age, with a universe of complexity lingering very long, precise and lively amidst fine chalk mineral texture.
96 points
Tyson Stelzer - The Champagne Guide 2015-2016 -
- 97
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Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2018-2024)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. Brut Tradition is a blend of up of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from low yielding vines in Grand Cru terroirs, and is a wine that puts to shame many a prestige cuvee at double the price.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Previous tasting October 2018:
A fine satin like mousse shows good hold over a pale straw base with pale gold edgings. Very profuse and exceptionally fine bead. Superb aromatics of baked bread and yeast lees meld with subtle honeyed notes, pear, citrus and lightly roasted cashew. Very faint hazelnut end notes complete a complex sniff. Rich toasty baked bread and yeast lees characters pair with subtle pear and citrus flavours. Refined lacy feel with sculptured acidity lending tension on the mouth watering finish. Also evident are cashew and buttered brioche nuances. Long creamy oily baked bread and yeast lees tinged finish with a bite of refreshing citrus.
97 points
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews....
70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay from the ’12, ’11 and ’10 vintages, disgorged October ’17 after 51 months on lees. Fourth-generation vigneron, Francis Egly, assumed responsibility in ’82, deciding to bottle the production of 8300 dozen from the 12ha estate. His determination to make only the best quality champagne means he now sells on allocation. This wine is supremely concentrated, and equally classy. Dosage 2g/l.
97 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion
Even though it was only Disgorged: a few months ago, the NV Brut Tradition Grand Cru is super-expressive. The Brut Tradition brings together parcels in Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay that, together, yield a Pinot-driven Champagne with tremendous breadth as well as cut. Red fruit, dried flowers, mint, spice and lemon confit are some of the aromas and flavors that build in this wonderfully open-knit, inviting Champagne from Egly-Ouriet.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousWith this release, based on the 2014 vintage and disgorged in June-July 2019, what was formerly Egly's Brut "Tradition" becomes simply his NV Brut Grand Cru, a simplification that paves the way for several new cuvées from this reference-point grower that I'll be reporting about in due course. Changes in nomenclature aside, the wine in the bottle has never been better, and the latest release soars from the glass with an expressive bouquet of golden orchard fruit, honeycomb, citrus zest and freshly baked bread. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with real concentration and intensity, built around racy acids and chalky dry extract. The finish is long and lingering.
93 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (May 2020)From the very first cuvée, Egly-Ouriet is distinguished for its ability to preserve exacting precision and outstanding chalk mineral focus in the midst of magnificent generosity. A vinous wine of calm authority, carrying the full grandeur and complexity of carefully tended, low-yielding, old vine Pinot Noir on some of Champagne’s most revered grand crus… A paradox of luxurious generosity and crystalline purity.
95 points
Tyson Stelzer - The Champagne Guide 2015-2016 -
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Egly-Ouriet Blanc De Noirs Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes Les Crayeres ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$899. 00Bottle$10788.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. Blanc De Noirs is the flagship wine from Egly-Ouriet, and the one that first captured the attention of the wider Champagne public. This 100% Pinot Noir cuvee comes from the Les Crayeres vineyard in Ambonnay that was planted in 1946.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
A blend of the 2015 and 2014 vintages, Egly's emblematic NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Les Crayères was disgorged this year with only one gram per liter dosage. Bursting with aromas of mirabelle plum, Anjou pear and green apple mingled with notions of freshly baked bread, honeycomb and praline, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, its satiny attack segueing into a deep, layered mid-palate of striking texture and concentration. Concluding with a long, intensely saline finish, it's another brilliant wine from a great producer at the top of his form. Drink 2023 - 2043.
98+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)The NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Crayeres Grand Cru explodes from the glass with a range of Pinot aromas and flavors that is just breathtaking. Bright acids and beams of saline intensity offer striking contrast. Even though it has just been Disgorged:, the Crayeres is just stunning. For readers who want to know what Pinot from Ambonnay tastes like, well, this is it. Hints of Mirabelle plum, red plum and dried flowers linger on the substantial finish.
96+ points
Antonio Galloni - VinousAged 72 months on lees, fermented in barrel with full malo, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayeres Vieilles Vignes Brut is just a heavenly bottle, offering a kaleidoscope-like nose of buttered citrus, orange blossom, flowers, green almonds, and salty minerality. These flow to a full-bodied, rich, deep, and incredibly layered palate Champagne that flirts with perfection. It’s stunning today yet it should easily evolve for another 20 years. Drink 2020 - 2040.
99 points
Jeb Dunnuck - Emmanuel Brochet Selected (base 2020) Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$235. 00Bottle$2820.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Emmanuel Brochet hails from the Villers-aux-Noeuds village south of the city of Reims. He farms 2.5 hectares of vines, all located in a single parcel, and planted with all three major varieties with the oldest vines dating back to 1962. The vineyard was converted to organic viticulture starting with the 2008 vintage, which he does more out of respect for the land than something he necessarily believes results in better wine.
New for this release is the first NV wine to appear under the Selected label from the premier cru village of Pierry. A blend of 70% Pinot Meunier and 30% Chardonnay, this release is 65% 2020 vintage with the balance reserve wine, all raised in oak and disgorged in 2023 with a dosage of 3 g/L.
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- 95
Forest-Marie Brut Tradition ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2023-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: CorkA heady mousse sits well over a straw pale gold edged base. Streaming through its core is a very fine and persistent bead. Invigorating scents of baked bread, yeast lees and subtle dried honey fill the nostrils with hints of ginger, brioche and roasted almonds also chiming in. Rich and mouth filling with a creamy texture the palate is generously endowed with baked bread, yeast lees and brioche flavours which overlay a back drop of roasted almonds and citrus. Crisp acidity with some lingering oily toast like accents to the long, full aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
- Organic
2018 Georges Laval Les Chenes Brut Nature ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$550. 00Bottle$6600.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkWhile the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Les Chenes is Vincent Laval's dense and powerful 100% Chardonnay cuvée from a lieu-dit of the same name, made only in exceptional years. After harvesting fully ripe grapes, the wine spends around 10 months in barrel before another 4 years in bottle prior to disgorgement with zero dosage.
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2017 Georges Laval Les Hautes Chevres Brut Nature ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$550. 00Bottle$6600.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkWhile the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Les Hautes Chevres is a tiny selection of old vine Pinot Meunier planted in 1930, 1947, 1965, and 1971. Unfortunately the 1930 parcel needed to be replaced following the 2014 harvest, yet these are still some of the oldest Meunier vines in the area. Situated at the top of the slope within the Cumieres vineyard, this tiny parcel sits on a layer of fine clay over a firm limestone bedrock base, and produces Meunier with a rich and multi-dimensional profile, further heightened as the wine ages in bottle. This micro-cuvée is one of the rarest and most sought after in the region. Bottled with zero dosage.
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Vincent Laval (Georges Laval) Brut Nature Champagne RoseChampagne, FRANCE$485. 00Bottle$5820.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkWhile the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Vincent produces one of the most singular expressions of Rosé Champagne, very much in the style of red Burgundy with bubbles. A rough split of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are picked as whole bunches and carefully crushed by foot with a healthy amount of skin contact leading to a bold, vibrant red colour. Expect a rich, layered, and unquestionable detailed rosé unlike anything else you will have encountered.
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- 91
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Georges Laval Cumieres Brut Nature ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenClosure: CorkWhile the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Cumieres Brut Nature is a blend of 57% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 10% Pinot Meunier, and is fermented in oak before three years in bottle prior to disgorging with no dosage.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
The NV Brut Nature Cumières (2017) makes me feel like I am in the cellar, tasting with Vincent Laval. A Champagne of tremendous purity and nuance, the NV captures all of the flavor intensity, drive and nuance that make the wines of Cumières so alluring. This release, based on 2017, sizzles with nervy energy. Time in the glass brings out layers of perfume and a whole range of red-toned fruits. In a word: terrific. Disgorged: February 21, 2020. Drink 2020-2028.
91 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous -
- 90
- Organic
Georges Laval Garennes Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 11.5%Closure: CorkWhile the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
The NV Extra-Brut Garennes is rich, ample and inviting, with all of the textural intensity that is the signature of Vincent Laval’s wines. Readers should expect a rich, boisterous Champagne laced with generous Meunier intensity. Dried pear, hazelnut and crushed flowers are some of the many notes that develop with a bit of air. The Garennes bottling continues to gain in complexity. This is the best edition yet. This release is based on 2016, with 40% reserve wines from 2015, 2014 and 2013. The blend is 90% Meunier with 5% each Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink 2020-2028.
90 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - 2017 Georges Remy Les Muits ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Georges Remy is a young, third generation vigneron crafting exciting Champagnes from his base in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. While his formative years following wine study were spent in Bordeaux, upon returning to his home and making some notable Bouzy Rouge (still red wine), Georges now produces a range of Champagnes from vineyards predominantly located in Bouzy, with a small part in Tauxieres. The dark clay soils here are rich in silica and gypsum, and produces wines with enormous power and complexity. Their vineyards have been certified organic since 2015, and while not prescriptive, Georges does use herbal treatments as well as some biodynamic preparations to minimize the use of sulphites following vinification. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in barrel and after aging on its lees bottling takes place following the lunar cycles.
Les Muits is made from a single parcel of 100% Chardonnay from the Premier Cru village of Tauxieres. While it's rare to find Chardonnay planted here, these specific vines are from a portion of the parcel which sits at the top of the hill planted over a bedrock of pure chalk. Vines here face south-east, and the parcel is made up of two massale selection plantings from 1971 and 1973. Production is a tiny 700 bottles.
- 2016 Georges Remy Le Mont de Tauxieres ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Georges Remy is a young, third generation vigneron crafting exciting Champagnes from his base in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. While his formative years following wine study were spent in Bordeaux, upon returning to his home and making some notable Bouzy Rouge (still red wine), Georges now produces a range of Champagnes from vineyards predominantly located in Bouzy, with a small part in Tauxieres. The dark clay soils here are rich in silica and gypsum, and produces wines with enormous power and complexity. Their vineyards have been certified organic since 2015, and while not prescriptive, Georges does use herbal treatments as well as some biodynamic preparations to minimize the use of sulphites following vinification. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in barrel and after aging on its lees bottling takes place following the lunar cycles.
Le Mont de Tauxieres is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay from this single vineyard based in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. Disgorged in April 2022 with no dosage, there are a scant 1500 bottles available from the 2016 vintage.
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Guiborat Prisme.17 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChampagne Guiborat is based in the grand cru village of Cramant, right in the heart of the Cote de Blancs. Much of their vineyards are planted in the deep chalk soils of Cramant and Chouilly grand crus, along with a parcel in the Marne near Epernay where they have some Pinot Meunier. While they own 8 hectares of vineyards, three quarters of their production is sold off to Laurent-Perrier, keeping only the best parcels for their own label.
Prisme is a 100% Chardonnay cuvee exclusively from old vine parcels owned by the family, namely Les Bergeries (Cramant, planted in 1984), Le Mont Aigu (Chouilly, planted in 1970 and 1979), and Les Caurés (Chouilly, planted in 1946 and 1988). The emphasis with Prisme is to display the transparent nature that the chalk soils of Cramant and Chouilly lend to these wines. Vinification occurs in 96% stainless steel, with the balance in neutral oak barrels. Following 7 months on lees the wine is assembled and sees a further 44 months on lees in bottle, and 12 months resting in the cellar before release. Dosage is a very low 1.5g/L.
Other Reviews....
The NV Extra-Brut Prisme . 17 is a taut, chiseled wine, based on the 2017 vintage with 13% reserve wines. Offering up notes of citrus zest, verbena, warm bread and fresh herbs, it's medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive, with racy acids underpinning an attractive core of ripe fruit. Drink 2023 - 2029.
92 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023) -
- 94
2015 Guiborat de Caures a Mont-Aigu Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$270. 00Bottle$3240.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChampagne Guiborat is based in the grand cru village of Cramant, right in the heart of the Cote de Blancs. Much of their vineyards are planted in the deep chalk soils of Cramant and Chouilly grand crus, along with a parcel in the Marne near Epernay where they have some Pinot Meunier. While they own 8 hectares of vineyards, three quarters of their production is sold off to Laurent-Perrier, keeping only the best parcels for their own label.
In certain years Richard Fouquet will release a wine solely from the Mont-Aigu parcel (planted 1970), however in the warmer years he chooses to combine fruit from this warm site with the cooler exposure of the Caures vineyard (planted 1946). This 100% Chardonnay cuvee is vinified in stainless steel and rests on lees for 6 months, before a further 68 months on lees in bottle prior to being disgorged with 1.5g/L dosage.
Other Reviews....
Incorporating some 16% of lieu-dit Caurés to temper the richness of Montaigu in sunny vintages, Guiborat's 2015 Extra-Brut De Caurés à Montaigu offers up aromas of crisp green apple, white flowers, citrus oil, freshly baked bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, it's racy and charming, with a pure core of fruit, a pillowy mousse and a chalky finish. Drink 2023 - 2038.
94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023) -
- 94
- Nick's Import
- Organic
- Biodynamic
Hugues Godme Les Premiers Jardins Le Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkMade from 100% Chardonnay with 3 years on lees. A buoyant mousse overlays a pale straw coloured base with pale gold tinged edges that’s finely threaded by a very persistent bead. Pronounced citrus, yeast lees and toast aromas are married to brioche and roast almond like notes. Racy, tense and sculptured the vibrant palate features citrus and pear fruits over a dry chalky back drop of delicate baked bread, yeast lees and almonds. Crip acidity leading into a stimulating finish.
Alc. 12.5%