1048 products

Sparklings

Nothing quite matches the sparkle and sensation of fine bubbles dancing across the tongue. However, not everyone can drink Champagne on a regular basis. That's why we also stock affordable, quality Loire Valley sparklings, Prosecco, Sparkling reds and more, tasting hundreds of examples each year to bring you the best at any given price point.

    • 96
    • 96
    2013 Louis Roederer Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $110. 00
    Bottle
    $1320.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2020-2026)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    A fine satiny mousse dissipates to reveal a pale gold coloured base that has a steady stream of nibble bubbles coursing through it. On the nose, classic Champagne aromatics of yeast lees and baked bread overlay more subtle notes of pear, citrus, dried honey, cashew and faint toast. Mouth wateringly fresh yet also gently creamy in its feel, the palate is graced with pear, citrus, lightly toasted baked bread and yeast lees flavours. Subtle cashew and minerally oyster shell like characters chime in on the dry crisp finish. Long airy aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews….
    The palate here is very expressive and voluminous. Plenty of pinot-noir, sliced-strawberry flavor. Very rich and round and very assertive, this is so long and complete already. Pink fruit and berries in abundance and a sizzling, mineral finish. Fresh resolve here. Impressive! Drink now or hold.
    96 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    Sublime and delicate on the nose, this wine is such a baby at the moment, you will need to clear a space in the cellar for this one.
    I felt almost poetic writing the notes for the 2013, summer meadows, juicy peaches, fresh strawberries, lemon zest, creamy lemon posset, peach blossoms and toasted hazelnut crumble. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, the 2013 has spent 4 years on its lees and another 6 months resting after disgorgement but I would be really keen to see this in another 10 years time. The potential for this to hold on to its incredibly taut and balanced acidity whilst letting the fresh, fruity and floral flavours develop into something mature and complex with rich nuttiness, candied citrus zest, dried fruits and a savoury umami element ripe for pairing with a rich dinner like roast pork with crackling and roasted seasonal vegetables. Patience has its rewards. Drink 2020-2033.
    94 points
    Curly Haslam-Coates – The Wine Front

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    2010 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $130. 00
    Bottle
    $1560.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2017-2025)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Produced from 100% Chardonnay, Louis Roederer’s Blanc de Blancs is aged for 5 years on lees and 20% of the wine is vinified in oak casks. A very frothy mousse shows good buoyancy over a pale straw coloured base wine that has hints of pale gold around the edges. Showing great persistence is an exceptionally fine stream of tiny bubbles. Very refined and classy the nose exhibits delicate pear and citrus aromatics which intermingle with yeast lees, fresh baked bread characters and a touch of biscuit. Elegant, long and loaded with finesse there’s an airy smoothness to the mouthfeel. Flavours of fresh citrus tied to yeast lees and bready characters are followed by brioche and a delicate toastiness. Fresh stimulating finish with nervy acidity providing some tension. Long aftertaste of citrus, yeast lees, fresh bread, brioche and emerging toast.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 12%

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    • 100
    2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne Gift Pack
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $499. 00
    Bottle
    $5988.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Gift pack containing one bottle of 2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, and two Champagne flutes. 

     2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne Gift Pack

    Other Reviews….
    The 2008 Cristal is a real head-turner. Powerful, ample and explosive in all of its dimensions, the 2008 takes hold of the sense and never lets up. There is a crystalline purity to the flavors that is simply remarkable. Although still a baby, the 2008 looks like it will soon take its place alongside the greatest Cristals. Today, it is breathtaking. Drink 2020-2058.
    98+ points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.
    100 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades. Drink 2018-2038.
    100 points
    JebDunnuck.com

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    2009 Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $170. 00
    Bottle
    $2040.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 6 - 8 Years (2024-2026)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    This zero dosage Champagne has been made in collaboration with artist Phillipe Starck.

    A fine plentiful mousse dissipates to reveal a pale straw, pale gold base wine which threaded by an exceptionally fine bead that shows excellent persistence. There’s a lovely richness to the powerful aromatics of oily baked bread, yeast lees, citrus, light dried honey, toast and cashew. Texturally lean and bone dry yet possessing an airy, lightly creamed mouthfeel, the palate dishes up toasty yeast lees, citrus, roasted almonds and baked bread flavours. Dry chalky, cream tinged finish with sculptured acidity lending tension. Long mouth watering aftertaste of yeast lees, oily toast, baked bread, cashew and citrus aftertaste.
    Cellar 6-8 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews…
    The nutty bouquet encapsulates some aldehydes and oak aromatics, while the palate is at once delicate, crisp and powerful. It feels immediate and rich, as opposed to linear and long. The wine has wonderful richness and amazing balance, considering the lack of dosage. It has a mineral rather than fruity personality. The creaminess from long lees maturation and low gas pressure enables this remarkable texture. A thoroughly impressive and convincing wine - indeed, a stroke of genius. (66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay; 30% oak matured; zero dosage)'
    97 Points
    Huon Hooke

    Roederer's 2009 Brut Nature is compelling. Powerful, ample and creamy, the 2009 has more than enough natural richness and texture to carry the wine with no dosage. The Brut Nature emerges from vineyards in Cumieres, where the wines are naturally tense, which creates a fascinating push and pull with the ripeness of 2009 and no dosage approach. Of all the grand marque Chefs de Caves, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon is the closest to his vineyards and the most artisan in spirit. That comes through loud and clear in this fabulous Champagne. The Brut Nature is also the single best value within the Roederer range today. Drink 2018-2029.
    94 points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

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    2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $699. 00
    Bottle
    $8388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

    Other Reviews….
    A re-release of the original 2010 disgorgement. Super fine, super fresh and super savory aromas of chalky stones with hints of flowers, white almonds, lemon peel and grapefruit. The palate has intense, mouth-filling, lemon-curd flavor. Very powerful, very concentrated and very expressive. Smooth finish that’s full of life, leaving a bright, white cherry note. Drink in 2022.
    98 points
    JamesSuckling.com


    Roederer's 2002 Cristal is a fabulous wine! Originally released in 2009, it was re-released in March this year—and was sold out in a very short time. The Cristal I tasted at Roederer in May 2018 was disgorged in 2010, after seven years sur lie. Its amazing richness and concentration makes it a forerunner of the 2015 and follows the 1999. Only two times—2002 and 2015—the fruit from all 42 plots reserved for Cristal was used for the Cristal. "I couldn't do any better blend than the one assembling all the 42 plots," says Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, stressing that at that time only two hectares were farmed biodynamically. As a result of the conversion to biodynamic farming, Lécaillon promised himself the production of even more beautiful, vital and balanced wines, and you can feel his satisfaction whenever he speaks of the cuvées that are yet to come such as 2012 and 2015, the latter of which he calls "the new 2002." Back to history: the nose of the 2002 Cristal shows a deep, ripe and elegant fruit with aromas of white chocolate, wet chalk, wild vanilla and pepper (typical for 2002) as well as terroir-driven truffle notes. Intense and very elegant in the mouth, this is a ripe, rich and concentrated yet also pure and vital Cristal with great finesse, elegance and mineral complexity. It's a sublime Champagne right now, although it's more wine than Champagne. Drink 2018-2050.
    98 points
    Stephan Reinhardt – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    2007 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $330. 00
    Bottle
    $3960.00 Dozen

    Other Reviews….
    Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has produced yet another in a string of superb Champagnes with the 2007 Cristal. Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2007 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. The aromatics alone are captivating, but then the wine opens on the palate, revealing layer after layer of flavor to match a multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic personality that will leave Champagne lovers weak at the knees. The 2007 is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir, which is to say a bit more Chardonnay-leaning than is the norm. The 2007 is striking today, but it should also age effortlessly for several decades. It is also without question one of the very finest new releases of the year.
    97+ points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous


    Please note: Due to the cost and status of this product it is company policy that payment be made using either PayPal or via Bank Transfer. Payment by credit card will attract additional security procedures and delay dispatch.

    2012 Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $170. 00
    Bottle
    $2040.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2012 Brut Nature Rosé derives from biodynamically cultivated vineyards in Cumières, and this is the first time Roederer has ever released a rosé without dosage. Offering up aromas of warm bread, orange zest, red berries, oyster shell and rose petals, the wine is medium to full-bodied, brisk and incisive, with racy acids and a tight-knit, mineral core, complemented by a pinpoint mousse. Concluding with a penetrating, saline finish, this will unwind with a couple of years' bottle age, though true to the ambitions behind it, it will always remain a more minimalist expression of Champagne. It's a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, its hue derived from "cold infusion" before pressing of a small percentage of the Pinot Noir in the blend.
    92+ points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate #248 (May 2020)

    The fresh strawberries here are so clear and alluring. Some peaches, too. The palate offers pink grapefruit and fresh cherries, laced with lemons and yellow grapefruit. Deep, mineral backbone with a smooth resolve. Buoyed with pink fruit. Drink now.
    94 points
    jamessuckling.com

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    2013 Louis Roederer Vintage Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $120. 00
    Bottle
    $1440.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2019-2025)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    A fluffy effusive mousse holds well over a pale salmon pink coloured base that’s threaded by an exceptionally fine bead that shows great persistence. Delicate aromas of winter strawberries, citrus and yeast lees flow through the nostrils followed by hints of brioche and subtle peach. Satiny in its mouthfeel the palate is elegantly detailed with winter strawberry, peach and raspberry fruits that are interwoven with citrus and yeast lees characters. Dry refreshing finish with stimulating acidity and a long refined aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews….
    The Roederer 2013 Rosé has a lovely light pink color and opens with highly delicate red fruit and flowery aromas. The wine is light, fresh, pure, very delicate and stimulatingly salty. Very energetic and at the same time caressing. The finish displays pink grapefruit, blood orange, and lime zest flavors. Highly stimulating in its purity, freshness and citrus character. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon finds it less vinous than the 2012, but he thinks the 2013 has huge aging potential. Disgorged in January, tasted at the domaine in May 2018. Drink 2024-2033.
    92+ points
    Stephan Reinhardt – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    2006 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $330. 00
    Bottle
    $3960.00 Dozen

    Other Reviews…..
    Broad, ample and resonant on the palate, the 2006 Cristal dazzles with its pure richness and volume. Readers need to give the 2006 another 4-5 years in bottle, perhaps longer, as the wine appears to be shutting down a bit. Tasted next to the 2002, today the 2006 is a bit less opulent but just as intense, layered and deep. This is a fabulous showing. Drink 2018-2046.
    97 points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

     

    Please note: Due to the cost and status of this product it is company policy that payment be made using either PayPal or via Bank Transfer. Payment by credit card will attract additional security procedures and delay dispatch.

    1997 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne,
    $270. 00
    Bottle
    $3240.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Notes sourced from Louis Roederer.

    Louis Roederer is unique in Champagne owning two-thirds of the vineyards for their total production covering the Pinot Noir sub regions of “Montagne de Reims” and “Vallee de la Marne” with Chardonnay from the “Cotes des Blanc”. By 1995, recent acquisitions hadincreased Louis Roederer's holdings from 180 hectares to nearly 190 hectares, ranking 97.5% on the official classification scale. In 1876, Tsar Alexander II asked that his personal champagne be presented in crystal bottles, thus giving rise to the very first prestige cuvee. Today, the Cristal bottle exemplifies the quest for perfection which inspires the House of Louis Roederer to provide its demanding and refined clientele with exceptional Champagnes.

    Vintage Conditions: The freak weather conditions experienced in Champagne, of the most savage intensity, led Louis Roederer to fear the worst, but a glorious September saved the harvest and ensured the quality of the vintage.Following a remarkably harsh winter, spring frosts destroyed 16 hectares of Louis Roederer vineyard from Verzenay to Verzy. Persistently wet and cold weather after the flowering then triggered repeated attacks of mildew. Fortunately, warm and sunny conditions during themonths of August and September, ensured a quality yield which was as unexpected as it was exceptional. The lightly laden vines, particularly those of the Pinot Noir vineyards, gave good quality heterogeneous yields composed of very healthy bunches. The sugar content wasvery high and total acidity was generally satisfactory.

    Cristal is made from the finest cuvees pressed from the highest quality grapes from the Champagne Louis Roederer vineyards. Today it is still produced in limited quantities, always as a vintage wine and only in exceptional years. A truly fine Champagne, Cristal ischaracterised by its finesse and elegance (derived from the high proportion of Chardonnay in the blend), and its enticingly delicate bouquet and perfect balance.

    Tasting notes: Made from a blend of pinot noir 55%, chardonnay 45%. Yellow green colour with fleeting glints of gold. The nose is rich and intensely fruity, with a masterful balance of freshness and maturity. Notes of citrus on a background of red berries, are followed by a subtle toastiness plus warmer notes of baking (Tarte Tatin) and wood (almonds), from the partial fermentation in French oak barrels.The palate is rounded and vinous, but with all the delicacy and freshness which comes from a wine perfectly poised between youthfulness and maturity. The mousse is an endless stream of deliciously creamy bubbles filling the mouth with softness through to a finish of exquisite length and crispness. An elegant, stylish wine with a crisp delicacy but already a hint of maturity, the 1997 reflects the vintage, cold at the outset but warm and sunny by harvest.

    Serve well chilled. Richly perfumed, Louis Roederer Cristal 1997 is an exquisite aperitif or celebratory Champagne. The strengthand finesse of Cristal make it an excellent accompaniment to delicate dishes including shellfish such as scallops, lobster and crayfish, John Dory fish and caviar.

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    2012 Louis Roederer Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $110. 00
    Bottle
    $1320.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2019-2025)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    From the outstanding yet underrated 2012 vintage this is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, 30% of which is matured in oak. Aged on lees for 4 years the wine is then given a minimum 6 months bottle age after disgorgement.

    Frothy and satiny the mousse slowly dissipates to reveal a pale straw, pale gold base that’s threaded by an exceptionally persistent and very fine stream of tiny bubbles. A superb nose of yeast lees, baked bread, citrus, oily toast like notes, cashew and light brioche show great potency. Rich and powerful, yeasty baked bread, cashew and dried honey flavours are creamy in their feel yet at the same time mouth watering. Oily toast, citrus and almond elements present themselves on the dry, crisp finish. Fantastic drive and refinement with a very persistent aftertaste that lingers long on the taste buds. Magnificent drinking.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews….
    Just over two-thirds pinot noir (Verzenay) and the balance southeast-facing chardonnay from Chouilly. This has 30% of oak fermentation which has compressed the wine, lending it an air of extreme concentration. The nose is gently spicy, offering peaches and cherries as well as neat autolysis edge. The palate has a powerful, long and assertive feel, with peach and lemon pith, chalky minerals, and some grapefruit. A powerful vintage for Roederer.
    96 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    This beautiful wine, with its poise, elegance and balance, has both a steely mineral core and an outer ripe-fruit character. It has citrus, tight acidity and rich apple and green-plum flavors. The wine is still a little young and will be better from 2019.
    95 points
    Wine Enthusiast

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    2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $499. 00
    Bottle
    $5988.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 8 - 10 Years (2026-2028)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    In 1845, Louis Roederer acquired 15 hectares in the Grand Cru vineyards of Verzenay. The idea—which was quite unusual at a time when grapes had little value—was to become a wine grower in order to master the entire process of creating his vintage wines. Ever since, every Louis Roederer vintage originates exclusively from their own vines, which is rare in the Champagne region. The quest for a diversity of terroirs, crus, parcels, and grape varieties in the vineyards  was rapidly integrated by the House of Louis Roederer. A groundbreaking strategy was implemented, which involved buying specific parcels selected for their capacity to produce distinctive wines. This strategy is still a core component of the House’s continuing development.

    The Louis Roederer estate cultivates the 3 traditional grape varieties: Chardonnay is appreciated for its minerality, finesse, and elegance; Pinot Noir’s solid constitution adds structure to the blends and prepares them for ageing, Meunier is a slightly less refined grape variety, whose adaptability brings harmony and softness to certain cuvées.
    The grapes in the plots are meticulously gathered by hand and are collected in the buckets and pressed on the site of the harvest. This precise selection process and plot-by-plot vinification ensures that the origins and traceability of the grapes are respected and provides a perfect record of the fruit from each row of vines. Hence the natural equilibrium of each parcel is preserved, and the vines are protected from external influences. This brings out the finest qualities in their wines.

     

    A superb creamy white mousse literally flows out of the glass leaving in its wake a straw pale gold tinged base wine that’s finely threaded by a very persistent bead. Very refined the nose offers up a complex bouquet of toasty yeast lees, cashew and baked bread followed by roasted nuts, citrus and a hint of oiliness. Rich and exceptionally long with a light satiny feel the palate balances power, finesse and tension superbly. Flavours of yeast lees, baked bread and subtle citrus fruits fill the mouth, melding into delicate oily toast like characters, roasted almonds and honeyed cashews. Dry creamy finish with finely tuned fresh acidity concluding very long and fine.
    Cellar 8-10 years.
    Alc. 12% 

    Other Reviews….
    The 2008 Cristal is a real head-turner. Powerful, ample and explosive in all of its dimensions, the 2008 takes hold of the sense and never lets up. There is a crystalline purity to the flavors that is simply remarkable. Although still a baby, the 2008 looks like it will soon take its place alongside the greatest Cristals. Today, it is breathtaking. Drink 2020-2058.
    98+ points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.
    100 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades. Drink 2018-2038.
    100 points
    JebDunnuck.com

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    • 99
    2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $899. 00
    Bottle
    $10788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2008 Cristal Rosé is all tension, nuance and class. Fresh and utterly brilliant, the 2008 bristles on the palate with pure pedigree. In the glass, the 2008 is at once translucent, weightless and powerful. Readers should be in no hurry to drink the 2008, a wine that will age effortlessly for many, many decades to come.
    99+ points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    Super fresh with all the DNA of the regular ‘08 Cristal. It heads on a chalky, restrained tangent of delicately spiced cherries with fine white pepper and crushed stones. The palate has a thread of silky, smooth pinot flesh that counterbalances the acidity of the chardonnay. Superb textural build, fine layers adding weight through the finish. Super long, fine and fresh red cherries, wrapped in super tight yet silky acidity. Drink in 2025.
    99 points
    JamesSuckling.com

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    • 98
    • 97
    • 97
    2012 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $450. 00
    Bottle
    $5400.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2020-2030)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

    The Champagne of Kings, this somewhat mythical Champagne has a cult following amongst pop and rap stars. Despite the hype this brings it never to fails to live up to it’s legendary status with wine critics, who consistently lavish it with high praise.

    A satiny mousse flows to the top of the glass with a pale gold coloured base lying underneath. A fine stream of tiny bubbles flowing through its veins. Nosing reveals a rich combination of baked bread, roasted almonds, dried honey and yeast lees followed by cashew, citrus and toast notes. Refined and airy the palate is graced with pear, baked bread and yeast lees flavours that have a silk like feel. Notions of almond, light dried honey and toast also chime in. Well meshed it finishes dry and slightly chalky with sculptured acidity and a long tense yet expressive aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 8-10 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews….
    The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal. Drink 2022-2052.
    98 points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself. Drink 2022-2050.
    97+ points
    William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

    Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.
    98 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    A classic beauty, fresh-faced and focused today but with a harmonious grace of form suggesting a long career ahead. There's a creamy, viscous quality to the mousse that swathes the palate, carrying finely detailed flavors of poached quince, Mandarin orange preserves, toasted almond and pickled ginger. Mouthwatering throughout, with a pleasing, soft zestiness to the mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2035. 
    97 points
    Wine Spectator

    60/40% pinot noir/chardonnay, 32% vinifed in old oak casks, no mlf, 7.5g/l dosage. Forget the hype of New York, this is a beautiful wine, with a burst of sunbeams in a springtime garden of white flowers. The length of the palate and its aftertaste are magnificent. A total contrast to Krug in style.
    98 points
    James Halliday's Top 100 2020

    As the first 100% biodynamic Cristal, entirely from Roederer-owned vineyards, this is an important milestone. This latest incarnation is a great Champagne with its density, elegance and poise. Still impressively young, the wine is taut, tightly wound and textured. At the same time, it has pure, ripe white and citrus fruits that are perfumed, and an important part of this wine’s long-term future. Drink at the earliest from 2023.
    98 points
    Wine Enthusiast

    • 97
    2009 Louis Roederer Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $115. 00
    Bottle
    $1380.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2017-2022)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Rich and full with terrific power

    A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, with 18% of the wine vinified in oak casks. Aged on lees for 4 years the wine is then given a minimum 6 months bottle age after disgorgement. Excellent creamy white mousse with a light straw, pale gold base colour. A very fine bead shows good persistence. Pronounced baked bread and yeast lees aromas lead the way followed by hints of pear, faint dried honey, toast and cashew. Drinking exceptionally well now this rich, creamy textured Champagne boasts terrific power with well meshed flavours of baked bread, yeasty characters and oily toast nuances gracing the palate over subtlety roasted almonds and infusions of citrus on the dry mouth watering finish. Fuller and richer than the more finessed Blanc de Blancs it concludes with a long oily toast, baked bread, yeast lees, citrus and roasted almond aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    Alc. 12%

    • 96
    • 97
    2009 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $330. 00
    Bottle
    $3960.00 Dozen

    Other reviews….
    2009 Cristal has really shut down since I tasted it this past spring, which is probably a very good thing for its potential longevity. The radiance and richness the 2009 showed just a few months ago is not all evident. Instead, the 2009 comes across as tightly wound and in need of considerable cellaring. I expect it will drink well for a period measured in decades rather than years. The 2009 has always been quite exuberant, but for now, it looks the wine is going to need a bit of time before it is at its best. Readers should note that Roederer has decided to release the 2009 ahead of the 2008.
    96+ points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous


    A very rich and full-bodied Cristal that harks back to 2006 or 1989 in style. It's round and rich, which underlies the ripeness of the vintage. Lots of dried-apple and pineapple character with bread dough and flan flavors. The bubbles are so fine you almost don't notice them. Very vinous style. Drink now.
    97 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 95
    • 93
    2012 Louis Roederer Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $120. 00
    Bottle
    $1440.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2023-2024)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    A blend of 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay made using the saignee method. A frothy white mousse sits comfortably over a salmon pink tinged base wine that’s threaded by a very fine and persistent stream of bubbles. Refined nose with subtle winter strawberry notes melding into yeast lees and toast followed by citrus and light baked bread notes. Savoury, subtle red berry fruit flavours delicately caress the palate with underlying yeast lees, citrus and toast elements. Dry energetic finish with crisp acidity. Good length with a long elegant aftertaste of winter strawberries, pears, yeast lees, subtle toast, baked bread and a touch of refreshing citrus.
    Cellar 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews….
    Vibrant acidity frames expressive flavors of poached apricot, mandarin orange peel, toasted brioche and almond blossom in this well-knit, pale, salmon-hued Champagne, while the lacy mousse carries an echoing streak of salinity on the finish. Drink now through 2028.
    93 points
    Wine Spectator

    1996 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
    Champagne,
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    Closure: Cork

    Louis Roederer is unique in Champagne owning two-thirds of the vineyards for their total production covering the PinotNoir sub regions of “Montagne de Reims” and “Vallee de la Marne” with Chardonnay from the “Cotes des Blanc”. By 1995, recent acquisitions had increased Louis Roederer's holdings from 180 hectares to nearly 190 hectares, ranking 97.5% on the official classification scale. In 1876, Tsar Alexander II asked that his personal champagne be presented in crystal bottles, thus giving rise to the very first prestige cuvee. Today, the Cristal bottle exemplifies the quest for perfection which inspires the House of Louis Roederer to provide its demanding and refined clientele withexceptional Champagnes.

    Pinot Noir 55%, Chardonnay 45%. Dosage: 11gms/litre. The "liqueur dosage" is prepared from a selection of 8-10 of the very best crus from Louis Roederer vineyards, which have been aged for 4-10 years in oak.

    After a grey, cool winter, very little rain fell during the entire growing season. Early June was particularly warm presenting favourable growing conditions, but the last ten days were much cooler and upset the flowering of the Chardonnay, causing severe “millerandage” (uneven development and size of the berries). Under these very dry conditions, all the grape varieties in Champagne, and especially the Chardonnay, produced bunches with small berries, and as a result yields were low. This in turn was favourable for the maturation of the grapes and theconcentration of aromas. The month of September was sunny but not particularly warm, with some infrequent periods of light rain. These conditions allowed maturation to advance exceptionally well, and the grapes attained very high sugar and acidity levels, and at the same time very small concentrated berries. There was no infection of Botrytis or Grey Rot. At the blending stage, the base wines showed great aromatic depth. There was beautiful fullness on the palate, with an almost creamy texture, and enormous power, all backed up by remarkable acidity. Jean-Claude Rouzaud said : “At the close of primary fermentation, it is possible to detect great potential for vintage quality in these still young wines. With forty-one of Champagne’s finest crus in our vats, there is every likelihood that Louis Roederer will produce great wines from the 1996 harvest.”

    Cristal is made from the finest cuvees pressed from the highest quality grapes from the Champagne Louis Roederervineyards. Today it is still produced in limited quantities, always as a vintage wine and only in exceptional years. A truly fine Champagne, Cristal is characterised by its finesse and elegance (derived from the high proportion of Chardonnay in the blend), and its enticingly delicate bouquet and perfect balance.

    Tasting Note: Ripe yellow colour with pastel green-gold highlights. Rich and ripe bouquet with juicy fruit aromas (yellow and white peaches and apricot) - with a generous sweetness indicating a powerful wine, and just a hint of brioche. The palate attacks full and round with the fine, creamy mousse supporting a powerful wine. The full concentration, characteristic of the 1996 vintage, is very evident here. A vinous finish with both freshness and finesse and quite impressive persistence. Time in bottle will see Cristal Brut 1996 develop into an even more beautifully, harmonious wine.

    Serve well chilled. Richly perfumed, Louis Roederer Cristal 1996 is an exquisite aperitif or celebratory Champagne. The strength and finesse of Cristal 1996 make it an excellent accompaniment to delicate dishes including shellfish such as scallops, lobster and crayfish, John Dory fish and caviar.

    • 98
    2008 Louis Roederer Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2020-2021)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    An Outstanding Champagne from the Superb 2008 vintage that’s a ménage of richness and refinement.

    A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay that has been aged for 4 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars. Opens impressively with a creamy white mousse that shows excellent hold. Pale straw base wine colour with an exceptionally fine and very profuse bead. A classic Champagne sniff showing both sophistication and fabulous aromatic intensity with aromas of yeast lees and freshly baked bread to the fore followed by some delicate citrus notes, oily toast like characters, cashew and brioche. Reflective of the nose the palate is a ménage of richness and refinement delivering a complex flavour profile of yeast lees and baked bread intermixed with traces of citrus and pear overlaid by toasty brioche like characters. Outstanding length. Clean dry finish with a creamy like texture. Finishes with a long conclusion of yeast lees, baked bread, faint pear, toasty brioche and subtle oily cashews.

    Cellar 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews…
    Winemaker Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon spent years in Tasmania for the Roederer-Heemskerk joint venture too far ahead of its time. His return to Champagne saw estate vineyards increase to 235ha and the construction of a second winery. This 80% pinot noir, 20% chardonnay (50% barrel-fermented) is built for the ages, soaring with purity and intensity, racy grapefruit and apple flavours interwoven with silvery acidity, grip and persistence its hallmark.
    96 points
    James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

    • 96
    • 96
    • Biodynamic
    2015 Louis Roederer Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $150. 00
    Bottle
    $1800.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2023-2031)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Diam Cork

    A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay that’s matured on lees for 4 years. A buoyant mousse gradually subsides to reveal a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges and a fine stream of tiny bubbles flowing effortlessly through its core. Enthralling the olfactory senses are alluring aromas of baked bread, citrus and yeast lees with hints of cashew, oily toast like notes and dried honey also evident. Rich yet highly finessed with a light airy feel across the palate, flavours of pear, yeast lees, citrus and baked bread are vividly sculptured by refreshing acidity. Delicate cashew and toast elements linger underneath. Finishes dry with a long precise, chalk tinged aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 12.5%

    Other Reviews….
    A great 2015 vintage champagne! Super-elegant synthesis of pinot noir and chardonnay character with a dazzling interplay of complex red apple, citrus and delicate floral aromas with racy acidity and chalky minerality, that is animating for mind and body. Unusually graceful finish for the vintage. 70% pinot noir from Verzy, the highest point of the Montagne de Reims, that’s also very close to the forest. 30% chardonnay from Chouilly, another rather cool location. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
    96 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 96
    2012 Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $165. 00
    Bottle
    $1980.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 6 - 8 Years (2026-2028)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork
    This zero dosage Champagne has been made in collaboration with artist Phillipe Starck.
    Pours with a satiny white mousse that hold well over a straw/pale gold coloured base that has a fine racy bead flowing through it. Pronounced yeast lees, oily toast and baked bread aromatics intermingle with hints of dried honey, citrus and cashew. Rich yet very focused with a dry sculptured finish, the palate features pear, oily toast, yeast lees and baked bread flavours which interact with citrus and roasted almond elements. Vivid acidity leads into a long tightly knit aftertaste.
    Cellar 6-8 years.
    Alc. 12%
    • 94
    2010 Macedon Ridge Blanc de Blanc
    Macedon Ranges, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $39. 99
    Bottle
    $479.88 Dozen
    Minimum 12 bottles
    Cellar: 4 - 5 Years (2018-2019)
    ABV: 13%
    Closure: Cork
    Good white frothy mousse with a pale straw base colour and a very fine profuse bead. Excellent nose with pronounced aromas of baked bread and yeast lees followed by some subtle toastiness, cashew and delicate dried honeycomb. A rich Champagne like sniff. The palate has good richness and a creamy texture with flavours of cashew nut, yeast lees and baked bread followed by some citrus and toast. Clean very dry finish. Medium to long aftertaste of cashew nut, citrus, yeast lees and toast.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    Alc 13%
    • 93
    Macedon Ridge Brut
    Macedon Ranges, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $24. 99
    Bottle
    $299.88 Dozen
    Minimum 12 bottles
    Cellar: 2 - 3 Years (2016-2017)
    ABV: 12.6%
    Closure: Cork
    Excellent frothy white mousse that shows good hold. Once dissipated it reveals a pale salmon pink base colour with an exceptionally fine and very persistent bead. Ripe pear notes are intermixed with hints of winter strawberry and yeast lees followed by subtle baked bread and citrus end notes. Refreshing palate flavours of pear sit alongside nuances of winter strawberry and a touch of apple with yeast lees characters following. Clean dry finish with well balanced acidity. Very flavoursome and refreshing with an aftertaste of pear, apple, winter strawberry and yeast lees.
    Drink over the next 2-3 years.
    Alc 12.6%
    • 89
    Maison de Grand Esprit Les Petites Vignettes Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut
    Burgundy, FRANCE
    $24. 99
    Bottle
    $299.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2009-2012)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    A blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay. Good white creamy mousse that dissipates relatively quickly. Pale straw base colour with very fine persistent bead. Delicate aromas of baked bread, brioche and yeast lees. The palate is clean and dry with flavours of yeast lees, biscuit and cashew. Creamy texture with aftertaste of biscuit and cashew followed by a hint of toast.
    Drink over the next 2-3 years (2009-2012)
    12.5% Alc

    • 92
    • 90
    2009 Maison Mumm RSRV Blanc de Noirs Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Tasted from a bottle disgorged in May 2018, the 2009 Brut Blanc de Noirs RSRV Cuvée Réservée is performing better than the last time I tasted it, delivering an inviting bouquet of biscuity orchard fruit, honeycomb and toast. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it's bright and lively, with a youthfully frothy mousse and an elegantly chalky finish.
    90 points
    William Kelley - Wine Advocate (May 2020)

    Lots of strawberry and fresh bread-dough flavors to this with a creamy and fine bubble texture. A richer and fruitier style than some. Hints of almonds, too.
    92 points
    jamessuckling.com

    • 96
    • Nick's Import
    Marguet Elements 11 Grand Cru Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $59. 99
    Bottle
    $719.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 4 - 5 Years (2019-2020)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Exceptional Value for Grand Cru Champagne


    Our long affiliation with this first rate grower/producer comes to an end with the appointment of a new Australian wholesaler. The changeover brings bad news for Champagne lovers. From now on you can expect to be paying up to 50% more for Marguet. This offer represents the last stocks in Australia at our original direct import prices. Take advantage! Disgorged in April 2015, this is Marguet’s new blended Champagne – ‘Elements’. The 11 on the front label indicates the dominant and youngest vintage of the blend, in this case being 2011. A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay it pours with a creamy white mousse and very pale gold base wine colour. The bead is very fine and exceptionally profuse. Superb nose displaying aromas of pear intermixed with baked bread and yeast lees characters followed by hints of cashew and brioche. Refined with an underlying richness and quite creamy, yet fresh in its textural mouthfeel the palate features flavours of baked bread, subtle pear and yeast lees over a background of toasty brioche characters. Excellent length with a fresh dry finish and long aftertaste of baked bread, yeast lees, subtle toast and cashew. Will benefit from another 6 months bottle age.
    Drink over the next 4-5 years.
    Alc. 12.5%

    • 96
    2009 Marguet Grand Cru Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $89. 99
    Bottle
    $1079.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2020-2021)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork
    Pours impressively with a frothy white mousse that shows good hold. Very pale gold straw base wine colour with an exceptionally fine bead that shows great persistence. The nose reveals aromas of pears and apples overlaid by baked bread and yeast lees characters with some lightly toasted dried honey end notes. Rich mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and toast are followed by some pear and faint cashew. Excellent concentration and very creamy in texture. Clean dry finish with a long aftertaste of roasted almonds, baked bread, yeast lees and cashews.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc 12.5%
    • 97
    • Nick's Import
    Marguet Pere et Fils Brut Reserve Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $59. 99
    Bottle
    $719.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2015-2019)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    When Philippe II, Regent of France began regularly imbibing Champagne at the Palais-Royal, it was inevitable that the Parisian upper class would imitate his opulence. Parisian restaurants and bars began selling huge quantities of the 'new sparkling wine' and the door of opportunity opened for entrepreneurial individuals to found houses solely dedicated to the production of Champagne. Many of these are today industry giants.

    Moet & Chandon, Veuve Cliqout, Lanson and Mumm, amongst others, have all become juggernauts, focused on maintaining their ‘luxury’ status by employing massive marketing budgets, relentlessly advertising through magazines, billboards and high profile celebrities. Their brands are far too ubiquitous to require any emphasis to be placed on the source of the fruit, the terroir, or indeed the quality of the finished product. Yet the quiet mutterings about the deterioration of the big house's wines grows louder each day.

    Marguet offer some of the most extraordinary values in Champagne available in Australia today

    Marguet Pere et Fils Champagne is one of those remarkable discoveries that are only occasionally experienced in a wine merchant's life. The company is a small family operation. Their only option is to sell on quality and maintain their market share by ensuring any price increases remain modest. This attitude is all the more remarkable when one learns that their wines are produced using fruit sourced from some of the highest ranking vineyards in the region: There are 324 villages (or 'crus') with vineyards in Champagne. Each cru is rated by a system known as 'échelle des crus' which gives every village a rating for the quality of its grapes.

    The present day excitement in Champagne mostly lies beyond the bill boards and marketing swank, out where the smaller houses quietly excel.

    A 100% Grand Cru classification is very rare, in fact only 17 villages out of 300 are entitled to this classification (equalling approximately 1% of Champagne's entire production). Not surprisingly, the scarcity of Grand Cru grapes makes them expensive and so they're reserved for the finest cuvees of Champagne's most prestigious firms. Both Marguet's Vintage and Non Vintage Champagnes are produced from 100% Grand Cru fruit (think of N/V Bollinger at $90+ which is now partly sourced from Premier Crus and you'll begin to appreciate how dramatically underpriced these wines are). Nicks Wine Merchants / Vintage Direct search the world for extraordinary and exciting new wines, continuing a policy of dealing directly with wineries whenever possible. Through bypassing the wholesalers, these are unquestionably the most extraordinary values in Champagne available in Australia today.

    The Non Vintage Marguet an absolute steal when one considers its 100% Grand Cru status.

    Pours a creamy white long lasting head, supporting a profusion of very fine, persistent bead. Straw colour base wine. The nose delivers aroma of yeast lees, nougat and biscuit – that is impressive in its own right. However, the best is yet to come. The palate has blossomed into a wonderful creamy textured Champagne layered with biscuit, yeast lees and nougat flavours. Clean acid finish. Very long aftertaste of biscuit and nougat. If you let what's in the bottle do the talking (instead of the label) you'll understand why we consider this to be the best value Champagne on the Australian market today.
    Cellar now - 4 years (2015 - 2019)
    Alc/Vol:12%

    • 96
    • Nick's Import
    2004 Marguet Pere et Fils Grand Cru Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $89. 99
    Bottle
    $1079.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2010-2016)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    The 2004 Marguet was produced from a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. Very elegant and classy now, this vintage will continue to develop. As it stands it is a stunning value given the 100% Grand Cru status.

    Exceptional value for Grand Cru Vintage Champagne with this much bottle age

    The wine pours with an excellent white creamy mousse showing good hold. Pale straw coloured base wine with exceptionally fne and very persistent bead. The nose displays delicate but refned notes of citrus, biscuit, yeast lees and cashew. Refned palate favours of yeast lees, biscuit, baked bread and cashew with a light citrus overlay delivering great length and persistence. Creamy texture with a clean crisp dry fnish. Very long aftertaste of yeast lees, biscuit, toast and cashew.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years (2010-2016)
    Alc 12.0%

    Other Reviews....
    This is a very enticing price for a wine loaded with the ravishing power of some of Champagne’s greatest grand crus. It’s structured, intense and fleshy, with a linear acid line and chalky mineral texture. An enticing style that confidently manages the precarious balance of arresting concentration and high-tensile structure. Drink 2011-12
    94 points
    Tyson Stezler - Wine Taste

    • 95
    • Nick's Import
    • Biodynamic
    2015 Marie Courtin Indulgence Extra Brut Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $190. 00
    Bottle
    $2280.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Based in the tiny hamlet of Polisot in the southern Cote des Bars region of Champagne, Dominique Moreau is producing some of the most dynamic and striking wines of the area. Naming her estate after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, Dominique has set out to craft Champagnes which emphasise how her specific terroir can be expressed in a given vintage. Her wines then are single vineyard and single vintage, made with meticulously grown fruit from biodynamically-grown grapes, see no dosage, and sulfur is used sparingly or not at all.

    Indulgence is 100% Pinot Noir that is macerated for four days on skins giving a deep, rich colour to this Rosé Champagne.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2015 Extra Brut Rosé Indulgence is fabulous. Dried rose petal, herbs, mint, sweet red cherry and a host of savory accents all run through the 2015. Beguiling and nuanced at every turn, the Indulgence certainly lives up to its name! It is another wine in this range I absolutely adore. No dosage. Disgorged: September, 2020. Drink 2021 - 2027.
    95 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    • Biodynamic
    2009 Marie Courtin Indulgence Extra Brut Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $220. 00
    Bottle
    $2640.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Based in the tiny hamlet of Polisot in the southern Cote des Bars region of Champagne, Dominique Moreau is producing some of the most dynamic and striking wines of the area. Naming her estate after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, Dominique has set out to craft Champagnes which emphasise how her specific terroir can be expressed in a given vintage. Her wines then are single vineyard and single vintage, made with meticulously grown fruit from biodynamically-grown grapes, see no dosage, and sulfur is used sparingly or not at all.

    Indulgence is 100% Pinot Noir that is macerated for four days on skins giving a deep, rich colour to this Rosé Champagne. This 2009 edition is a library release that was not disgorged until July 2020.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2009 Extra Brut Rosé Indulgence, a library release, is showing beautifully today. Candied red cherry, cedar, tobacco, cinnamon, mint, licorice and earthy notes are all signs of a Champagne that is now fully mature. The 2009 has aged beautifully, but at eleven years of age, it is now definitely ready to drink. I would not push my luck on aging, both because the 2009 is so expressive now and because it won't improve. Readers who want to know what saignée Rosé tastes like with age will find a fabulous example here. Disgorged: March, 2020. Drink 2020 - 2022.
    93 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    • 94
    • 92
    • Nick's Import
    • Biodynamic
    Marie Courtin Resonance (V18) Extra Brut Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $99. 99
    Bottle
    $1199.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2022-2028)
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Based in the tiny hamlet of Polisot in the southern Cote des Bars region of Champagne, Dominique Moreau is producing some of the most dynamic and striking wines of the area. Naming her estate after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, Dominique has set out to craft Champagnes which emphasise how her specific terroir can be expressed in a given vintage. Her wines then are single vineyard and single vintage, made with meticulously grown fruit from biodynamically-grown grapes, see no dosage, and sulfur is used sparingly or not at all.

    Résonance is Dominique's most elegant and lively expression of Pinot Noir. Grapes for this cuvée come from the top of the slop in her Polisot vineyard, and the thin soils are expressed in this bright and finely tuned wine. Hailing from the 2018 vintage, fermentation and aging occurred in stainless steel tank prior to disgorgement in April 2021 with no dosage.

    Pours with a frothy white mousse that shows good hold over a pale straw coloured base that has flashes of pale gold around the outskirts and a nibble stream of bubbles flowing through it. Top notes of peach and strawberry intermingle with yeast lees, citrus and a subtle baked character. Tense and sculptured the palate features chalk tinged flavours of citrus, green apple and delicate lees characters which sit over a minerally oyster shell like backbone. Finishes lean, bone dry and elegant with precise acidity and a tight focused mineral laden conclusion.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12%

    Other Reviews....
    The 2018 Extra Brut Resonance is bright, articulate and focused. This is an especially nervy expression of Pinot Noir. Bright acids and veins of salinity lend energy to this sculpted, taut Pinot Noir. Citrus peel, crushed rocks, mint jasmine and white pepper lend energy. No dosage. Disgorged: April, 2021. Drink 2021 - 2028.
    92 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    • 93
    • Nick's Import
    • Biodynamic
    2016 Marie Courtin Eloquence Extra Brut Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $155. 00
    Bottle
    $1860.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Based in the tiny hamlet of Polisot in the southern Cote des Bars region of Champagne, Dominique Moreau is producing some of the most dynamic and striking wines of the area. Naming her estate after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, Dominique has set out to craft Champagnes which emphasise how her specific terroir can be expressed in a given vintage. Her wines then are single vineyard and single vintage, made with meticulously grown fruit from biodynamically-grown grapes, see no dosage, and sulfur is used sparingly or not at all.

    Éloquence is a tiny production of 100% Chardonnay from a plot of 15-20 year old vines, fermented in used barrels. Given the proximity of this plot to the region, it's no surprise that Eloquence has more than a passing resemblance to the pure and mineral driven wines of Chablis (with bubbles!).

    Other Reviews....
    The 2016 Extra Brut Eloquence is a powerful, deep wine. A richer side of Chardonnay is very much in evidence here. Orange peel, apricot, spice and honeyed overtones build in a sumptuous, vinous Champagne built on texture and breadth. It’s a super-classic wine from proprietor Dominique Moreau. No dosage. Disgorged: July, 2020. Drink 2021 - 2028.
    93 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    • Biodynamic
    2015 Marie Courtin Efflorescence Extra Brut Champagne Magnum (1500ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $320. 00
    Bottle
    $3840.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Based in the tiny hamlet of Polisot in the southern Cote des Bars region of Champagne, Dominique Moreau is producing some of the most dynamic and striking wines of the area. Naming her estate after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, Dominique has set out to craft Champagnes which emphasise how her specific terroir can be expressed in a given vintage. Her wines then are single vineyard and single vintage, made with meticulously grown fruit from biodynamically-grown grapes, see no dosage, and sulfur is used sparingly or not at all.

    Éfflorescence is 100% Pinot Noir that is fermented and aged in used barriques. Dominique chooses the vines from the lower part of this vineyard as she believes this results in greater power and aging potential. As with all her wines this does not receive any dosage at bottling.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2015 Marie Courtin Efflorescence is ample and resonant in feel. Plum, cherry, spice and ginger meld into a deep core of Pinot fruit that continues to flesh out with a bit of time and aeration. There's terrific depth, density and creaminess here, not to mention tons of sheer personality. No dosage. Disgorged: June, 2021. Drink 2021 - 2028.
    94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    • 94
    • Nick's Import
    • Biodynamic
    2015 Marie Courtin Efflorescence Extra Brut Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $140. 00
    Bottle
    $1680.00 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Based in the tiny hamlet of Polisot in the southern Cote des Bars region of Champagne, Dominique Moreau is producing some of the most dynamic and striking wines of the area. Naming her estate after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, Dominique has set out to craft Champagnes which emphasise how her specific terroir can be expressed in a given vintage. Her wines then are single vineyard and single vintage, made with meticulously grown fruit from biodynamically-grown grapes, see no dosage, and sulfur is used sparingly or not at all.

    Éfflorescence is 100% Pinot Noir that is fermented and aged in used barriques. Dominique chooses the vines from the lower part of this vineyard as she believes this results in greater power and aging potential. As with all her wines this does not receive any dosage at bottling.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2015 Marie Courtin Efflorescence is ample and resonant in feel. Plum, cherry, spice and ginger meld into a deep core of Pinot fruit that continues to flesh out with a bit of time and aeration. There's terrific depth, density and creaminess here, not to mention tons of sheer personality. No dosage. Disgorged: June, 2021. Drink 2021 - 2028.
    94 points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante
    Piedmonte, ITALY
    $16. 99
    Bottle
    $203.88 Dozen
    ABV: 7%
    Closure: Cork

    Martini Rossi Asti Spumante is a fruity sparkling wine made from Moscato Bianco grapes grown in the heart of the prestigious Italian D.O.G.C. area. This sparkling wine is a great partner to fruity desserts, pastry and ice cream. Serve well chilled. 7%Alc./Vol.

    No tasting notes available.

    • 91
    2018 McGlashan Wallington Estate Chardonnay Pinot Noir Sparkling
    Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $27. 99
    Bottle
    $335.88 Dozen
    Minimum 12 bottles
    Cellar: 2 - 3 Years (2020-2021)
    ABV: 12.6%
    Closure: Cork
    A blend of 48% Chardonnay and 52% Pinot Noir. A creamy white mousse sits over a salmon pink tinged base which is threaded by a delicate stream of bubbles. Aromas of winter strawberries, cherries and peach intermingle with baked bread and yeast lees nuances. Dry and crisp the palate is subtlety flavoured with fruity winter strawberries and pears over yeast lees and light toast. Brisk finish with a medium length aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 2-3 years.
    Alc. 12.6%
    • 94
    • 95
    2016 Meadowbank Blanc De Blancs
    Tasmania, AUSTRALIA
    $79. 99
    Bottle
    $959.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2022-2028)
    ABV: 11.5%
    Closure: Cork

    This is Meadowbank's inaugural Blanc de Blancs which is sourced from the Far Horse Vineyard block, which lies close to vines used for the Meadowbank Chardonnay. While the latter vines are exposed north, the Blanc de Blancs parcel faces south in a slightly cooler microclimate. The fruit was hand-picked and whole-cluster-pressed, and the juice fermented in old barriques for three months. Disgorged earlier this year, the wine spent five years in bottle before release and has a low, two grams per litre dosage.
    A heady white mousse slowly evaporates to reveal a pale straw coloured base that’s finely threaded by a very persistent and exceptionally fine bead. Aromas of citrus, light baked bread and yeast lees are trailed by green apple and chalky oyster shell like notes. Sculptured and tense the palate carries vibrant citrus and fine yeast lees flavours over subtle notions of green apple and oyster shell. Dry chalk tinged finish with crisp acidity and an elegant, mouth watering aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 11.5%

    Other Reviews....
    What a great show! And what do I know about fizzy wine? Not a lot. Generally I only drink Champagne Jérôme Prévost, maybe twice a year at that. Still,I reckon I can turn my hand to anything, if I try. There’s 100 cases of this released now, with 50 held back for a future LD offering, or whatever.
    Very fine style, complex too. I’m thinking salted almond, brioche, oyster shell, lemon barley. Gentle bubbles, offering a little surf and foam, quiet, and soothing, dry, saltine crackers, again the lemon barley thing, has some grip too, with a dry chalky finish of excellent length. Really good Tasmanian sparkling. Complexity and verve. Drink 2022 - 2027.
    95 Points
    Gary Walsh - The Wine Front (May 2022)

    • 93
    Mitchelton The Bend Sparkling Shiraz
    Central Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    $15. 99
    Bottle
    $191.88 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2020-2024)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Crown Seal
    Pours with a foamy purple tinged mousse that holds well over a dark red black base that has a very fine bead flowing through it. Heady blackberry, liquorice and dark plum aromas morph into toasty vanilla, choc mint, earth and spice. Rich and creamy in its feel, the palate has ripe dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruits married to toasty vanillin oak and subtle spicy earth nuances. Finishes dry with some focused acidity and a medium to long aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc. 14.5%
    2015 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $164. 99
    Bottle
    $1979.88 Dozen
    ABV: 12.5%

    Other Reviews….
    This rich, tawny-hued sparkling rosé is sleek and shaped by well-honed acidity, with a plushness to the mousse as this carries flavors of plum skin, macerated raspberry, toasted almond, pink grapefruit zest and oyster shell. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged February 2022. Drink now through 2030.
    93 points
    Alison Napjus - Wine Spectator

    Moet & Chandon Petite Liqueur (200ml)
    Bordeaux, FRANCE
    $19. 99
    Bottle
    $239.88 Dozen
    ABV: 18%

    Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.

    Product is around 40 years old. While it is potentially drinkable, Nicks does not guarantee the condition of the liquid inside.

    Moët & Chandon Petite Liqueur is a refined product that blends the house's renowned champagne with Marc de Champagne, a spirit made from distilled grape pomace, offering a distinctive depth and richness. Originally created as a smooth and effervescent liqueur, the balance of champagne and Marc de Champagne may have evolved over time, possibly shifting from a lighter, more delicate profile to a richer, more complex one. The unique process of blending champagne with Marc de Champagne, followed by the transfer of materials from the Champagne region to Bordeaux for final production, adds an intriguing layer of craftsmanship. This collaboration between the Champagne and Bordeaux regions has likely influenced the character of the liqueur, with changes in the maturation process or adjustments in the blend potentially enhancing its depth and sweetness over the years. What remains consistent, however, is the luxurious nature of the product—an elegant fusion of champagne tradition and refined distillation.

    • 94
    • 93
    • 93
    • 94
    2015 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $125. 00
    Bottle
    $1500.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Diam Cork

    A blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Meunier aged for 6 years on lees. A frothy head slowly dissipates over a pale straw coloured base. Pale gold tinged edges with a very fine bead showing good persistence through its core. Citrus, baked bread, yeast lees and brioche scents make their way out of the glass with ample intensity. Hints of honeyed cashew and ginger lend further complexity. Vibrant pear and citrus fruits are intermeshed with baked apple, yeast lees, almond and chalk characters. Finishes dry, faintly creamed and invigorating.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12.5%

    Other Reviews….
    A firm, focused Champagne, with a pleasing crunchiness to the fine mousse. Reveals a toasty edge, with notes of smoke, brioche and vanilla showing up front, before transitioning to underscore and enrich flavors of nectarine and plum fruit, salted almond, lemon curd and anise as they expand through the creamy finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged February 2022. Drink now through 2033.
    94 Points
    Wine Spectator

    The 2015 Extra-Brut Grand Vintage is a terrific choice for drinking now, as it is so expressive. Baked apple tart, spice, lemon confit, marzipan and a hint of toastiness are front and center. Open-knit and engaging, the 2015 is a Champagne of pure and total pleasure. Drink 2022-2030.
    93 Points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    Produced from 44% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, and the rest Meunier, the 2015 Champagne Grand Vintage Extra Brut pours a medium golden-straw hue and is opulent on opening with toasty aromas of baked bread, spiced orange peel, marzipan, and dried peach. Full-bodied, with a pillowy mouthfeel, it has a very nice balance of ripe fruit while retaining freshness Silky textured, its notes of citrus oils and orchard fruits last through the finish. This elegant and warming wine would do fantastically well moving into these cooler fall and winter months. Although I personally enjoy where this is for drinking now, it should hold up over the coming 6-8 years. Disgorged February 2022. Drink 2023-2031.
    93 points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

    • 94
    Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne (200ml)
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $34. 99
    Bottle
    $419.88 Dozen
    ABV: 12%
    Closure: Cork

    Pours with a creamy white mousse that holds well eventually dissipating to reveal a base wine colour of pale straw with pale gold edges. Very fine and profuse bead. Good aromatics with baked bread melding into yeast lees characters and hints of toast followed by citrus and brioche notes. Flavours of freshly baked bread intermingle with oily toast like characters and yeast less underpinned by subtle cashew and citrus nuances. A dry creamy like finish is counterpointed by good crisp acidity. Long oily baked bread, toast, yeast lees and subtle cashew aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 3-4 years.
    Alc 12%

    Tasting Notes sourced from Moet & Chandon:
    The Moet & Chandon Non Vintage is a blend of wines from a specific year, with the addition of different reserve wines from earlier years (the precise proportions vary from year to year) in order to achieve consistent quality and character. Moet & Chandon sources grapes from nearly all the different classified vineyards of Champagne which greatly assists to achieve this consistent quality.A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot and Pinot Meunier. Pale yellow colour with a tinge of green. The nose is delicately vinous, with an initial aroma of both lime and vine blossom. The palate shows predominantly Pinot characteristics. Light, persistent sparkle. Very ample in the mouth, with a discreet finish. Essentially an aperitif, but is also a good accompaniment to fish.

    • 93
    • 93
    2013 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $115. 00
    Bottle
    $1380.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2021-2027)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Made from a blend of 41% Chardonnay, 38% Pinot Noir and 21% Pinot Meunier. A frothy white mousse overlays a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edges and is threaded by a fine, persistent bead. Citrus and oily toast top notes are trailed by notions of almond and yeast lees. Brisk and tightly knit, racy flavours of citrus, toast and yeast lees meld into subtle almond characters. Dry chalk tinged finish with crisp acidity and an energetically sculptured aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12.5%

    Other Reviews….
    A creamy-textured Champagne with fine bubbles that are numerous and textural. It’s full-bodied and rounded with lovely bread dough and cooked apple, as well as just a hint of stone and mineral. It’s long, dry and satisfying at the finish. 41% chardonnay and 38% pinot noir, the rest pinot meunier. Drink now.
    93 points
    JamesSuckling.com

    • 94
    • 93
    2012 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $125. 00
    Bottle
    $1500.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2020-2026)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    A buoyant mousse dissipates to reveal a salmon pink coloured base that’s finely threaded by a persistent bead. Jumping out of the glass are notions of cherry, strawberry and blood orange fruits that are pitted against yeast lees and light baked bread notes. Quite full and voluminous in the mouth, the palate is presented with a concentrated flavour profile of cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry fruits which intermingle with notions of yeast lees. Finishes dry and crisp with a chalky mineral character flowing through to the long aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 12.5%

    Other Reviews….
    Expressive flavors of dried cherry, singed orange peel and red licorice are backed by a firm spine of acidity in this racy rosé Champagne, which is tightly meshed and balanced, with the creamy mousse carrying hints of salty mineral and grilled nut on the mouthwatering finish. Disgorged October 2018. Drink now through 2032.
    93 points
    Wine Spectator

    • 94
    • 96
    • 92
    • 93
    2012 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne Extra Brut
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $120. 00
    Bottle
    $1440.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2019-2027)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Produced from a blend of 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 25% Meunier. A fine satiny mousse shows good hold over a pale straw coloured base that has flecks of pale gold around the edges. The bead is exceptionally fine and persistent. Pear, citrus and toast notes show good intensity melding into yeast lees, roasted almond and faint dried honey. The palate combines tension with ample richness and finesse. Sculptured in its mouthfeel, flavours of baked bread, citrus and oily toast characters sit over subtle dried honey and roasted almond. Dry chalk tinged finish with refreshing acidity and a medium to long aftertaste.
    Drink over the next 6-8 years.
    Alc. 12.5% 

    Other Reviews….
    Disgorged in February 2018 with five grams per liter dosage, Moët's 2012 Extra Brut Grand Vintage is showing well, unfurling in the glass with an expressive bouquet of ripe yellow orchard fruit, peaches, toasted nuts, warm bread and honeycomb. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a tangy but ripe core of fruit, nicely integrated acids and a pinpoint mousse, concluding with an attractively fruit-driven finish. The 2012 reflects both the concentration of the vintage and Moët's push for riper fruit, and it is already quite accessible. Drink 2018-2028.
    92 points
    William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate 

    Rich, with toasty notes of grilled nut and blackberry tart, this creamy Champagne is finely knit and vibrant, enlivened by a firm frame of citrusy acidity and a minerally underpinning. Drink now through 2027.
    93 points
    Wine Spectator

    The scale of 15,000 pickers arriving each day during harvest is awesome, and this wine proves it is not at the expense of quality. The blend (55% chardonnay, 41% pinot noir, 26% pinot meunier) was disgorged in February 2018 with a very low dosage of 5g/l, and is a lovely wine, with perfect fruit weight, balance and length.
    96 points
    James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion

    • 95
    • 93
    2008 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $150. 00
    Bottle
    $1800.00 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 8 Years (2021-2024)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    The Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Blanc 2008 is an assemblage of 40% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir and 23% Pinot Meunier. Excellent frothy white mousse that shows good hold sitting over a pale straw/pale gold coloured base wine. The bead is extremely fine and very profuse. On the nose roasted almond and yeasty scents are intermixed with toasty citrus, brioche and cashew. Richer and fuller than the 2008 Veuve Clicquot Vintage the palate sports a flavoursome profile of baked bread and yeast lees intermeshed with fresh citrus fruits over some cashew and subtle toasty characters. Vibrant finish with a creamy yet very refined mouthfeel. The long aftertaste a combination of baked bread, yeast lees, citrus, cashew and a light toastiness.
    Cellar 5-8 years.
    Alc 12.5%

    Other Reviews....
    Sleek, with a smoky underpinning and a lively, detailed bead, this firm version offers flavors of black currant, toast, lemon curd and honey. Lingering finish. Drink now through 2030.
    93 points
    Wine Spectator

    • 93
    2006 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut Champagne
    Champagne, FRANCE
    $89. 99
    Bottle
    $1079.88 Dozen
    Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2019-2020)
    ABV: 12.5%
    Closure: Cork

    The 2006 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage is made up of 42% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir and 19% Pinot Meunier. Excellent white creamy mousse that shows good hold with a very pale straw base wine colour. Profuse very fine bead. The nose shows good intensity with citrus and toast aromas combining over some baked bread, cashew and yeast lees. Refined and elegant the palate has flavours of toast and biscuity yeast lees followed by some subtle baked bread and citrus. Clean dry finish with moderate creaminess. Aftertaste of toasty yeast lees, baked bread and light citrus.
    Cellar 5-6 years.
    Alc 12.5%

    Other Reviews….
    Moët's 2006 Brut Grand Vintage is beautiful, finessed and expressive. Smoke, slate, apricot and pastry notes emerge as the wine gradually unfolds. Rich and textured on the palate, yet beautifully supported by veins of minerality, the 2006 is simply impeccable from the very first taste. The richer, honeyed notes typical of Chardonnay in this vintage are particularly evident today while the Meunier, which has higher acidity, keeps things bright, although it plays a lesser part in the overall blend than in years past. The 2006 is 42% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir and 19% Pinot Meunier. Dosage is 5 grams/liter. Drink 2014-2026.
    92 points
    Antonio Galloni – Vinous

    Sleek acidity trims the sails of this otherwise rich and expansive Champagne, keeping it finely balanced and racy throughout. Flavors of roasted hazelnut, crushed blackberry, ripe apricot, honey and ginger biscuit glide on the silky palate to a saline-tinged finish. Drink now through 2029.
    94 points
    Wine Spectator

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Buy Sparkling Wines from around the world in Our Online Store

French Champagne is not an everyday luxury for many. Thankfully, over the past few decades the production of Sparkling Wine in Australia has made a quantum leap, and to be fair, much of the increased quality is because of the presence of French know-how. The most prestigious and expensive technique for Sparkling wine production has become known as 'Methode Champenoise' (fermentation in the bottle). As we have all learnt to our joy, sparkling wines produced by Methode Champenoise, as opposed to other techniques, invariably result in a superior drink. But it is a very difficult wine to make - costly, time consuming, even risky.

The two key grape varieties employed are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, though warmer regions may favour others. Chardonnay gives life, acid, freshness and aging potential to methode champenoise, though care must be taken to avoid excess maturity, particularly in warmer climates, which can produce a dominant, aggressively varietal character. Warm climate Chardonnay cuvees may suffer from a narrow flavour profile, high "melony" aroma notes and lack of freshness, liveliness and length. Additionally, rich fertile soils can cause this variety to produce foliage and grassy aromas. When combined with Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay has a greater capacity to age harmoniously and for a longer time. Pinot Noir adds depth, complexity, backbone, strength, and fullness (what the French call "carpentry") to methode champenoise wines but is seldom used by itself, even in Blanc de Noirs. Contact us directly for any assistance… We taste and rate many of the bubblies before you do, meaning we help take the guesswork out of your online purchase. Call our us today on 1800 069 295 should you have any questions about our collection or click here to learn more about Sparkling wine production.