Sparklings

• • 92
  • 93

  • Organic

  Adrien Renoir Le Terroir Extra Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $199. 00

  Bottle

  $2388.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.

  Le Terroir is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from his village in Verzy, and the soil here is chalk with clay topsoil. Starting with a base vintage, this is supplemented with 20% reserve from the previous year. The wine is fermented in neutral oak with native yeasts, undergoes full malolactic, before spending around 11 months in barrel and 24 months on lees in bottle. Dosage is very low, under 2g/L.

  Other Reviews....
  Disgorged in April 2021 with 1.6 grams per liter dosage, Renoir's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru Le Terroir (2018 base) is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with aromas of nashi pear, crisp yellow orchard fruit, clear honey and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered but tightly wound core of fruit that's girdled by bright acids and animated by a pinpoint mousse, it will reward at least a year or two on cork with greater range and plenitude, and it will live for a lot longer. Drink 2021 - 2038.
  93+ points
  William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)

  Composed of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the base wine from 2020, the NV Champagne Assemblage Terroir Extra Brut pours a copper straw hue and comes entirely from the village of Verzy. Lush with ripe fruit, the NV Champagne Assemblage Terroir Extra Brut is all about its pure and rich liqueur, which is hard to resist, offering aromas of Bing cherry, fresh peach, and dewy fresh flowers. Inviting on the palate, it is clean and lifted, with nothing heavy or imposing about it, and is balanced with a pillowy mousse. Drink 2024-2034.
  92 points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

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• • 93

  • Organic

  Adrien Renoir Les Annees Solera Extra Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $370. 00

  Bottle

  $4440.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.

  Adrien started this solera in 2013, and is 100% Verzy Pinot Noir. First released in 2021, the wine spends 24 months on lees in bottle prior to disgorgement.

  Other Reviews....
  Disgorged in March 2021 with one gram per liter dosage, Renoir's new NV Solera Les Années derives from a solera established in 2013. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of pear, dried white flowers, mandarin orange, white cherries and freshly baked bread, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and vinous, with a bright spine of acidity, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. Youthfully tightly wound, I can't wait to see how it performs with a few years on cork. Drink 2021 - 2035.
  93+ points
  William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)

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• • 94

  • Organic

  2018 Adrien Renoir Les Montants Extra Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $340. 00

  Bottle

  $4080.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.

  While Les Montants is planted to both Pinot Noir (70%) & Chardonnay (30%), the extremely chalky site with shallow soil is best suited to Chardonnay, which is separated out for this bottling. The old selection massale vineyard was planted in 1961. The wine spends 36 months on lees before disgorgement at very low Extra Brut levels around 1g/L.

  Other Reviews....
  A powerful wine from Adrien Renoir, entirely produced from Chardonnay vines planted in 1962, the 2018 Champagne Les Montants pours a straw hue and delivers lightly wild aromas of tangy lemon candies, fresh yellow apple, and hay. Inviting and rounded on the palate, it takes on more focus and crystalline energy than the nose would suggest, with a pillowy mouse, an elegant mouthfeel, a silky texture, and a ripe feel through the finish. This very distinctive and powerful wine from Adrien Renoir is drinking well now and will continue to drink well over the next 10-15 years.
  94 points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

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• • 94

  • Organic

  2018 Adrien Renoir Les Epinettes Extra Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $340. 00

  Bottle

  $4080.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.

  Les Epinettes is 100% Pinot Noir from a vineyard planted selection massale in 1971 where the soils are primarily clay-limestone with some chalk. Raised 100% in older barrels, the wine spends 36 months on lees before disgorged at very low Extra Brut levels around 1g/L.

  Other Reviews....
  Entirely Pinot Noir, the 2018 Champagne Les Epinettes has a rich straw hue and a seductive cologne of bergamot, clove, currants, and kirsch. Continuing to the palate, it is saturated and full-bodied, with its pillowing mousse creating a weightless feel before it becomes more savory, with notable salinity, a glycerol-rich texture, and notes of citrus oils. A serious wine, it will hold up over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2024-2040.
  94 points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

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• • 95
  • 94

  2018 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $899. 00

  Bottle

  $10788.00 Dozen

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  Closure: Cork

  Champagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.

  Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The wine spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3g/L.

  Other Reviews....
  The 2018 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral, disgorged in August 2024 with three grams per liter dosage, introduces the range of vintage wines. Defined by poor soils with just about 50 centimeters of topsoil, it comes from two chalk-based, old-vine parcels: Le Champ Bouton in Avize (vinified in tank) and Les Bionnes in Cramant (vinified in an old 600-liter barrel). “In 2017, we lost about 50% to 60% due to frost, then in 2018 we harvested three times the volume of 2017,” reveals Ambroise Agrapart, who is now making the wines, though his father is still very much present. More generously structured compared to the 2016 yet more precise than the 2017, it wafts from the glass with notes of tangerine zest, green apple and dried white flowers. Nakedly chalky with electric-like acidity, it maintains its reputation as the most tensile wine in the range, capturing the freshness much better than many other wines of this vintage. Drink 2024-2044.
  94+ points
  Kristaps Karklins - Wine Advocate (Dec 20, 2024)

  This must be one of the most beguiling and refined 2018s from the Côte des Blancs, managing to retain a tensile, nuanced and detailed complexity in a year that can sometimes be a bit simple. From some of the estate’s chalkiest, shallowest soils, Minéral impresses by setting white peach, bitter almond and dried flowers in a lithe, persistent frame full of leapfrogging details of slate, umami savour and apricot kernel richness, dancing over a long, detailed finish. Terrific. Drink 2024 - 2028.
  95 points
  Tom Hewson - Decanter

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• 2017 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $850. 00

  Bottle

  $10200.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Champagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.

  Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The wine spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3g/L.

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  2014 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $699. 00

  Bottle

  $8388.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral is a powerful, intense Champagne that captures all of the natural power of these old vines in Avize and Cramant. Aptly named, the Minéral is infused with tremendous mineral and soil inflections that give a real feeling of gravitas. Crushed rocks, slate, chalk and citrus accents are some of the many nuances that emerge with a bit of time in the glass. This release is fabulous. It is also a reticent wine, though, so at least a year or two in bottle will help soften. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020.
  94 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

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• • 96

  Agrapart & Fils Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $550. 00

  Bottle

  $6600.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Unlike most so-called prestige cuvées, Terroirs is produced from only great sites and is 100% Grand Cru. The fruit comes from four villages in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant, Oger, and Oiry. The vines average 40 years of age, and Agrapart uses between 50-60% reserve wine. After a natural fermentation, half of the wine is matured in large format, neutral oak and then spends up to 48 months on lees. Dosage is limited to 5g/l and disgorgement is carried out by hand.

  A plentiful mousse sits comfortably over a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edges and is finely threaded by a delicate bead that shows great persistence as it rises to the surface. The nose exemplifies a classic Champagne sniff featuring rich, toasty notes of oily baked bread, yeast lees, honeyed cashew, roast almonds and hints of citrus. Remarkably fresh and possessing an elegant creaminess, mouthfilling toasty baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours show great richness over a back drop of light oily characters, traces of honeyed cashew and roasted almonds. Dry crisp finish with a long oily toast, baked bread, yeast lees, citrus and roasted almond aftertaste.
  Drink over the next 5-6 years.
  Alc. 12%

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• • 94
  • 94

  Pascal Agrapart Complantee Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $245. 00

  Bottle

  $2940.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  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 Grand Cru Complantée emerges from a parcel in Avize interplanted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier and Chardonnay. Exotic and beguiling in the glass, the Complantée is absolutely gorgeous. Kirsch, red plum, rose petal and spice give the wine striking aromatic intensity and lovely inner perfume. The red grapes seem especially expressive in this release. The Complantée is not an obvious wine, rather it is a Champagne of translucent finesse. This release is a blend of equal parts 2017 and 2016, vinified in neutral oak. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020. Drink 2020-2028.
  94 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  This has a pretty nose of white flowers, daffodils, blanched almonds, lemons, white grapefruit and salted peanuts. Bright and full of personality with very fine bubbles. Open and vibrant. Made from a field blend of 6 varieties, co-fermented in barriques. Chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier, arbanne, petit meslier and pinot blanc. 80% 2019 and 20% 2018. 5g/L dosage. 26 months on the lees. Disgorged May 2022. 4,000 bottles made. Drink now.
  94 points
  JamesSuckling.com

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• • 96

  Agrapart & Fils Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $199. 00

  Bottle

  $2388.00 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2019-2025)

  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Unlike most so-called prestige cuvées, Terroirs is produced from only great sites and is 100% Grand Cru. The fruit comes from four villages in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant, Oger, and Oiry. The vines average 40 years of age, and Agrapart uses between 50-60% reserve wine. After a natural fermentation, half of the wine is matured in large format, neutral oak and then spends up to 48 months on lees. Dosage is limited to 5g/l and disgorgement is carried out by hand.

  A plentiful mousse sits comfortably over a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edges and is finely threaded by a delicate bead that shows great persistence as it rises to the surface. The nose exemplifies a classic Champagne sniff featuring rich, toasty notes of oily baked bread, yeast lees, honeyed cashew, roast almonds and hints of citrus. Remarkably fresh and possessing an elegant creaminess, mouthfilling toasty baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours show great richness over a back drop of light oily characters, traces of honeyed cashew and roasted almonds. Dry crisp finish with a long oily toast, baked bread, yeast lees, citrus and roasted almond aftertaste.
  Drink over the next 5-6 years.
  Alc. 12%

  
  Previous reviews....
  Disgorged March 2019. Pours with a frothy white mousse that shows good buoyancy. Pale straw with tinges of pale gold to the base wine colour. Very fine bead showing excellent persistence. Lifted aromatics with pear well meshed to yeast lees and toast followed by refined cashew and citrus scents. The palate combines fresh citrus flavours with well integrated yeast lees and toasted brioche characters over light cashew and mineral. Dry crisp finish with a sense of creaminess to the mid palate. Full yet with good tension and length concluding with a long citrusy baked bread, yeast lees, light toast and cashew aftertaste.
  Cellar 5-6 years.
  Alc 12%
  95 points

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• • 90

  Airlie Bank NV Yarra Cuvee

  Yarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

  $24. 99

  Bottle

  $299.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  The NV Yarra Cuvee is a mix of mostly Chardonnay with a dash of Pinot Noir from the Napoleone Vineyard. It combines one part from an older reserve base tank (dating back to 2010) and one part from the current vintage. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation, an addition of a touch of new oak, and brandy spirit.

  Other Reviews....
  80/20% chardonnay/pinot noir. Charmat method, with the NV wine sitting on full lees in tank. 6g/L dosage. A pale, bright green gold. Excellent bang for your buck here. Citrus, honey, some red fruits and just enough freshly baked biscuits to make it interesting. The palate is just dry enough, finishing clean and crisp.
  90 Points
  Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
  

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• Alpha Box & Dice Tarot Prosecco

  Murray Darling, Vic, AUSTRALIA

  $23. 99

  Bottle

  $287.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 11%

  Closure: Crown Seal

  Alpha Box & Dice, located in McLaren Vale, is undertaking a "Wine Alphabet" project where each 'letter' represents a distinct winemaking venture, aiming to create a comprehensive collection of wines that showcase the various styles and grape varieties found in the well-known wine regions of South Australia, such as McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, and the Barossa Valley.
  Gently pressed to tank where it is fermented cool and matured for 6 months on lees before being blended with reserve wine. The wine is secondary fermented in tank (charmat method) to achieve carbonation, before being transferred to bottle.

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• • 91

  Alpino Prosecco

  King Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

  $19. 99

  Bottle

  $239.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 11%

  Closure: Crown Seal

  A fluffy white mousse shows good staying power over a pale straw coloured base that has an exceptionally fine bead flowing through it. Aromas of pear, citrus and red apple mix with some lees like notes. Refreshing pear and red apple fruits drive the palate. Light airy mouthfeel with some citrus and delicate bready characters also evident. Finishes dry and crisp with a stimulating aftertaste that has a touch of sherbet to it.
  Alc. 11%

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• • 95
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  • 93

  • Packaging may vary
  • Reduced

  Andre Clouet Silver Brut Nature Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  Reduced from $99.99

  $74. 99

  Bottle

  $899.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Diam Cork

  When it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
  Silver Brut Nature is a rich yet elegant 100% Pinot Noir expression, bottled with Zero Dosage to highlight the wine's precision. It includes 35% reserve wines, with 10% of the maturation taking place in barrel. A plentiful mousse dissipates to reveal a pale straw to straw coloured base with gold tinged edges. A nimble stream of bubbles flowing to the surface. Bready yeast lees top notes are trailed by oily toast like notes, citrus, almond and subtle brioche. Tense and sculptured yet full and rich across the palate with riveting acidity, flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus overlay a roasted almond and chalky mineral back drop. Bone dry and crisp it finishes long and chalky.
  Alc. 12%

  Other Reviews....
  A bold and generous champagne for Brut Nature, the bone-dry finish mellowed by the ripe-apricot character, plus hints of toast and melted butter. Not super-elegant, perhaps, but gives a lot of pleasure and has entirely its own style. 100% pinot noir. Drink now.
  93 Points
  JamesSuckling.com

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• • 93

  • Reduced

  Andre Clouet V6 Experience Grand Cru Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  Reduced from $130.00

  $110. 00

  Bottle

  $1320.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  When it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.

  The V6 Experience combines recent robust vintages with a significant proportion of reserve wines. The blend undergoes maturation on lees in the bottle for 6 years, utilizing a permeable seal that introduces a small amount of oxygen annually. This method results in the wine being released with delightful development and maturity, enhancing the overall intensity of its expression.

  Other Reviews....
  Aged for six years on the second lees, the yellow-golden NV Brut The V6 Experience is a Bouzy Pinot Noir that displays great purity and intensity but also reduction on the mineral-scented nose. This is deep and complex, but it needs all our patience and perhaps even a decanter or at least a big glass and lots of aeration. The palate is rich and powerful, firmly structured, very tight and still astringent on the finish, but there is so much finesse paired with power, concentration and fruit, which give the V6 a promising future. The wine just starts a bit slowly (like a rocket, which is pictured on the label), but it will most probably go very steep in a couple of years. I have ever had this cuvée before, so I can only guess, though. Drink 2021 - 2027.
  93+ Points
  Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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• • 95
  • 96

  • Reduced

  Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911 Grand Cru Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  Reduced from $185.00

  $160. 00

  Bottle

  $1920.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  When it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.

  Un Jour de 1911... is a call back to the golden age of France in the early 20th century. Inspiration comes from a precious few bottles of Clouet Champagne that were uncovered after spending 80 years hidden in a small cellar.

  Other Reviews....
  The NV Un jour de 1911... is another 100% Bouzy Pinot Noir with an ancient label design. The shining golden-colored cuvée combines ripeness, complexity and finesse with intensity and elegance on both the nose and palate. It's a powerful and rich yet very fine and balanced Champagne with great freshness and complex length. It is juicy and intense but also highly delicate, and its mineral tension and persistent finish make it a first-class wine for elaborate dishes. A great Champagne, with a label that doesn't give any more detailed information regarding vintages or disgorgement date, but we know it's always a 50/50 blend of three vintages (including one great millésime at least 10 years old) and reserve wines from a solera system. I tasted the wine as a Brut with Clouet's German importer in Bremen. You shouldn't drink it too early, as it would be a waste of its talents. Drink 2021 - 2033.
  96 points
  Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Apr 2021)

  A rich and expansive champagne with tons of mature aromas of dried fruit (apricots!) and candied orange. Teeters on the edge of decadence, but has enough vitality to stay on the right side of that line. Plenty of textural complexity on the palate and a long, chalky finish that keeps giving and giving. Spot-on balance. Drink or hold.
  95 points
  JamesSuckling.com

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• • 93

  • Reduced

  Andre Clouet Chalky Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  Reduced from $140.00

  $120. 00

  Bottle

  $1440.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Chalk soils have long been considered one of the key resources enabling the Champagne region to produce such intense and refined wines. Aiming to highlight this relationship, Andre Clouet have released a new wine in their range further dialling up the crisp and salty flavours so prevalent in wines from these chalk rich soils. As a 100% Chardonnay cuvee, this initial release of "Chalky" is entirely from the outstanding 2013 vintage, with vineyard sources one third from the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, and two thirds on the Cote de Blancs. After pressing, fermentation takes place in small stainless steel tanks before being aged for seven years in the bottle, disgorged early in 2021 with 6g/L dosage. Expect a lively, salty, mineral inflected wine that is a perfect aperitif or wine to drink alongside fresh oysters.

  Other Reviews....
  Brimming with fresh apple, lemon and wild-berry aromas underlined by a note of freshly baked baguette, this begins so charming, then it turns in a fascinating mineral direction with a pronounced saline quality. The excitement comes from the tension between these two sides of this very distinctive champagne. Very long, chalky finish. 100% chardonnay from the 2013 vintage. Drink now.
  93 points
  JamesSuckling.com

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• • 95
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  • 92
  • 93

  • Reduced

  Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  Reduced from $89.99

  $74. 99

  Bottle

  $899.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Diam Cork

  When it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
  Made from a Pinot Noir base this blend is aged on lees for a period of 36 months and includes 30% reserve wines. It pours with a fluffy white mousse which gradually evaporates to reveal a pale straw coloured base with pale gold tinged edges that's threaded by a fine, persistent bead. Delightful aromas of baked bread and yeast lees combine with pear, baked apple and brioche notes. Rich, mouth filling favours of baked bread, pear and brioche linger over a subtle roasted hazelnut and yeast lees back drop. Full, creamy like feel with chalk tinged acidity. Finishes dry, long and expansive.
  Alc. 12%
  
  Other Reviews....
  The effusive nose of candied citrus, ripe pear and brioche pulls you into this fresh and creamy champagne that hits all the pleasure buttons for a non-vintage Brut. Then the chalky freshness at the finish pulls you back for another sip. Excellent balance! 100% pinot noir. Drink now.
  93 points
  JamesSuckling.com
  
  Incredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish.
  92 points
  Stacy Slinkard - Decanter (March 2021)

  
  
  

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• • 90

  Andre Delorme Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs

  Burgundy, FRANCE

  $34. 99

  Bottle

  $419.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: 2 - 3 Years (2014-2015)

  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Moderate mousse that dissipates relatively quickly. Pale straw coloured base wine with pale gold edges. Very fine bead showing good persistence. The nose displays scents of pear, brioche, citrus and toast. The palate delivers flavours of pear, baked bread, brioche and toast. Clean crisp dry finish with aftertaste of pear, baked bread and citrus.
  Drink over the next 2-3 years.
  Alc 12%

  Delivery Information
• Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat Cremant de Jura (LCR19)

  Jura, FRANCE

  $110. 00

  Bottle

  $1320.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  La Combe; a tiny hamlet above the village of Rotalier is home to the larger-than-life “Fan Fan” Jean-François Ganevat. Jean-François came back to run the family estate in 1998 after ten years working Burgundy and he combines his passion for the Jura terroir – here ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - with a staunch defence of Burgundian techniques; low yields and most recently biodynamic methods for which he has now gained Demeter certification.

  In addition to the ‘Estate’ wines there are, since 2013, a group of wines made from grapes purchased from around the region and in others, all are grown by their vigneron friends to their standards, so organic or bio-dynamically farmed and tended. They pay very high prices to get the quality they want. Each of these necogiant wine are made on the property by Jean-François and his small team; from grapes into wine, and have the same Ganevat precision, levity and exquisite texture despite the differing origins of the grapes.

  A sparkling crémant made of 100% Chardonnay, from vines farmed organically and harvested by hand. After direct pressing, the wine is matured 24 months on its lees, then bottled for the secondary fermentation: the "prise de mousse" in the bottle. Afterwards, the bottles are aged in racks for more than 24 months. A Brut Nature sparkling wine, with zero dosage.

  Delivery Information
• Armand de Brignac Brut Gold Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $575. 00

  Bottle

  $6900.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  New technology, changing consumer values and a willingness to abandon tradition has not only multiplied the creative options available to wine label designers, but has frequently led to 'over-packaging'.

  The extravagant presentation of Armand de Brignac has given some critics pause for reflection, one commenting “...the luxuriousness of the package made me afraid I’d subconsciously find the Champagne amazing simply because of its bottle.”

  Produced by Champagne Cattier, the brand's first bottling was introduced in 2006 and is identifiable by its distinctive gold bottle with pewter Ace of Spades labels. Like Krug, the Brignac's Brut Gold is a multi-vintage style sourcing fruit from both Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. Two other cuvées, a Rosé and a Blanc de Blancs were released in 2008. An appearance in the Jay-Z music video of "Show Me What You Got" prior to the launch of the Armand de Brignac brand sparked wide discussion on sites covering hip-hop and popular culture, following Jay-Z's public fallout with the makers of Cristal Champagne. As a result, Mr. Cattier's brand received more publicity in two weeks than it had in two decades. "I would have never imagined a few months ago that we'd become part of this mysterious and exclusive rap world," he said. "Jay-Z is a remarkable man. I'd like to invite him here to visit the winery."

  Subsequent tastings by international wine critics have acknowledged Armand de Brignac as one of the world’s top Champagnes, though it comes with a price to match.
  No tasting notes available.

  
  

  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.

  Delivery Information
• Armand de Brignac Rose Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $999. 00

  Bottle

  $11988.00 Dozen

  Add

  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  New technology, changing consumer values and a willingness to abandon tradition has not only multiplied the creative options available to wine label designers, but has frequently led to 'over-packaging'.

  The extravagant presentation of Armand de Brignac has given some critics pause for reflection, one commenting “...the luxuriousness of the package made me afraid I’d subconsciously find the Champagne amazing simply because of its bottle.”

  Produced by Champagne Cattier, the brand's first bottling was introduced in 2006 and is identifiable by its distinctive gold bottle with pewter Ace of Spades labels. Like Krug, the Brignac's Brut Gold is a multi-vintage style sourcing fruit from both Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. Two other cuvées, a Rosé and a Blanc de Blancs were released in 2008. An appearance in the Jay-Z music video of "Show Me What You Got" prior to the launch of the Armand de Brignac brand sparked wide discussion on sites covering hip-hop and popular culture, following Jay-Z's public fallout with the makers of Cristal Champagne. As a result, Mr. Cattier's brand received more publicity in two weeks than it had in two decades. "I would have never imagined a few months ago that we'd become part of this mysterious and exclusive rap world," he said. "Jay-Z is a remarkable man. I'd like to invite him here to visit the winery."

  Subsequent tastings by international wine critics have acknowledged Armand de Brignac as one of the world’s top Champagnes, though it comes with a price to match.

  Armand de Brignac Rosé is produced in extremely limited quantities – even by comparison to the boutique Brut Gold.

  No tasting notes available.

  
  

  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.

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  Arras Brut Elite Sparkling

  Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

  $59. 99

  Bottle

  $719.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  A bountiful creamy white mousse sits over a pale straw coloured base that has flecks of pale gold to the edges. Very fine and persistent bead. Nosing reveals pear and baked bread aromas which intermingle with hints of honeyed toast like notes and yeast lees. Tightly knit the palate possesses mouth watering acidity and finishes very dry with a moderate creaminess to the finish. Flavours of pear and toast interact with baked bread, citrus and yeast lees characters. Concludes with good tension and an aftertaste of lightly honeyed pear, toast, baked bread, traces of almond and yeast lees.
  Alc. 12.5%

  Delivery Information
• • Organic
  • Biodynamic

  Azimut Brut Nature Cava

  Penedes, SPAIN

  $27. 99

  Bottle

  $335.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 11.5%

  Closure: Cork

  "Azimut" is the project of Assis Suriol, who in 2000 returned to his ancestral family vineyards to create a wine that would allow his family to live on the land, and farm in an organic, biodynamic, and sustainable manner. The idea is to make their wine as close to the grape as possible, creating a fresh and immensely drinkable experience. This Organic Cava is produced from 30% Macabeo, 40% Xarel·lo & 30% Parellada from the limestone-rich soils of Penedes in Catalunya. The wine is aged for 10 months in bottle on lees and is disgorged on order (without any dosage), resulting in a dry, complex, and intense aroma.
  Alc. 11.5%

  Delivery Information
• • Biodynamic
  • Organic

  Azimut Brut Nature Rosat Cava

  Penedes, SPAIN

  $27. 99

  Bottle

  $335.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 11.5%

  Closure: Cork

  "Azimut" is the project of Assis Suriol, who in 2000 returned to his ancestral family vineyards to create a wine that would allow his family to live on the land, and farm in an organic, biodynamic, and sustainable manner. The idea is to make their wine as close to the grape as possible, creating a fresh and immensely drinkable experience. This Organic Rose Cava is produced from 50% Grenache & 50% Mourvedre from the limestone-rich soils of Penedes in Catalunya. The wine is aged for 10 months in bottle on lees and is disgorged on order (without any dosage), resulting in a dry and complex sparkling with a delicate bouquet of strawberries.
  Alc. 11.5%

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  2007 Ayala No. 7 Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $180. 00

  Bottle

  $2160.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  A new cuvée for Ayala that was disgorged in July 2019, the 2007 Brut No. 7 derives from fruit sourced in seven grands crus—Chouilly, Oger, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Aÿ and Verzy—and saw tirage under cork. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, dried white flowers, walnuts and fresh bread, it's full-bodied, vinous and incisive, with a pillowy mousse, racy acids and a long, mineral finish. Drink 2020 - 2037.
  94 points
  William Kelley - Wine Advocate (May 2020)

  A blend from seven grand crus across the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, this is dry in the classic Ayala style. Its freshness has been tempered by bottle aging although it is by no means mature and still has taught acidity. The mineral texture of the Chardonnay is balanced by the riper structure of the Pinot Noir in an impressive wine. Drink from 2021.
  95 points
  Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

  Delivery Information
• • 96

  Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $84. 99

  Bottle

  $1019.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: 2 - 3 Years (2020-2021)

  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier with an average of 3 years ageing on lees. A fine satiny mousse sits over a straw, pale gold edged base wine that’s delicately threaded by a very persistent bead. Rich yeasty baked bread aromas fill the nostrils with roasted almonds, toast and dried honey also present. Impressive richness and palate length with mouth filling flavours of yeast lees, baked bread and roasted almonds prevalent over subtle dried honey, oily toast and citrus characters. Finishes dry and creamy like with refreshing acidity and a long aftertaste.
  Drink over the next 2-3 years.
  Alc. 12%

  Delivery Information
• • 91

  Babo Prosecco DOC

  Friuli, ITALY

  $27. 99

  Bottle

  $335.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 11.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Made from 100% Glera grapes from a young vineyard in Friuli's San Martino al Tagliamento, a village that has only recently been granted Prosecco status.

  A fluffy white mousse holds well over a watery base that shows subtle flecks of green around the outskirts and an exceptionally fine bead flows with good persistence. Pear and apple aromas mix with sherbet and citrus. Satiny and fresh in its feel, red apple and pear fruits are to the fore with lemon sherbet and talc characters lying underneath. Finishes dry and crisp with a refreshing aftertaste.
  Alc. 11.5%

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• • 88

  Balgownie Premium Cuvee Brut

  Yarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

  $24. 99

  Bottle

  $299.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  This sparkling pours well delivering a white creamy mousse that shows good hold. Very fine and persistent bead with a pale straw base wine colour. The nose displays fruity aromas of grapefruit, baked apple and citrus. Clean crisp refreshing palate with relatively straight forward flavours of grapefruit citrus and some lees characters. Clean crisp finish with aftertaste of grapefruit and citrus.
  Drink now (2011).
  Alc 12.5%

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• • 96

  Barons de Rothschild Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $120. 00

  Bottle

  $1440.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Superb white creamy mousse showing excellent hold. Pale straw base wine colour with exceptionally fine bead showing outstanding persistence. On the nose strong baked bread and yeast lees characters combine with some toastiness, cashew and citrus. The palate possesses good richness with yeasty baked bread flavours dominate followed by some creamy cashew, toast and a faint touch of hazelnut. Creamy mouthfeel with a clean dry finish. Long rich yeasty baked bread, toast and light hazelnut aftertaste.
  Alc 12%

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• 2018 Barringwood Classic Cuvee

  Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

  $47. 99

  Bottle

  $575.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.4%

  Closure: Diam Cork

  Barringwood Vineyard, established in 1993, located in central northern Tasmania, boasts one of the longest growing seasons in Tasmania.
  Barringwood’s 2018 Classic Cuvee is made from handpicked fruit from their original Lower Barrington vineyard, where vines up to 30 years old overlook the Don Valley and Bass Strait. The mild growing season helps retain the natural acidity essential for premium sparkling wines. The 2018 vintage is a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, and 13% Pinot Meunier.

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  • Nick's Import

  Bauchet Origine Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $69. 99

  Bottle

  $839.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2019-2023)

  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  Sourced from vineyards in the Côte des Bar, Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims Bauchet's Origine Champagne is made from a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay (25% of which are reserve wines). It spends a minimum of 24 months on lees before being disgorged.
  A very frothy mousse sits atop a pale straw coloured base that possesses an exceptionally fine bead and persistent bead. Aromas of pear and yeast lees meld into baked apple and bready cashew like notes. Rich pear, bready characters and yeast lees have a creamy feel with cashew and subtle baked apple characters ensuing. Dry refreshing finish with a bready yeast lees, citrus, apple and cashew aftertaste. Great value.
  Drink over the next 3-4 years.
  Alc. 12.5%

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  • Nick's Import

  Bauchet Signature Brut Champagne Premier Cru

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $74. 99

  Bottle

  $899.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2019-2024)

  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Established in 1920 the Bauchet family estate covers 34 hectares spread out on 7 different terroirs. The vineyards are located in the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims and in the Côte des Bar. These direct imports are a great alternative to the big houses of Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon and the like, with their distinctive packaging, quality and keen pricing making them exceptional value for Premier Cru Champagne.

  A blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir (of which 20% are reserve wines) sourced from Bauchet’s premier cru vineyards located in the Cotes des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. The wine is aged for a minimum of 36 months on lees before being disgorged.

  Fluffy white, the mousse shows good hold over a pale straw coloured base that has tinges of pale gold around the edges. Very fine and persistent bead. The nose dispels top notes of yeast lees and citrus, with baked bread, light pear and traces of apple also chiming in. Graceful with a light oily feel, flavours of baked bread and yeast lees dominate over pear, citrus and faint cashew. Finishes dry and crisp with a lengthy aftertaste.
  Drink over the next 4-5 years.
  Alc. 12.5%

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  • Nick's Import

  Bauchet Contraste Blanc de Pinot Noir Extra Brut Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $79. 99

  Bottle

  $959.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2019-2024)

  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Made with a low dosage from 100% Pinot Noir, 25% being reserve wines, Contraste sees a minimum of 24 months ageing before being disgorged and is sourced from vineyards in the Côte des Bars and the Montagne de Reims.
  Good foamy mousse with a pale straw, pale gold coloured base finely threaded by a very persistent bead. Rich, toasty yeast lees aromas merge into baked bread notes with subtle winter strawberry, citrus and brioche also evident. Slightly tighter and leaner as well as drier than the Origine, the palate features a complex flavour profile of oily baked bread, yeast lees, citrus, subtle toasty characters and pear within an elegant airy mouthfeel. Very dry, racy and tightly knit finish with a sculptured medium to long aftertaste.
  Drink over the next 4-5 years.
  Alc. 12.5%

  Delivery Information
• • 92

  2024 Bella Luna Prosecco

  Victoria, AUSTRALIA

  $19. 99

  Bottle

  $239.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 11%

  Closure: Diam Cork

  Pours with a fluffy head that overlays a pale straw coloured base that has a fine bead flowing through it. Lifted pear and apple scents are trailed by some sherbet, subtle lees and citrus notes. Light, refreshing and airy across the palate, pear and apple fruits are featured over subtle chalk and lemon sherbet elements. Finishes dry, crisp and flavoursome.
  Alc. 11%

  Delivery Information
• • 89
  • 92
  • 90

  Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Gran Cuvee Brut

  Lombardia, ITALY

  $89. 99

  Bottle

  $1079.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: 2 - 3 Years (2004-2005)

  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  This is very dry and chalky with lemon-rind and dried-pear character. Medium-fine bubbles give form to the wine. It’s full and flavorful with a nice, dry finish. Drink now.
  92 Points
  JamesSuckling.com (July 2020)

  A minerally version, with accents of petrol and brine on the nose transitioning to flavors of crunchy pear, candied lemon zest and almond biscotti on the palate. It's fresh and balanced, with a crisp, lacy mousse and more mineral character singing on the finish.
  90 Points
  Alison Napjus - The Wine Spectator (December 2020)

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 95

  Bellebonne BIS Rose Sparkling

  Tasmania, AUSTRALIA

  $39. 99

  Bottle

  $479.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Diam Cork

  Aged on lees for up to 2 years. Pours with a foamy white mousse that dissipates to reveal a salmon pink coloured base and nimble, energetic bead. Delightful strawberry, yeast lees and baked bread scents engulf the nostrils followed by some oily toast like notes and brioche. Rich, mouth filling flavours of strawberry, yeast lees and pomegranate are intermeshed with subtle toast, brioche and chalk elements. Airy and creamy like in its feel, if finishes long, full and crisp.
  Alc. 12%
  
  Other Reviews….
  A sparkling rosé of 68/20/2% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier; 8.25g/L dosage. Pretty salmon pink with fine, energetic bubbles and notes of red fruits, strawberry and grapefruit with hints of soft spice, almond blossom, red berry pastries and strawberry cream. Beautifully balanced, crisp and fruit forward with a harmonious flow and impressive tension and detail, acidity briney and fine, finishing with a swell of red fruits and minerals.
  95 points
  Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion

  Delivery Information
• • 94

  • Biodynamic

  Benedicte et Stephane Tissot Indigene Cremant du Jura

  Jura, FRANCE

  $94. 99

  Bottle

  $1139.88 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Stéphane Tissot is a tireless and vigorous promoter of individual sites and natural wines. He brings technological experience from his work in Australia and South Africa, and combines this with his ruthless yield reduction philosophy and very serious 'small batch' winemaking which is carried out as naturally as possible. Tissot plants mostly on clay and limestone, all sites are farmed biodynamically and yields are kept low, averaging only 30 h/l per hectare. Ferments are allowed to commence naturally and the still wines are bottled without filtration and little or no SO2 is added across the board. Vibrancy and fruit presence is a signature across all his wines. Given Stéphane is constantly experimenting and obsessively seeking improvements; he is at the forefront of the Jura revolution and produces terroir-driven wines of depth, intensity, interest and undeniable quality.

  While Stéphane Tissot is widely praised for his terroir driven expressions of Vin Jaune among the other wines from his home in the Jura, this sparking is no afterthought on his part. Indigène Cremant du Jura is a serious effort deserving to be mentioned alongside the finest grower Champagnes of France. Based on the 2018 vintage, the blend is 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 5% Poulsard, and 5% Trousseau, and was bottled with no dosage in June 2021.

  Other Reviews....
  The sparkling 2018 Crémant du Jura Indigène is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 5% each Poulsard and Trousseau fermented in equal parts in tank and wood. The second fermentation in bottle was produced adding unfermented vin de paille (sweet) and vin de paille in fermentation (yeasts). This wine is sold without any added dosage and very low sulfur. It has a copper-like color, like a blanc de noirs, and a very expressive nose, very floral (orange blossom), with some vin de paille echoes. It's a serious sparkling wine, elegant with finesse and nuance, nicely balanced and with very small bubbles. This is simply fantastic. Drink 2021 - 2026.
  94 points
  Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

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• • 92

  Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $155. 00

  Bottle

  $1860.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Vincent and Raphaël work with a range of Champagne terroirs, mostly in the north of the region near Reims. The quality starts with thoughtful viticulture and low yields from a high percentage of old vines many planted in the 1960s and 1970s. Since the brothers took over the operation from their father in 2004, all chemical herbicide use was stopped and returned to labour intensive manual cultivation of their vines. In the cellar they employ long, natural fermentations and extended aging on lees. Parcels are vinified separately, and three-quarters of the production spends time in 350-litre barrels, while the reserve wines are held in demi-muids of 600 litres. Unusually, bottle aging is mostly under cork for the second fermentation (tirer à liege). The brothers believe this allows slightly more oxygen to get to the wine, resulting in Champagnes with finer bubbles and seamless texture. None of the wines go through malolactic fermentation. Bottling occurs without filtration and disgorgement is still done entirely by hand.

  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 July 2020 with seven grams per liter dosage, the NV Brut Réserve (2018 base) is the latest rendition of this wine. Bursting with aromas of orange oil, crisp orchard fruit and fresh bread, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and gourmand, with tangy acids and an enveloping, pillowy profile. Drink 2020 - 2030.
  92 points
  William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Apr 2021)
  
  A champagne of decadent abundance from great growers Vincent and Raphael Bérêche. Orange zest, apple strudel and its warm spices, some wild flowers and grilled nuts. It’s a champagne that leans into a more vinous style, rich and full through the mid-palate but still managing to seamlessly transition through to a fine, fresh and linear finish.
  96 points
  Nick Ryan - Weekend Australian 2024

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 

  2020 Best's Great Western Sparkling Shiraz

  Great Western, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

  $31. 99

  Bottle

  $383.88 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)

  ABV: 14.5%

  Closure: Crown Seal

  Sparkling Shiraz is a unique Australian wine that’s synonymous with the Great Western region having been in production since the early 1900’s. The base wine for this cuvee is left on yeast lees in bottle for 24 months or more and disgorged in the traditional method. The dosage liqueur contains a small quantity of very old Best’s Liqueur Muscat.
  
  Sparkling Shiraz at Christmas is an Australian tradition and few producers do it as well as Best’s
  
  Carries a fluffy dark red tinged mousse with aplomb. Midnight black dark red coloured base with a fine bead flowing through it. Lusty scents of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry sail from the glass complimented by some vanillin oak, dark chocolate and subtle spicy earth notes. Rich, concentrated and powerful, the mouth filling palate carries a plush texture with dark plum, liquorice, dark chocolate and blackberry flavours plentiful in their volume. Vanillin cedar, light earth and spice characters lie underneath. Long exuberant cream tinged finish.
  Drink over the next 6-8 years.
  Alc. 14.5%

  Other Reviews….
  Deep colour with a trace of purple in the meniscus, the bouquet sweetly spicy and blackberry scented, with a lift of pepper-spice and fresh herbs. In the mouth it's full and rich, again discreetly spicy, with a modest level of sweetness which leaves the mouth refreshed. Long aftertaste, super satisfying and delicious. The value is amazing. Drink now to 2034.
  95 Points
  Huon Hooke – The Real Review

  Delivery Information
• • 90

  • Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch

  Bianca Vigna Prosecco

  San Pietro di Feletto, ITALY

  $29. 99

  Bottle

  $359.88 Dozen

  Minimum 6 bottles

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  ABV: 11%

  Closure: Cork

  This Prosecco pours with a good white frothy mousse showing good hold. Very pale straw base wine colour with exceptionally fine bead showing good persistence. Aromas of citrus are followed by some pear and very light toast notes. On the palate flavours of pear and citrus with some brioche on the back palate. Clean crisp dry finish. Aftertaste of pear, citrus and brioche.
  Drink now.
  Alc 11%

  Delivery Information
• • 97
  • 99
  • 96
  • 96

  2012 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs Vintage Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $449. 00

  Bottle

  $5388.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Cuvee Louis Salmon is 100% Chardonnay from the best parcels of grand crus in the Cote des Blancs. Billecart-Salmon note they source from Cramant for the minerality, Chouilly and Oiry for the finesse, and Mesnil-sur-Oger for the structure and longevity.

  Other Reviews....
  A 100% Chardonnay, sourced from vines planted in the communes of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly, Cramant, and Oiry, the 2012 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Louis Salmon evokes aromas of lemon oil, pastry, baked bread, walnuts and chalk. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, it's vinous, almost creamy, with a layered, delicate structure that leads to a delicately citrusy, long and delicate finish. This Champagne is built to age, thanks to the power of the 2012 vintage and the house's signature tension. Disgorged in the second quarter of 2023 with 3.9 grams per liter dosage, it was matured 75% in stainless steel and 25% in barrels. Drink 2024-2044.
  96 points
  Yohan Castaing - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2012 Brut Blancs de Blancs Louis Salmon is a large-scale, ample wine. A rich, heady Champagne, the 2012 has started to open nicely. It is far more expressive today than it was a year ago. Even so, this remains a very young Champagne, one that needs time to shed some of its considerable baby fat. Baked apple tart, dried flowers, mint and dried citrus peel are some of the many nuances that emerge over time. Tropical notes wrap around the substantial finish. Dosage is 3.9 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 2023. Drink 2026-2042.
  97 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  Incredible aromas of brioche, bread dough and pie crust with superb, electrifying fruit, from peaches to fresh apples. It’s driven, mouthwatering and with fantastic structure, yet it’s so balanced and creamy. Very fine and silky bubbles. It’s better and better as it warms slightly in the glass. 3.9g/L dosage. Drink or hold.
  99 points
  James Suckling

  The 2012 Champagne Louis Salmon Blanc De Blancs is entirely from Côte de Blancs Grand Cru villages and saw 25% oak vinification, with most of the malo blocked to retain freshness. Initially, it opens to citrus-driven aromas of lime, but as it opens in the glass, it deepens to reveal notes of white peach, fresh bread, and a touch of toasted spice, with its portion of oak just highlighting the edges of the wine. The palate offers intensity without austerity, with a good, profound, layered feel, and it has a pillowy and elegant mousse, a coating texture of citrus oil, and a long finish. It’s already hard to resist but will improve with time. It’s a wonderful wine for Billecart-Salmon in this vintage. Bravo. Drink 2026-2046. It saw 3.9 grams per liter dosage and 4.4 grams in the final wine. Drink 2026-2046.
  96 points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 97
  • 94
  • 96

  2012 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois Vintage Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $449. 00

  Bottle

  $5388.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  In 1818 Nicolas Francois Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon were married and founded Maison Billecart-Salmon in Mareuil-sur-Ay, the family’s hometown. The pair joined forces with Louis Salmon, Elisabeth's brother, who oversaw all the commercial activity for the house. Nicolas Francois, who was passionate about oenology, dedicated himself to the creation of the wines. As a tribute to this trio, Billecart-Salmon have crafted three cuvees beginning with the Cuvee Nicolas Francois (first created in 1964), followed by the Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Rosé and Cuvee Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs.

  Cuvee Nicolas Francois is a blend of the best terroirs from Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir) and Cote des Blancs vineyards (Chardonnay), with vinification partly in traditional oak casks lending generosity to this elegant and fine Champagne.

  Other Reviews....
  Billecart-Salmon’s 2012 Nicolas François marks the first release since 2008 and stands as another success. The fundamentals remain unchanged: settling and fermentation at low temperatures, a small proportion vinified in oak barrels and partial malolactic fermentation (20% was blocked in 2012). This vintage was characterized by a prolonged flowering period, significant rainfall and mildew pressure, resulting in a small crop. The harvest of fruit, which contributed to this cuvée, took place between September 17 and 22. "It was crucial to select only the ripest fruit, as maturation varied significantly between plots," explains Billecart’s head winemaker, Florent Nys. But what of the wine itself? Disgorged in May 2023 with a dosage of 3.8 grams per liter, it exudes aromas of candied lemon, honeysuckle and ripe peach, mingling with nuances of beeswax and orange zest. On the palate, it is full-bodied, ample and enveloping, boasting a layered, concentrated core, a chalky structure and mouthwatering acidity, despite the warm vintage. It concludes with a persistent, saline finish, hinting at the savory complexity that has emerged with such notable bottle age. Compared to the 2008, which remains tightly coiled, the 2012 is broader-shouldered and more demonstrative. Drink 2026-2047.
  96 points
  Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2012 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart shows all the natural radiance of the year. There's gorgeous resonance and texture here. Apricot, spice, tangerine oil and lightly honeyed notes infuse the palate with notable depth and persistence. This rich, expansive Champage has a ton to offer. This release was disgorged nearly two years ago, which also adds to its complexity. Dosage is 3.8 grams per liter. Disgorged: May 2023. Drink 2026-2042.
  95 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  This complex Champagne has delicious aromas of waffle cones, vanilla beans, apricots and pastry with touches of white chocolate and salted caramel. It’s electric on the palate, which is creamy yet structured and focused, with a fine bead of bubbles and a zesty, tangy backbone of acidity. Long and tense finish. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay (all premier and grand cru), 10% of wines are vinified in oak casks. 10 years on lees. 3.8 g/L dosage. Disgorged in the second half of 2024. Drink or hold.
  97 points
  Claire Nesbitt - JamesSuckling.com

  Made from 60% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, the 2012 Champagne Nicolas François has a complex élevage and was tasted as a vin clair. Bottled at the end of June of this year (the magnum in July), it’s highly aromatic on opening at this stage, with aromas of honeydew melon, ripe peach, and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied, it is long on the palate, with a linear feel, but has a ripe, rounded exterior and a clean, chalky finish, with notes of grapefruit pith and fresh lift. At this early stage, it feels as though it may be approachable in its youth, but we‘ll have to see.
  94-96 points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

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• • 96
  • 97
  • 96
  • 97

  2012 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Vintage Rose Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $449. 00

  Bottle

  $5388.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon adds to Billecart-Salmon's enviable reputation for crafting outstanding rosé Champagne. A rare and sought-after wine in their portfolio, this cuvee is drawn from their top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay terroirs.

  Other Reviews....
  A blend of 45% Pinot Noir and 55% Chardonnay, the 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is a real success, wafting from the glass with aromas of red berries, rose, peony, orange blood and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and broad, it's dense and deep with a multidimensional core of fruit, racy acids and a textural structure, concluding with a long, delicate, mouthwatering finish. This is one of the finest rosé I've tasted at this address. Kudos! Drink 2024-2054.
  97+ points
  Yohan Castaing - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is a very sexy Champagne, but it is also quite reserved, especially within the context of the year. Crushed rose petal, kirsch, white pepper, slate and mint are all beautifully delineated in a sculpted, taut Rosé. Its finest drinking belongs to the future. Dosage is 3.8 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 2023. Drink 2026-2037.
  96 points
  Antonio Galloni - Vinous

  This has a lovely copper color with aromas of cloves, spiced apples, raspberries, gingerbread and pastries. Delicious yeasty and spicy undertones. Excellent density and focus, with fine and firm bubbles, yet it’s light on its feet and so fresh. Long, chalky and salty at the end. Chardonnay and pinot noir. 3.8g/L dosage. Drink or hold.
  97 points
  Claire Nesbitt - JamesSuckling.com

  The blend of the 2012 Champagne Elisabeth Salmon is includes 55% Chardonnay along with 10% red wine, the majority of which was raised in stainless steel, with a 3% splash raised in oak. It pours a deeper salmon orange tinge and is a more assertive wine in the glass, with notes of spice, smoky wet stones, peach, almond, and fruitcake. Medium to full-bodied and assertive, it holds its mousse together more clearly and has more transparency, with a pomegranate texture, and is long on the palate. This structured wine will benefit from another year or two in bottle before drinking over the following 15 or more years. Disgorged January 2023, 3.8 dosage; total in the final wine is 4 grams per liter. Drink 2026-2041.
  96+ points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 93

  2016 Billecart-Salmon Vintage Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $165. 00

  Bottle

  $1980.00 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)

  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  The 2016 vintage is aged on lees for 5 years and is comprised of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay sourced from 100% Grand Cru vineyards. 25% of the wine is matured in oak barrels and is bottled at 1.9g/L dosage.
  A buoyant lacy mousse is underpinned by a pale straw to straw coloured base that has gold tinged edges and has a steady stream of nimble bubbles coursing through it. Classically finessed Billecart-Salmon aromatics of yeast lees, baked bread and brioche stream out of the glass followed by hints of cashew, citrus and oily toast like notes. Refined and sculptured by invigorating acidity, the mouth watering palate features yeast lees, citrus and baked bread flavours over delicate cashew and oily toast like characters. Finishes long and dry.
  Drink over the next 6-8 years.
  Alc. 12%

  Other Reviews....
  Billecart-Salmon's 2016 vintage continues the house's drive to creatively lower dosage levels, coming in with just 1.9g/L in this year of extreme weather. The 2016 will be at its best from mid-2024 but is already showing a mature clementine and juicy apricot fruitiness, warmed up with ground nuts and fragrant raspberry. Neat and slightly reticent on release, there is a subtle insistency here, and it will lengthen and unfurl with more time on cork. The most impressive of Billecart's recent vintage releases. Made with 100% grand cru fruit, 25% of which was vinified in small and large oak. Drink 2024 – 2030.
  93 Points
  Tom Hewson - Decanter
  

  Delivery Information
• • 96
  • 97
  • 95

  2009 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs Vintage Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $399. 00

  Bottle

  $4788.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  Disgorged during the second quarter of 2022 with a dosage of 3.75 grams per liter, the 2009 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Louis Salmon reveals aromas of pear, lemon oil, mandarin oil, white pepper, pastry and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and long, it has a crystalline yet vinous texture with a fresh, salty finish. It is a quintessential representation of Billecart's style, characterized by racy acids and a lively palate. It derives from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the villages of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly and Cramant and was aged exclusively in steel tanks. Drink 2023 - 2040.
  95 points
  Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Nov 17, 2023)

  This is showing an array of almonds, frangipani, dried lemons, apricots, pastries and white chocolate, evolving to salted caramel. Fantastic complexity and all in balance, with firm focus yet open and delicious. Creamy, very fine bubbles. Salty, turning chalky and mineral at the end. Drink or hold.
  96 points
  JamesSuckling.com

  The 2009 Champagne Blanc De Blancs Louis Salmon Brut comes from Mesnil, Cramant and Chouilly and was all fermented in stainless steel tank. Since 2009 was a warmer vintage, they did not use wood, as they were looking to preserve the freshness of the wine. A seductive wine that’s almost identical in appearance to the 2017 Blanc de Blancs, this 2009 jumps from the glass with a buoyant personality in its perfume of lemon custard, honeysuckle, fresh brioche, a hint of almond, and juicy pear. Full-bodied, its wonderfully rich texture coats the palate with citrus oils, and it has a finish that won’t quit. It balances its warmth and solar feel with a lovely embrace and retains a powerful yet balanced finish. Drink 2024-2040. 3.8 grams per liter dosage.
  97 points
  Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

  Delivery Information
• • 98

  2005 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $1250. 00

  Bottle

  $15000.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 12.5%

  Closure: Cork

  Other Reviews....
  Richly complex nose of spiced yellow plums, brioche, toasted lemons, butterscotch, baked apples, strawberries, coffee cream, praline, earthy mushroom and truffle hints. It’s creamy, layered and generous, with soft bubbles. Complex toasty and spicy elements carry through to a long finish. Opulence and sophistication. Single parcel pinot noir, 100% vinified in oak barrels. No malo. 1g/l dosage. Drink now or hold.
  98 points
  JamesSuckling.com

  From the walled vineyard behind Billecart's HQ in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ planted exclusively with Pinot Noir. It was all vinified in oak. Apparently 'this micro cuvée will pair wonderfully with a wild turbot and Burmese coffee'. The label is made of cherry wood sourced from sustainable forests. Each individual wooden label is distinguished by differences in grain and colour, making each bottle unique.
  Full of life on the nose and richly textured on the palate. Thoroughly satisfying wine with quite a bit of body that reaches every crevice of the palate. Firm, savoury finish. A serious, dense champagne for the table. Drink 2023-2032.
  17.5/20 points
  Jancis Robinson MW

  Delivery Information
• • 95
  • 94

  Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature Champagne

  Champagne, FRANCE

  $110. 00

  Bottle

  $1320.00 Dozen

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  Cellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2021-2025)

  ABV: 12%

  Closure: Cork

  A blend of 30% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, 30% Chardonnay sourced from some of the best Crus in the Champagne and 40% Pinot Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Epernay. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks with 50% to 60% of the blend made up of reserve wines. Aged on lees for 48 months with no sugar added to the dosage.
  An exuberant mousse holds well over a pale straw, pale gold tinged base that’s threaded by an ultra fine and very persistent bead. Heady baked bread and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with hints of citrus and pear fruits also present. Subtle oily toast and roasted almond like notes ensue. Racy yeasty baked bread and citrus flavours are both sculptured and tense. Oily toast like characters, chalky oyster shell and roasted almond characters fill out on the back half. Finishes very dry and crisp with a chiselled feel to the long aftertaste.
  Drink over the next 3-4 years.
  Alc 12%
  
  Other Reviews….
  A dense, layered Champagne with a full body and lots of creamy texture. Lovely cooked apple and pie crust. 40% pinot meunier, 30% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir. The base was 2015, but in total it contains 10 harvests. It was bottled at the beginning of 2016 and disgorged in March 2020. Four years on lees. Fantastic release. Drink or hold.
  94 points
  JamesSuckling.com

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