Willie Carter

9.0

A stately medium straw color in the glass with tiny, fast paced bubbles. This is a rather intense cuvee. The nose gets the party started with toast and white flowers. A bit of citrus, a bit of red cherry. There’s an innate smokiness to the wine that permeates throughout. Very distinct, very appealing. Very sexy.

100% Pinot Meunier from Montagne de Reims. This is an exciting champagne, so full of personality and character. Quite dry and complex, even at this young age. That youthful vigor is in full force here though without many of the problems other young champagnes have that cause them to be clunky or awkward.

A plethora of apples on the palate with more cherries. A touch of blue fruits and more yeast on the tongue. The smoky nature is still prevalent here and on the long finish. Unique and beautiful, this was a pleasure. — 13 days ago

Willie Carter

9.5

A majestic wine. Clear ruby in the glass with a wide brim and long legs. The nose is muted at first and this does require decanting but she does begin to reveal her mysteries after some time and air. Classic Volnay characteristics with wet earth and prunes. Violets and cherries with a touch of spice.

Drinking very well right now. Rustic yet elegant and so inviting. Nice tannins and complexity. A ton of energy and life here, she practically dances on the tongue. The beautiful funk is prevalent throughout. Wild strawberries and mushrooms on the palate initially. A bit of cedar and more cherries. Warm spice on the deliciously long finish. A beautiful Burgundy.
— a month ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Now this is fun. A really pretty peach color in the glass. This is light and fanciful from the beginning. Fresh melon aromas are dominant with citrus and white tea. There’s a nice underlying floral element running throughout.

A Trousseau Gris from Sonoma Gris from one of my favorite labels. Evocative and unique, it’s a delicious wine. This manages to do so many different things well. Light but substantial, fun but with depth, sweet as summer but with savory elements. Funky and eccentric with more melons of various types on the palate. Dried herbs and a hint of minerality. Utterly delightful. — 2 months ago

Willie Carter

9.2

Excellent. A deep concentrated plum color in the glass. Beautiful aromas of dark red fruits and fresh herbs. Mushrooms and some incredibly clean funk. There’s a bit of coffee and dried cherries. Oak and fresh foliage.

I do love these wines. Exquisite and so immediately approachable. A very clean wine that is still able to display such charm and personality. Soft, supple, and silky. Medium bodied and elegant. Very smooth on the tongue with more mushrooms and red and blue fruits. Herbs are striking, especially on the long finish.

Still quite young but oh so good. Drink one every year and you’ll be happy. — 13 days ago

Willie Carter

9.1

This starts singing a song right off the bat with a very classic Champagne nose featuring toasted brioche and nuts, quite autolytic. Citrus fruits come with time but apples are dominant here on the nose. The floral accents are the real star here. Really nice balance on the nose.

Pure Pinot Noir from Verzenay and Verzy. Aged for three years on lees, with 30% coming from reserve wines dating back to 1968. Zippy acidity with good structure and balance throughout. Big, bold, and not a little bit burly but there’s still refinement and class.

Fresh and vigorous, this punches above its weight. Almonds and apples on the tongue initially. There’s a little peach and pear with toast for good measure. Grand Cru goodness. — 19 days ago

Willie Carter

9.1

A distinct sparkling golden hue in the glass with highly active bubbles. The nose is mature and instantly pleasant. Apple aromas aplenty. Nice citrus notes with a bit of umami. Brioche and grapefruit.

Special Club champagnes are just special. This is no exception. A classically styled champagne in all aspects, equal parts baronial and fun. Well balanced with a low dosage and slightly zippy acidity. Honey and butter on the tongue with yellow fruits. More and more apples with a dash of dried herbs. Still has many more years to go before it hits its prime.
— a month ago

Willie Carter

9.4

This champagne house just continues to grow on me, bottle by bottle. A decidedly pretty copper salmon hue in the glass with perfectly precise perlage. The aromatics are evolved and complex starting with fresh strawberries and orange zest. There’s a nice element of tea and raspberry jam that presents after some time and air.

Dominated by Chardonnay with only a smidgeon of Pinot Noir. A bit ethereal and lithe throughout. Even so, there’s a power and clarity here that you don’t find in many rosé champagnes. Zero dosage so the acidity is pure and electric. Refined and gorgeous, this is an iron fist in a velvet glove.

More vivacious red fruit on the palate. Cherries, strawberries, and more raspberry jam. A touch of mint, a dash of citrus. Dry but approachable with plenty of tension and style. A lovely, lovely champagne. — 2 months ago

Willie Carter

9.1

If you’re looking for the perfect house wine, you can thank me. Wild and free, this is such a classic Chinon that hits every single one of the notes.

Herbs, herbs, and more herbs on the nose to start with. That beautiful barnyard we all know and love. Celery and green bell pepper for days, just so nice. Wet dirt with blue and black berries and the faintest hint of leather.

Very very young and still a bit primary, this has good bones and is still ready to love you now. Needs decanting but after some time and air it shows well. Fresh and alive on the palate, this sings a lovely song. Blueberries and strawberry jam. A little olive tapenade, more mushrooms, and black pepper. This is my kind of wine, my kind of Chinon. — 19 days ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Another great bottle from Les Freres Mignon. A rather lovely shade of gold in the glass with persistent and pacy perlage. The nose is exquisite with the citrus aromatics throughout. Melon and pineapple, along with a smattering of floral notes. Plenty of fresh brioche and lemons as well.

From the village of Cuis in the Côte de Blancs and pure Chardonnay. Electric and alive with vivacious acidity. Nice depth and complexity. An extra brut dosage of 1.6 g/l making it quite racy. The palate follows the nose with more citrus and green apples for days. A pleasant herbal character with more autolytic notes. Good length that will leave you wanting more. A very good champagne, very terroir driven. — 19 days ago

Willie Carter

9.4

This is a pretty wine. Light straw with thin edges in the glass. The aromatics are lovely beginning with a sense of grass and the outdoors. Honeydew melon is prevalent alongside a bit of oak and smoke. Lemon with a touch of lime for good measure.

Minerality for days here. A ton of personality and depth for such a young Chablis. Terrific structure and good bones for the future. The acidity isn’t overpowering but still present. The palate closely follows the nose with citrus and stone fruits. More lemon zest on the long finish. Delicious and approachable and still has miles to go. — a month ago