Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of Chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, pale straw lemon color with fine frothy mousse and lively bead of bubbles. An aromatic nose of fresh fruit with yeast, nutty notes and floral scents. On the palate flavors of apple, pear and citrus flavors with baked bread tones. Nice balance and acidity, delicate textures, medium+ finish ending with toasty notes, yeasty and chalky mineral character. Nice! — 9 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.4

Palmer turned my head in general at a recent tasting—if you can get your hands on the 1996 vintage my gosh…but for exceptional Champagne at (if not everyday) more frequently do-able prices lean in. Toasty white bread with these citrus notes that…can I be honest? It reminds me when as a teen vegetarian in St Louis I’d do late night runs to Steak and Shake where my friends got burgers but I’d order toast and butter with a lime freeze. Those toasty but piquant and refreshing notes. Expect like that on a platter with even more nuance. Obvi it doesnt taste like that precisely but its toast and citrus vibes don’t let go and cream and apple butter are backup singers. Do drink Palmer. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Popping a bottle of Paul Bara to celebrate a number of things, not least of which is a four-month suspension of the tariffs previously imposed on most French, Spanish, and German wine imports to the United States 🍾 🥂

Let’s hope this pause signals a forthcoming, permanent solution and favorable path forward.

This beautiful bottle of bubbles from Bouzy, Champagne, offers notes of citrus and orchard fruits such as lemon pith, tart apple, and pear, also white blossom, marcona almond, brioche, biscuit, bread dough, sourdough, and wet slate. It is nicely balanced and complex.

Cheers, friends! — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Starting the long Labor Day weekend in Big Sur the right way with a little N/V Krug Grande Cuvée. @Nepenthe

Happy Labor Day weekend all! 🍾🥂

Noses reveals; heavy bruised red apple, Bosc pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, tropical melons, lime zest, white spice, sea fossils, deep crisp chalkiness, grey volcanics, yeast & bread dough, nougat, baguette crust, limestone, caramel notes, cream, vanillin framed in yellow lilies, white & spring flowers & mixed greens.

The palate is, ripe, lush, fresh and lively. The mouthfeel all Krug beautiful. Bruised red & golden apple with hints of cider, Bosc pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, tropical melons, white stone fruits, lime zest/candy, white spice, sea fossils, crisp chalkiness, grey volcanics, yeast & bread dough, nougat, baguette crust, limestone, caramel notes, cream, cream soda, vanillin framed in yellow lilies, spring flowers & mixed greens. The acidity is near perfect. The long, elegant, well knitted & balanced finish is gentle until the long set when you get a full presence of white spice and minerality that persists for minutes.

This bottle was composed around 2011 and is made from over 120 different wines that span over 10 years. It is 47% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay & 17% Pinot Meunier. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Quite light lemon yellow , very persistent , fine bubbles . Quite taut and strict on the nose , chalk dust , white flowers , honey suckle and elderflower , lemon peel , touch oyster shell and a touch of fresh baked bread . On the palate really good volume and density , lively acidity . Lots of citrus with good mineral , oyster shell notes . Long and mineral , saline, tinged finish , hint of toasty brioche on the end . This is really quite young and shows tighter and more mineral than the first bottle we had . Would leave this a few years and will have a long life , better in 10 -15 years and last well a further 10 or so . Great potential — 9 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Nice BdB, pale lemon color with aromas of citrus, floral and biscuit notes, fine bubbles and light mousse. On the palate flavors of crisp apples, pears and lemon zest with notes of warm bread and savory mineral. Long complex ending with fruit and toasty warm biscuit character. Very nice! — 3 years ago

Sherry

9.1

Rainy day, brownies and Adelsheim pinot noir — 4 years ago

with jeff

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Love half bottles of good Blanc Champagne at Costco for $18. Sure makes it feel like Christmas come early.

I’m dreaming of a wine Christmas. What’s on your list?

Really nice cuvée from Laurent-Perrier and even better price point.

Bruised apple & Bosc pear, pineapple juice, nougat with nuts, ginger ale, vanillin, white spice, sea spray, soft volcanics, easy, powdery chalkiness, bread dough to baguette, withering lilies and spring flowers. Lively acidity and well balanced, rich, elegant finish that persists minutes landing on minerals & spice.

Happy Holiday Season! 🎄🎅❄️⛄️🎁 🌟 — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The nose reveals slightly sour & bruised fruits. Bruised golden apple & pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, green apple, lime zest/candy, melted, salted caramel, honeysuckle, white & yellow peach, brown butter, caramelized brown sugar, hints of mint, sea fossils, grey volcanics, whiff of white spice, vanillin, bread dough, yellow lilies, spring flowers with mixed floral greens.

The palate is rich, lush, round, a touch gluey & full. Nice mousse, micro-oxygenation, slightly sour & bruised fruits Bruised golden apple & pear, overripe pineapple, lemon meringue, green apple, lime zest/candy, melted, salted caramel, honeysuckle/honey comb, white & yellow peach, inside banana peel, brown butter, caramelized brown sugar, nougat, hints of mint, sea fossils, gritty, penetrating chalkiness, grey volcanics, some white spice with nice lighter heat, vanillin, bread dough, yellow lilies, spring flowers with mixed floral greens. Excellent acidy. The long, even, fresh, well balanced finish persists nicely and is delicious.

Nice bottle and well priced at $38 w/ deluxe gift box.

Photos of; House of Roederer, caves with A-Frames for the hand Riddlers, walk through tunnel and marquee Grand Cru vineyard. — 6 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Complex nose. Bread, nuts, lemon merengue, slate, and a reductive smokey note. On the palate, the wine is stuffed with substance but is yet to unfurl and bubbles are quite pronounced which distracts from the flavour profile. Slightly disappointing but full if potential. — 6 years ago

with Racquel

Carter White

9.2

Solid champagne, has those yeasty notes like most sparkling wine, but more like wheat in the field than baked bread. — 6 years ago

Laura Marchese

9.0

Happy New Year! Nice citrus and bread notes. — 10 months ago

Andrew Belzer

9.2

Lemon zest, chalk, yeast/bread. Lots of acid but quite lovely! — 2 years ago

Graham

9.1

First time - I like. Bread, yeast, apples a hint of cinnamon. Would buy again. — 3 years ago

AEL

9.0

A classy, subtle champagne with well defined notes of bread, vanilla, stone and dried fruit. At Narragansett, the bottle Nate gave me when I was confirmed in 2017. — 5 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Happy Global Champagne Day! 🍾🥂
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To celebrate the occasion, we’re having some of our favorite champagne — Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs. Made entirely of premiers crus Chardonnay grapes that hail primarily from Montagne de Reims and Côte de Blancs, Champagne, France.
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Love the autolytic character, richness, and tart stone notes. Soft bubbles, toasty almonds, brioche, bread dough, biscuit, dried white blossom, peach, apple, and pear.
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NV (non-vintage). ABV 12.5%.
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#globalchampagneday2020 — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Daniel P. Drake

9.1

Tonight the wine I have opened is the Moët & Chandon 150th Anniversary Imperial Brut Champagne. The blend is 30-40% Pinot Noir, 30-40% Pinot Munier and 20-30% Chardonnay.

On the nose there is buttery brioche, creme brulee, lemon curd, yeasty bread, hazelnut and apricot.

On the palate there is creamy lemon curd, tropical fruits, pineapple, brioche, hazelnut and a minerality.

This wine is medium bodied with medium + to high acidity that leads into a long toasty citrus finish. Today is the day we spring ahead and so we all lose an hour of our weekend. So what time we have left to the weekend try to enjoy yourselves and please be safe doing so. Nostrovia! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 6 years ago

Arden Barnett

9.7

Haha just stupid. One of the best champagnes I’ve ever had. Apples, light baking spices, brioche bread, slight nutty aftertaste — 6 years ago

Andrew Fred

9.1

Bread dough, salty, mineral, subtle baking spices, good acidity, pear... unusual and delicious! — 6 years ago