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. — 3 years ago

Ming L

9.3

Opulent and complex. Green apple, peach, a bit pipe apple, brioche, fresh bread dough, chalk, sea shells, and hint of toasted nuts. Savory and crisp at the same time. Splendid acidity. Super energetic mousse, though lacking a bit refinement.
Base wine is 2011, disgorged 2018. This and the Bollinger Special Cuvée are two of my favorite NV Champaign from larger houses. With 40% reserved wine averaged 10 year old, the CH Brut Reserve no doubt is a better value. — 4 years ago

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! 🥂🥂🥂🥂 — 4 years ago

Andrew Fred

9.1

Bread dough, salty, mineral, subtle baking spices, good acidity, pear... unusual and delicious! — 4 years ago

Mark Eastom

9.1

Magnum. Awesome stuff. Bread dough, marzipan, baked apple and great acid. — 5 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

Amazing fruit character with roasted nuts , bread dough, -love this producer — 5 years ago

with Mark

Douglas Braun

8.9

Almond paste cherry fruit little toasted bread nice acidity — 6 years ago

Christopher Thompson

9.0

Balanced. Straw. Citrus and Bread. Balanced all around and super crisp. — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.2

I'm not going to lie; this is one of the best sparkling wines I have had from California in quite some time. We know that Schramsberg makes great sparkling wines by reputation, but this bottle is the proof in the pudding. Vintage, so it is ages on the lees much longer, and reflects in complexities of honey butter, dough for classic white bread, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla. The pallet is luscious with a Champagne like mousse mouthfeel, golden apples, lemon, and white pears. The bubbles were refined and sophisticated, with focused acidity backing it all up. Well done schramsberg, well done. — 8 years ago

Martin Redmond

9.1

Pale yellow color with plentiful active tiny bubbles and fresh bread, almond, apple, subtle citrus and a hint of smoke aromas. On the palate, it's refined, lively and fresh with a delicate creamy mousse. Mixed tart apples, pear and lemon curd flavors dominate but hints of grapefruit, black currant and an appealing smoky minerality play in the background. Lingering mineral driven finish — 9 years ago

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! 🎄🎅❄️⛄️🎁 🌟 — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

An amazing Vintage Champagne! A perfect column of fine and persistent bubbles in the glass. Aromas of yellow apple, brioche, fresh oak and Parmesan Cheese rind. Pear, white peach, citrus and crusty bread flavors on the pallet. Creamy and silky texture. This one could have stayed in the bottle longer, but we could not help ourselves. Stately and Elegant. Thank you, Kase! — 4 years ago

with Kasey

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 — 4 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. — 4 years ago

with Racquel

J Greene

9.2

One of my favs. Creamy on the palette. Bread on the nose with butter. — 5 years ago

Ben Rossen

9.0

Tons of biscuit and bread, crisp apple and pear, blossom, long acid finish. Had from 1/2 bottle with oysters, very good. — 5 years ago

Brian S

9.6

Nose of aged soft Brie, aged forest mushrooms, dried bergamot, very old pear and pineapple.
Taste. 100 year old bread starter, very yeasty and moldy in a positive way. Old yellow apple, pear, old white mushrooms, orange cream, white chocolate.
— 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Can’t think of many better starters to an evening than with Billecart-Salmon Rosé. 🌹 Nose of; ripe strawberries, cherries, raspberries, tangerine, orange rhine, black cherries, bread, soft chalkiness & minerals with pink rose petals. The palate fruits seem richer & riper tonight. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, tangerine, orange rhine, black cherries, watermelon near the rhine, razor soft chalkiness, baguette crust, sea spray, volcanic minerals, red & pink rose petals, beautiful acidity and long, rich, well polished finish. 375ml. Photos of; their beautiful Estate, a dark cellar I’d love to raid and one of their grand cru vineyards. @severngoodwin I guess I do have it on tap. 🤔 — 7 years ago

Dave Marshall

9.0

Disgorged in 2004. Having experienced only mass market, mid range champaign, this is a surprising bottle. Color is a rich straw yellow. The nose is dominated by bread yeast, canned peaches, butterscotch or perhaps floral honey, and maybe a little petroleum. Palate leads with a big burst of that butterscotch on the back of the tongue, which fades quickly to a slightly floral and tight, almost hoppy middle stage. The finish arrives after a few seconds, and is clean and crisp. It hangs on well with subtle floral notes and a nice tart glow. The finish is familiar, but still more persistent than similarly priced options from Roederer or Moet.

If you want familiar and safe, this is not it. It will definitely teach you something about champaign though. — 8 years ago

Jacob Smith

9.1

Try a Black Banana, Guinness and this beer as a Black and Tan. It will blow your mind! — 10 years ago

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. — 4 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.4

Bread dough on the nose. The palate is crisp citrus, minerals, and fine bubbles. This vintage sparkler would hold its own against anything France produces at this price point. — 4 years ago

with Susan

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. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Le Parc at Les Crayeres in Reims. From a deep list of aged options I went with one I’m less familiar with. I was not disappointed. Straw gold color. Minimal bubbles in the glass. Great nose that has a mix of fruit, minerals and bread yeast. Notes of apricot, tangerine, toffee and old stone floor. Rich in the mouth with subtle but very present acidity. With a few hours of air this gained amazing complexity. Great stuff. — 5 years ago

Ryan Hayward

9.5

Very nice, nose has raw dough, nuts and apple. Palate has lemon, bread; it’s very interesting. Nice light gold color. I’d definitely drink again. — 6 years ago

Nick Ferrall

9.2

Bread and yeast (echoing everyone else) — 6 years ago

Sasha Verhage

Winemaker/Owner Eno Wines

9.2

Chard yeast bread nose. — 7 years ago

Michael Mendes

9.1

2005. Beautiful and fresh. Clean green apple, bread dough and a white floral note. Fantastic. — 8 years ago

Richard Steinberg

9.4

Crisp with nice yeast and bread notes. Always enjoyable. No disappointment on this one. — 10 years ago

Francesco Pilo

9.0

Complex, fruity, vanilla, yeast, bread crust, well balanced, fresh, good and a ligh bitterness in the long finish @VeuveCliquotIT
— 10 years ago