Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale to mid Ruby. A sooty earthy savoury red fruited note with raspberry and new leather. The palate is reserved yet with M+ intensity. Delicate yet assertive. Still very fresh for its age. Elegant with enough palate weight to make it totally enjoyable. Benjamin Leroux was the winemaker who has gone on to more accolades with his own label. Jasper Morris thought that this was the best wine made by Benjamin Leroux during his 14 year tenure at Domaine du Comte Armand. Would go on for several more years if you were lucky enough to be holding some. Pommard is another commune which has no Grand Crus but this must be one of the best Premier Crus. I concur with Jasper Morris MW when he had a bottle of this very wine with friends when he said “we were very sad to finish the bottle “. My son Hugh bought this wine for me from Sotheby’s NY in December 2013 and brought it home in his luggage for Christmas that year and I am so glad he did. This is one of the 1001 Wines. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.8

Armand de Brignac “Gold” Brut – NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A prestige multi-vintage Champagne, composed of three distinct vintages sourced exclusively from estate-owned Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses, and Ludes. Blend composition; 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier.

Handcrafted in small batches, this cuvée exemplifies depth, polish, and harmony, a benchmark luxury Champagne that delivers substance beyond the spectacle. Dosage is kept discreet, allowing purity, texture, and natural vinosity to shine.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, and baked quince lead the nose, followed by brioche, toasted hazelnut, almond cream, and hints of citrus oil. Subtle honeyed notes and chalky minerality add impressive aromatic layering.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet energetic. The mousse is fine and persistent, framing a palate that is both rich and precise. Chardonnay provides lift and elegance, Pinot Noir adds structure and depth, while Pinot Meunier rounds the mid-palate. Long, polished finish, lingering but never heavy or fatiguing.

Food Pairings
Caviar, lobster with beurre blanc, sashimi, truffled poultry, aged Comté, or simply on its own as a statement aperitif.

Verdict
A spectacular Champagne that justifies its prestige. Complex, impeccably balanced, and deeply satisfying, the Gold Brut delivers true luxury through craftsmanship and terroir, not excess.

Did You Know?
Armand de Brignac is produced by the Cattier family, whose Champagne lineage dates back to 1763. Unlike many prestige cuvées, the Gold Brut is crafted from 100% estate fruit, with each bottle riddled, disgorged, and finished by hand , a rarity at this scale.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of the most delicious Champagnes tasted recently, memorable and worth the investment. — 6 months ago

Joaquin Martinez

8.9

Non vintage, laid in chalk Cellars in 2015 and disgorged in 2020. Incredible wine. — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. Less tied down to the traditional Meursault stylings and just going for it. Light-medium body. Moments of beauty. Moments of leanness and linear qualities. Lemon curd and (subdued) tangerine two driving forces in the flavor profile. Plenty of acidity without tippling/tipping over the edge. 10.8.25. — 8 months ago

James Brenner

9.6

🏊🏼‍♂️ 🍔 🍾 — 10 months ago

with Mary

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Beast! Big, burly, brooding, and bawesome.
Rich and gamey with smoky olive brine and savory layers of earth. Tucking a couple away. — 4 months ago

Donald Williams

9.5

Got away with more aging than recommended. Still lovely. — 5 months ago

with Bonnie

Laura & John Griffin

8.9

Bought in Florida with Erica - full bodied wine - — 5 months ago

David Shaw

9.1

Big, good acid, some oak on nose. Mineral finish. Lemon, orchard fruit. Needs decanting — 6 months ago

Chris Harvey

9.3

15th anniversary bubbles 🥂 — 6 months ago

Mary Perrotta

9.3

Light sweet and crisp more of a spring time wine than a fall but would definitely get again! — 7 months ago

Her Mir Tage

9.2

1996 Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

Clos de la Roche, situated in Morey-Saint-Denis, is the most renowned and the largest Grand Cru vineyard of the village. Its terroir is consequently exceptional, yielding wines with striking acidity, remarkable concentration, and a structure that is powerful yet displays extraordinarily refined tannins. It is often considered one of Burgundy's most compelling wines, masterfully combining power with elegance.

The style neither mirrors the robust, muscular, and overtly powerful character typical of its northern neighbour, Gevrey-Chambertin, nor does it precisely replicate the extreme perfume, elegance, and delicacy that define its southern neighbour, Chambolle-Musigny. Instead, Clos de la Roche is the quintessential synthesis of strength and finesse—boasting a solid backbone alongside intricate depth of aroma and texture. Thanks to its pronounced acidity, one should not open a bottle without allowing for at least 15 years of ageing.

Upon opening, after 30 minutes the nose offered aromas of ripe black cherry, wild strawberry, sour plum, rose, and violet. After an hour, further notes of truffle, forest floor, leather, and spice developed. However, the minerality I expected remained elusive.

The bottle's condition was unfortunately not optimal. It lacked the sustained aromatic evolution and explosive bouquet I had anticipated. This fatigue and muted character were likely a result of its shipment from the United States. — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , garnet rim. Quite open and fruit driven nose , cherry , strawberry , earthy porcini. On the palate this is still quite fruit driven red cherry , raspberry , velvety mouthfeel and rounded tannin , fresh acidity, good length. Quite intense with quite primary , fruit forward , cherry , raspberry . Well balanced and fresh . Though really enjoyable will probably improve over the next 5-8 years . At Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud , Dublin , 22nd January 2026 — 4 months ago

Donald Williams

9.4

Still lovely after all these years. — 5 months ago

with Bonnie

Ron Siegel

9.5

Pair of 12’s with the Rousseau showing more finesse & floral than the Roumier that will need more time — 6 months ago

k

8.9

Balanced with front fruit and decent body. No overpowering aspects. — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Drinking well showing red cherry, berry, earth, spice & floral notes — 7 months ago

Pat A

9.7

Really good rose — 7 months ago

JKT

9.1

Excellent mature balanced Cab Franc without that peppery greenness coming on. Long finish. — 10 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Bright medium ruby with quite thin ruby , garnet rim . Quite closed with sweet cassis , touch of clove and ash , violet , dark cherry , wet stone . On the palate more of the cassis and spicy blackberry notes , dark cherry , but mineral and saline also , touch of slate , tobacco . Quite lean and refreshing, balanced alcohol . Quite high acidity and grippy tannin . Good mineral and cassis tinged finish . Elegant and refined . Needs a bit of time , will probably improve over the next 5-8 years and will last well a further 10 or so . — 2 years ago