Exceptional balance. Rich, but so fresh. Pears, orange, flowers, lemon curd, cream, brioche, nut. Long, powerful palate, underlined by a driving acidity.
Some thoughts: In my eyes, RMs tend to fall into "extreme" categories e.g. Laherte - austere, Egly - rich (lees), Agrapart - rich (oak), Selosse - oxidative; but this wine doesn't fit here. NM-like, but not (I think of Chartogne-Taillet when I say this). Compare to Krug's Grand Cuvee, the Grands Vintages is definitely richer and broader (fair comparison, given how both wines are constructed).
From Chain Bridge Cellars:
As the name suggests, Eric Rodez’s Grand Vintages is a rich, powerful and very much “grand” wine in the tradition of Krug (where Eric learned his craft). This year's release is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from seven great vintages going back to vintage 2000. Eric ages all of these base wines in used oak and blocks malolactic fermentation to maximize freshness and vibrancy. Then the carefully crafted blend spends 8 full years on the lees before being disgorged this October. The dosage is ultra-low - 2 or 3 g/l - so this could be labeled "Extra Brut," but there's so much richness and depth here that "Brut" seems more appropriate to Eric.
Past releases have earned plenty of critical praise, including 17.5/20 points from Jancis Robinson, 93 from Vinous, and 92 from Wine Advocate. This year’s release is explosive on the nose and palate, pumping out big notes of lemon curd, caramel, toasted nuts, baking bread, crushed chalk, and more. The flavors just balloon out to fill your entire palate and finish with layer upon layer of mouthwatering pie crust, lemon curd, hazelnut, crushed stone and salty caramel flavor. Try holding some for even more richness! — 8 years ago
A happy place in a bottle — 9 years ago
Yeasty and creamy delicious vanilla cream flavors.
— 10 years ago
After some champagnes with dosage like Chartogne Taillet , the wine gives you a slash back to the Real stuff no make up. Still it needs time, though I had never tasted an old V&S, but my two other bottles will be saved for later at least 3-6 month🥂 — 7 years ago
....'nuff said....see rating....wow! — 9 years ago
New single vineyard from @Alexandre Chartogne. 2010, Pinot Noir, tuffeau terroir. — 9 years ago
Great wedding champagne — 12 years ago
24/02/2018 — 7 years ago
오!!!나 이거!!! — 9 years ago
Totally fine, but the Chartogne Taillet eats its lunch every time for the money. — 10 years ago
Ben Bradford
October 2014 disgorgement. Based on 2011 (80%?). Balance 2010/2009 split evenly. 50% chard 50% pn — 6 years ago