Aravind A

9.5

Disg 28 Jan 2016. Lovely nose, and totally cote de blanc chard: lemon, lime, vanilla, mineral notes. On the palate: stunning acidity, more lemon, lime, vanilla custard, and lemon oil and stone finish. Soft mousse, and lovely density. Fantastic. — 4 years ago

Eric Vishria

9.4

Had this and the 2004 Cristal. Special treats. — 5 years ago

Shengli Hu

8.9

Pale lemon. Lean and steely. Fresh lemon and yellow peach, cherry plum, orange, and honeysuckle. Almond skin rounds off the palate. Medium plus acidity, medium body and finish. 20% Chard from crus in Cote des Blanc, 40% Pinot Noir mostly sourced from Montagne de Reins, Vallee de la Marne, and Aube-Les Riceys. 40% Pinot Meunier from Vallee de la Marne. — 6 years ago

Matt

9.4

Denis Varnier is one of my favorite producers in the Cote de Blancs/Avize. His passing was tragic but the magic of his work lives on in these bottles and Thanksgiving seemed like an appropriate time to enjoy one. Classic Avize power but this cuvée always has a real mineral cut to it. This was gorgeous with air, balance of pure orchard fruits, rocks, and earthy elements like mushroom and fresh cut hay. Another facet I love in these wines is the texture, there’s room for interpretation, but you cannot get around the lengthy imprint these leave on your palate. 100 CH from “Clos du Grand Père,” 5 years sur lie, 9/2014 disgorgement — 6 years ago

Michael Goldstein

9.0

If Himmler has chosen viticulture over genocide perhaps this blanc de blanc champagne from cote de blancs would be the result. Aggressively pure and clean, lighter than the French attitude to adultery and elegantly frothed. Would be excellent with San choy bow — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose; floral fruits of blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blue fruits, black raspberries, limestone, dark raspberries, black cherry cola, dark rich soil, vanilla, cinnamon, volcanic minerals, anise, violets and fresh red floral bouquet. The body is full and the tannins are about half resolved. The structure is still fairly big as is the tension with good length. The fruits are rich & ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blue fruits, black raspberries, limestone, dark raspberries, black cherry cola, dark rich soil, vanilla, cinnamon, touch of clove, darker spice, a little bit of Christmas cake, suede leather, crushed dry rocks, volcanic minerals, anise, violets, lilacs, and fresh red floral bouquet. The acidity is round, good but could be better. The long finish is rich, fruit driven with just the right mix of fruit, earth and medium spice. Producer notes and history...Chateau La Lagune has a long history that dates all the way back to the 16th century, under King Henri IV. The same time the Dutch engineers started draining the water from the marshes and swamps making way for all those Pauillac Chateau’s. Their beautiful chateau was built in 1715. The chateau was designed by architect, Baron Victor Louis, who earned fame for his design of the Grand Theater in Bordeaux. By 1730, Chateau La Lagune was already known for producing Bordeaux wine. The property remained under the ownership of the well known de Seze family for several generations. Moving ahead a few centuries to the modern era of the 1950’s, Chateau La Lagune experienced problems caused by the end of World War II along with the economic crisis. As well, there was the great frost of 1956; which destroyed a large portion of the vineyards in Bordeaux. In 1958, George Brunette purchased Chateau La Lagune with only 5 hectares still planted with vines. It was George Burnette that began a large replanting Chateau La Lagune. However, George Brunette also took an economic hit during that era and was forced to sell Chateau La Lagune to the Ducellier family of Champagne Ayala. In 2000, both Chateau La Lagune and Champagne Ayala were sold to the Frey family. The Frey family sold Champagne Ayala and bought the legendary estate of Jaboulet in the Rhone, which of course includes the crown jewel of the region, Jaboulet La Chapelle. The Frey family also owns a substantial piece of Billecart-Salmon. In 2014, the Frey family bought Chateau de Corton Andre and its 7 hectares of vines in the Cote de Beaune area of Burgundy. Caroline Frey (shown in the right photo) is the manager and Winemaker of Chateau La Lagune, as well as their estate in Hermitage, Jaboulet. In November, 2013, La Lagune purchased the 8.9 hectare estate of Chateau D’Arche, from Mahler Besse. Chateau D’Arche is located in the commune of Ludon, not far from La Lagune. This purchase made more than economic sense for the property, as the vines were once part of La Lagune when the original 1855 Classification took place. La Lagune has 72 hectares (180 acres) under vine. Their grape variety is a distribution of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot. Chateau La Lagune is fermented in a total of 72 different, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats that vary in size from 22 hectoliters to 200 hectoliters to allow for parcel by parcel vinification. The vats are laid out in a functional and architecturally interesting pattern (Shown in the bottom photo). Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is blended before the aging process begins. This is similar to what takes place at Chateau Haut Brion. La Lagune is aged in between 50% and 60% new French oak barrels for 18 months. — 7 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.1

Delicious cremant from the Cote D’Or. Crisp, dry, and balanced with nice minerals. — 4 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.1

pale yellow, fine mousse, good persistence; lemon, honey, white flowers, chalk, bread crust; citrus peel, very focused acidity, 12.5% ABV; made from 100% Chardonnay partially vinified in oak, sourced from their certified organic vineyards in Côte de Sézanne, partial MLF, zero dosage, disgorged September 2018, winemakers are husband-and-wife team Loïc Barrat and Aurélie Masson; $50 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded over 160 years ago, Delas Frères was acquired by Champagne Deutz in 1977. 100% Syrah from a blend of grapes 70% Cote Brune & 30% Cote Blonde, aged in French oak (30% new), aromas of red berry fruits and complex spice. On the palate raspberry and plum flavors, savory with herb pepper spice. Fine tannins, nice mouthfeel, lingering ending with fruit and mineral on ending. — 6 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.6

Absolutely extraordinary. A wine that deserves to be ranked amongst the absolute top tier of Champagnes. 100% CH, 3gr RS, blocked MLF and 57 months on the lees. The wine is acting like a symphony as it’s stepping up and reaching the crescendo. While being sharp and linear it’s also rich and complex with a dynamic development in the glass, everything balanced in a symbiotic relationship throughout an everlasting finish. Don’t be afraid to serve this in a Burgundy glass. — 7 years ago

Katerina

9.0

Skvele, ciste, plnejsi, krasna kyselinka. Vyborne. Pierrières is a 1.2 ha vineyard located in the village of Vert-Toulon. In Pierrières, the chalk in the vineyard is extremely close to the surface and mixed with black silex.

Pierrières is powerful, racy and penetratingly complex. It covers an incredibly wide range, from layers of citrus to stone fruits, stony minerality, smoke and herbs. There’s an amazing radiant expansiveness to the wine. Olivier Collin začal v Congy vinařit tak, že v roce 2003 obnovil 4,5 ha vinic, které jeho rodina pronajímala. Koupil si starý traktor, pluhy a začal kultivovat zemi. Poté zakoupil použité burgundské sudy. Vinařskému umění se učil u Anselma Selosse, na vinici používá organické přípravky a postupy, všechna svá vína fermentuje alkoholicky i malolakticky spontánně v 220l dubových sudech, nefiltruje je ani nečiří. Dosage drží na hranici Extra Brut nebo ji nepřidává.Terroir Côtes de Sézanne je zcela unikátní, neboť v křídovém masívu se skrývají uhlíkaté formy pazourku a onyxu. Toto podloží je zcela ojedinělé v celé Champagni. Dnes Olivier obhospodařuje 8,75 ha vinic, nicméně roční produkce činí pouze 30 000 lahví.

Vinařství ULYSSE COLLIN produkuje autentická, jednoodrůdová vína, která jsou zastoupena jen v těch nejlepších podnicích světa. Olivierova vína jsou neuvěřitelně harmonická, charakterní a věrně v sobě odrážejí vinice, ze které pocházejí. — 7 years ago

Neil Cornish

9.4

Smokey Pinot. This is Cote dOr with bubbles. Champagne that tastes like serious wine. Yum — 8 years ago

with Jon

Thomas Pellerite

9.0

Good value. Crisp green apple 🍏 — 5 years ago

Evan McKenzie

9.0

This Champagne Brut NV Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru comes from vines with an average age of 35 and located on the 4 Grand Cru vineyards of the Cote des Blancs namely: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger.

Tasting notes of lemon/citrus, wet stone/crushed rock, white flowers, notes of brioche. Body medium, dry, 12% EtOH, nice acidity. — 5 years ago

Peter Zandbergen

9.8

At Ulysse Collin — 6 years ago

with Elise

Anna Vocaturo

10

Champagne, blanc de blanc , 100% Chardonnay, Cote du blanc region brut premier cru, aged on lees for 7 months after first fermentation then 2 years after second fermentation - minerally, crisp, golden apples, croissant, toasty / pair with Wagyu and Korean short ribs — 6 years ago

thibaut bourtembourg

9.1

60% pn (25% red from cote de bar) 58.01 — 7 years ago

James Webb

9.5

Gorgeous. Lemon peel spritz and apricot nose. Some subtle smoke and minerality. Full body with big lemon notes. Such a fantastic grower Champagne from the Cote de Blanc. Grand Cru awesomeness and the price is amazing! — 7 years ago

Neil Cornish

9.5

Cote dOr with bubbles. There are noticeable Pinot Noir flavors here. Sexy stuff — 8 years ago

with Michael, Jon and 1 other

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.3

This yet-to-be released replacement for the non-vintage brut has a higher proportion of Chardonnay and an extra year on the lees. It takes advantage of a great purchase of vineyard and contracts made several years ago by LP allowing them more access to Chardonnay from the cote de blancs. With nearly Puligny like limey drive and pure chalk on the finish, the wine world needs to get ready for some serious entry level stuff from LP! — 8 years ago