Ron Siegel

9.3

Always a great choice for a 2nd btl off the list to finish lunch. Lots of berry fruit, citrus, pastry dough in a creamy finish — 4 years ago

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

9.3

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

Ryan Vento

9.4

Guys night out at The Tasting Room.
.
Dough/yeast, nougat, burnt caramel, and mocha. Pretty darn complex and rich, yet agile and light on its feet. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

More oxygenated than I prefer on my champagne but, nonetheless well made in that style. Bruised apple & pear, some white citrus, soft chalkiness, lots of yeast & bread dough, yellow florals, good acidity and a well polished rich finish.

Thank you Christina for bringing. — 7 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.0

Bread dough, pear, and light citrus with fine bubbles. — 7 years ago

Thomas Thompson

9.2

Melon, toasted almond, candied lemon, and uncooked dough. Well rounded with a touch of funk and spice. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has toasted brioche, grilled lemon, warm lemon creme, lemon zest, oxidized pear slice and fresh, rising bread dough.

Palate has lemon poundcake, cold toast, limestone chips, dried lemon slice and (light) candied orange.

Great mid-palate, a restrained richness is all elegance, acid balance is perfect and not pulling you one way or another. At 15 years past vintage, a great example of finesse in Champagne.

An aptly titled, solid bottle to begin our Valentine's Day 2020 afternoon. — 5 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. — 6 years ago

with Susan

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

Greg Koslosky

9.3

Impressive powerful with loads of ripe apple ,bread dough , rich and yeasty. Good depth and length quite splendid ! — 7 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. — 7 years ago

Julia Geisler

9.0

My birthday always signals the end of summer so it seems only fitting to drink this candy apple reminiscent of summer fairs - even with a hint of fried dough. — 7 years ago

with Gautham, Samantha and 1 other

Jakub Kalinowski

9.4

Complex & layered with honeyed stone fruit, nutmeg & almonds, candied lemon peel and pinch of exotic spice.
Elegant, layered, elegant and barely sweet on the palate. This is actually beautiful. Honeyed fruit, butter crusted dough, candied citrus peel.
Complex, layered, elegant, with a brilliant long finish.
This will convert anyone to naturally sweet wine! — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.4

A beautiful, cool early Autumn evening, relaxing by a fire in the chiminea.

100% Pinot Noir, Disgorged February 2019.

Words escape me... Just wow!
(Notes later, I promise)

24 Hour Update:
Nose has yeasted dough, flat seltzer, limestone infused apple juice, hard crusted bread, oxidized red apple peel and bruised yellow apple.

Palate has tart yellow apple, saline puff pastry, faint lemon juice, limestone infused water, lemon zest with balanced acidity and a long, long finish. Outstanding.

The P-F wines always need a minimum of 24H open, 48H really if you have patience because then they open to just the most beautiful Champagne you've ever paid under $100 for, every time. No fear, the bubbles will wait over 48H so plan ahead for maximum enjoyment. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Picking up a juiced pear on the nose today, but otherwise prior notes still apply:

Nose has ripe yellow apple, lightly oxidized green apple peel, baked phyllo dough, partially aromatic white flowers and damp rocks. I always get a natural wine vibe here, without the vinegar-like profile, but it seems alive!

Palate has baked green and yellow apple pastry, crisp acidity yet dense, candle wax begins on the finish and ends with dry granite. Great balance, very lengthy finish, clean and not cumbersome, superb vintage, long life ahead. We love you Jean-Jacques. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The nose shows lemon custard, lemon/lime zest, pineapple flesh, banana, tropical melons, white peach, bread dough, baguette crust, caramel notes, vanillin, grey volcanic minerals with yellow lilies and spring flowers.

The body is thick and has nice mousse. Lemon custard, lemon/lime zest, pineapple flesh, banana, tropical melons, white peach, bread dough, baguette crust, caramel notes, vanillin, strong, palate penetrating white spice with some heat, grey volcanic minerals with yellow lilies and spring flowers.

@Patrick James Hotel. — 6 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.3

Bread dough and light citrus nose. Toast with honey, lemon, tangerine and pear on the palate. Fine bubbles with a light citrus finish — 7 years ago

with Susan

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

9.7

Amazingly rich, bread dough, toasted almonds. Just about as rich as great Champagne can get. Complex, creamy and lasts forever. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay. 6 years on lees; 6 g/L dosage — 7 years ago

Jocholla

8.9

Poppin' corks on Easter. Fresh flakey biscuit dough with lemon custard and a little yeast funk. — 9 years ago