Jane Nuss

9.2

Pale golden in the glass with fine, persistent bubbles. Aromas of green apple, orange peel, pear, and peach, layered over rich notes of brioche and toast. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and complex, with a creamy texture, energetic mousse, and toasty depth. High acidity. Vibrant and refreshing with a long, satisfying finish. Consistently well-balanced, reliably delicious. A standout non-vintage Champagne. — a year ago

Dan

9.5

Golden perhaps almost orange color. Lemon, cream, yeast, richer fruit, great balance and acidity, just so smooth to drink, hard to pick up nuanced tertiary notes but so delicious. — 4 years ago

Nik Kannan

9.4

Really incredible wine. Not paired with any food, the wine is flavorful, quenching w/ oak flavor adding the right dryness and notes of plum & vanilla to finish - really well balanced and opened well. Bottled was empty far too quickly : ) — 5 years ago

with Emily

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

M. Chiarlo’s Moscato d’Asti is also available in a 375ml which is a nice size to pop open after a nice meal. A slight effervescence wine with a light golden color. Aromas of sweet fresh stone fruits and citrus layered with a bit of floral spice. On the palate flavors of peaches and apricots with a grape-like character. Medium finish ending with citrus, sweet spice and honey notes. A favorite, great value! Grab a 750ml for a larger crowd! — 5 years ago

Shawn Summey

9.0

Fruity Golden Ale — 6 years ago

Megan

9.5

I’ve been savoring this bottle over several months using my Coravin. Sadly, finally finished it off. Just love tasting this golden beauty open up in the glass. Can’t wait to start on another bottle! — 7 years ago

Peter Lee

9.1

Very berry fruity. If you like berry fruity, then you will love it. However, $30 bottle. Worth it — 7 years ago

Eri

9.1

Very complex and fun champagne! Reminds you of British biscuits, golden apples, honey and marmalade. — 7 years ago

Mary H

9.5

I’m an addict, what can I say? Full mouthful of bright fruit flavor, golden tropical fruit, honey, singing acidity and long finish. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Yeah, this is really good. From one of the grandest Champagne vintages in a 100 years or so.

The nose is extremely complex. Notes of; mixed orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, white spice, faint sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens.

The palate is gentle, micro lean bubbles, amazingly, soft mousse. Just beautiful, orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, juicy lime pulp, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, graham crackers, vanillin, white spice, crushed more pronounced sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow & white lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens. The acidity is perfect. The finish is excellent with similarities wire to wire. Lasts minutes.

Photos from my October visit to Billecart and my tasting with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.3

My last of the 2014 Ultramarine’s. Sad day. Thankfully 2015s are up next, and I was able to secure extra 2016s during the release a few months back.

This was one of three bubblies (2010 Larmandier-Bernier VV du Levant, Egly Ouriet Rosé) opened alongside a lineup of some fun wines when a buddy, @Shawn R , was in town. As always, my experience with these wines is so unique. You can always tell this is like grower champagne from first smell and sip. Gorgeous golden color in the glass. I normally pick up aromas of cream soda with Ultramarine (aside from their rosé), but didn’t get that here. Caramel dipped golden delicious apples, spiced cider, brioche, a little shaved almond, sporting a gentle “oxidative” flair. On the palate it’s zippy and racy with a distinct herb crusted yellow fruit profile (which I get on some Heintz Chardonnays), alongside more apple, poached pear, and kiss of ripe red Berry fruits. There is also a backbone of limestone/mineral here. When compared to the Larmandier-Bernier, this drank more new world, though if I had tried this blind and not next to a true champagne, I may have been able to get there.

As an aside, we drank half of this bottle (and of the other two bubblies as well) and then put a champagne stopper on it to revisit the next day. Upon opening, the bubbles seemed to have diminish quite a bit and it drank closer to a still wine...and then 30mins later, it was like this roared back to life for one last hurrah, full of bubbles and totally vibrant. Not sure I’ve seen a bubbly do that before. The last glass on the second day was just as good as the first glass on the first day. — 5 years ago

with Shawn

Ron R

9.2

This Pa brewery is rocking my world. Close my eyes and taste this, and I drift back to my time when I lived in Waterloo, Brussels. Label says 9.5% abv, but it’s tucked in nicely. Woody notes on the palate, with cardamom, cloves and licorice. Heart-warming as it slips down the hatch. Well done! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Today was my annual hosting of the Wednesday Wine Committee. There was 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert, all provided by me. Tasted blind, as always.

Birth year Sauternes. Drinking just like you’d expect a 31yr old Sauternes to be drinking, and maybe even slightly younger. Basically perfect provenance, the color has really darkened over the last 2-3yrs. Amber in the glass and molasses like up front. This checks all the boxes for Classic Sauternes. Honeyed sweet fruits with ripened pineapple, golden peach and nectarine with a touch of savory/nutty notes on the finish. Very lengthy finish with tons of complexity and life left. Wish I had another 1-2 bottles! — 7 years ago

with Dan, Andrew and 3 others

GaryWEdwards

9.6

Deep golden color with a citrus undertone and distinct minerality, if not oyster shells. Delightfully pleasant wine. — 2 years ago

Brennan Roy

9.0

Golden honey with legs. Can’t get enough of that apricot blossom and honeycomb nose. Complex but balanced with a smooth, silky mouthfeel. Sweet, but not overpoweringly so, with a delightfully long finish. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.1

A pale golden straw color. A smooth chalky wine with lemon curd, green apple, bosc pear, toasty vanilla oak, and melon. — 4 years ago

with Brenda

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. — 6 years ago

Jeff Lander

9.0

Stage 2 of #tourdefrance 2019. Finishing up our time in Belgium with a classic. Rich and creamy with full body and malty flavor. — 7 years ago

Gregg Congleton

9.4

Simply amazing - golden honey yet balanced with acid and crispness — 7 years ago

Frank Soldano

9.8

Drinking the 1998 in 2018. Rich, rich dessert wine. Rich deep golden color. Very thick long lasting legs. Nose full of roasted peach and stone fruit. Taste starts with Carmel, grilled peach and stone fruit. Excellent balance. — 8 years ago