Willie Carter

9.2

Pale old gold with tiny bubbles and an innate creaminess. At first sight, smell, and taste you can tell this is an intense champagne. And oh so lovely. Crisp red apples and dried cherries on the nose. There’s a little raspberry jam and cola here as well. Slight nuttiness and forest aromas round this out.

More Meunier brilliance from Vrigny. 50/30/20 PM/PN/CH and aged for an amazing 11 years which gives it power, depth, and intensity. The acidity is quite zippy and electric. Terrific balance here as well. Nothing is out of sorts, everything in its right place.

Drama and precision in the mouth instantly. Stone fruit with green and red apples for days. A touch of cherry with some harmonious brioche notes. A stellar champagne. — 19 days ago

Willie Carter

8.9

Such a pristine looking medium straw color with a nice plethora of tiny bubbles in the glass. Innate creaminess and vivacity. The nose shocks you with a sudden burst of citrus fruits right off the bat. Honeysuckle and fresh lemon aromas along with a slight touch of kiwi. There’s a nice floral element to this nose with a blooming meadow and delicate violets. Apples really begin to take over an hour after opening the bottle.

These Clandestin champagnes are truly all stunners and so terroir driven. Pure Chardonnay from the Côte des Bar in the Aube region of champagne. With no added dosage, the acidity is expectedly brilliant though not too pronounced. The complexity takes this above several other Blanc de Blancs as you can sit with this for hours. Despite being so light on its feet, this is most certainly a deep wine.

Lively and delicious in the mouth, this is a long and exciting pour. Jasmine and apples start the party off with a really nice streak of spice running throughout. The white fruits on the palate are pure joy. Nice length here as well with a chalky finish. Such underrated champagnes that everyone should try. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

These champagnes from Bertrand Lilbert are something special. Soft and expressive with terrific energy.

Medium pale yellow with tiny, active bubbles and intense effervescence. The aromas on the nose begin somewhat discreetly but after a little time in the glass that innate mineral nature shines through. Delicate white flowers and fresh biscuits. Herbs and lime with bright citrus notes. Lemons and wet stones show up along with the slightest touch of vanilla.

Lilbert produces only three champagnes, all of them Blanc de Blancs, primarily from the Grand Cru village of Cramant. This is based on the 2016 vintage with half of the blend coming from reserve wines. The acidity, while racy, is easy and comfortable. Less focused on power and more on elegance, this is an absolute gem of a BdB. Very precise and hyper focused.

The attack is vivacious and intense. Just oh so very lovely and deep. So generous and inviting after plenty of time in the glass. Nice salinity and minerality. Lemons and limes with pineapples and an exquisite streak of honey. Apple and brioche notes and a long, eloquent finish. A real deal true superstar of a champagne. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

This is pure romance in a glass. The gushy, sweet kind that makes you float on air.

A lovely orange pink robe with a plethora of fine, cascading bubbles initially. Innate creaminess and richness. The nose is a bit closed off to begin with but starts to truly shine with air. Sugared strawberries, peaches, and a touch of watermelon. Fresh herbs and pretty flowers. Tangelo and cherries. There’s a nice amount of citrus aromas.

Composed of 92% Chardonnay from the Grand Cru village of Chouilly, with 8% Pinot Noir from the Premier Cru village of Bisseuil. This is a Rosé that demands your attention and rewards you for it. Low dosage of 5 g/l. Firm but incredibly graceful, this is an incredibly sleek champagne. Nice acidity and terrific focus and balance. Everything in the right place.

The palate is fresh and inviting. A kiss on a beautiful Spring day. Very sensual on the tongue with more candied fruits and viscosity. Long finish with a touch of spice. Performed splendidly in the Lehmann glass. Amongst a sea of similar tasting rosé champagnes, this is one that definitely rises above. — 2 years ago

Sharon B

9.4

What a delicious wine to pair with hot weather and a fresh crunchy salad. — a year ago

with Eric

Willie Carter

9.2

A truly imperious champagne. Exceedingly beautiful in the glass with a crystalline pale gold color. The effervescence is effusive and almost emotional. Nice intensity on the nose with apricots and honeydew initially. Lemon zest and butter along with toasted brioche bread. Faded flowers and honey. Roasted nuts really begin to shine after an hour or so.

As always with Grand Siecle, this is a blend of three years, 2004, 2006, and 2007 for this 24th iteration. Quite the stately and baronial wine. Absolutely ready to drink now but obviously will just continue to grow into itself more over the years. 55/45 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir from 11 Grand Crus, poise is the key here. All is in balance and form. Equally thrilling and reflective. Grace and power. It’s a bit stunning at times.

Very precise and focused, this is pure and driven in the mouth. Citrus is all over the palate, along with crusty bread and fresh herbs. There’s plenty of minerality but also an innate savory nature, as well. This just goes on and on and on, leading to an impeccably long and delicious finish. I’m in lust. A a Tête de Cuvée that drinks like one. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

Oh my, what an absolute joy. This right here sings the song I want to hear. A pale old gold color in the glass. Perfectly precise perlage with a plethora of tiny, fine bubbles and showcasing innate creaminess. The nose is slightly intense opening with aromas of hazelnut, chalk, and lemon zest. Warm buttered brioche takes over for a moment full of bliss then a bit of smoke. Juicy peaches and pears commingle with fresh herbs and spices.

100% Chardonnay from the five Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. The tête de cuvée of Champagne Taittinger and it shows. It’s a very noble, prestigious champagne that matches complexity with downright deliciousness. The juxtaposition between luxury and comfort is evident here. Like coming out of a bath and slipping on your finest robe. The racy acidity and exquisitely dry nature of the wine belies the dosage of 9 g/l.

Very creamy in the mouth and though it starts off a bit demanding, it soon becomes so inviting after some time. Every sip demands the proper time and contemplation. Chalky and rich, positively bursting with citrus fruits. Apples and toast everywhere along with gun flint and more smoke. Medium long finish with traces of spice. A powerful, graceful champagne that’s full of finesse. This can go for decades longer but if you open it now sit with it for a while. Give it the proper time. You might fall in love just a little. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Deep gold with a ton of tiny bubbles and innate creaminess. The nose is electric with spice and caramel initially. Honeyed bread and soft vanilla notes along with herbs and underbrush. The fruit is gorgeous with festive red and green apples and cherries. Plums and the faintest touch of blueberries.

Pure Pinot Noir from Verzenay bottled with the low dosage of 1.5 g/l which really allows the wine to sing. Intense and lively, this definitely benefits from a glass with a larger bowl and air. Zippy acidity but not harsh with terrific balance. Savory and more than a bit thrilling, this champagne really stands out in a crowd.

As time goes on there’s a constant evolution of notes in the glass. Savory spicy fruit forward, etc. the fruit is pure with more apples and cherries. Smoke and toast are stars here. A nice burst of citrus notes on the attack. Apricots and honeydew mix with the chalk and minerality. This is just such a magnificent champagne and trust me, it goes by way too fast. — a year ago

Willie Carter

9.2

And now for something quite different. A champagne rebel and man of his own time and mind, Charles Dufour is producing some extraordinary wines. And they live up to the hype. A nice mild amber color with lazy, small bubbles. The nose is rather intense with a nice bit of nutmeg up front. Plenty of citrus fruit that never overwhelms but is certainly enveloping. Woodsmoke and wood, red apples, and just a little honey.

As natural as natural wine gets. Organic, hand picked, herbicide free. This most certainly tastes natural, in the best way possible. 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and an added 10% of Pinot Blanc. From beautiful Côte des Bar terroir and aged for two years on lees. 80% of the wine comes from the 2018 harvest with the remaining 20% coming from a perpetual reserve dating back to 2010. With an extra brut dosage of 3 g/l, there’s rather zippy acidity and innate purity here.

This really is one of those bottles that unique and highly, highly expressive. Very nuanced with outrageous complexity. The palate is fantastic with apples and a bit of cinnamon to boot. Every sip screams natural and terroir driven. Special, special stuff. Unique and gorgeous. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

My first sparkling Riesling and it is indeed fun and interesting. Bright clear straw color with little green flecks. A fine mousse with small energetic bubbles. A fantastic citrusy nose heavy on lemon zest and fresh limes. Apricots and pears. An abundance of green and red apples along with toasted bread. There’s some really nice wet stone minerality action here as well.

Easily one of the most intriguing sparklers I’ve had in a while. Very classically styled and so reminiscent of champagne in so many ways. Highly zippy acidity and innate freshness. Personality and character in droves. Bone dry and spunky with a medium body and a long finish. The palate is generous with more citrus fruit and just a bit of earth. This is a fantastic bubbly. — 2 years ago