Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Big weekend holidays call for big wines. Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Time to make the new Riedel Vintage Sommelier flutes really prove their worth.

The nose reveals; golden & green apples, sour lemons, lime juice to almost candy, touch of apple cider, overripe pineapple, lime, tangerine notes, stone fruit-apricot & peach, caramel, sweet, cream butter, vanillin, very beautiful & powdery chalkiness, saline, sea fossils, delicate, grey volcanics (almost ash), bread dough, light yeastiness, chunks of just fruit in marmalade, jam, hints of candle wax, honeysuckle & comb, gentle white spice with yellow lilies, jasmine, spring flowers, fruit blooms with some mixed in cut greens.

The body/mousse is gentle & delicate...super micro oxygenation/bubbles. She shows her beauty as she glides over the palate. More golden apple than the nose, green apple, sour lemons, lime zest to almost candy, touch of apple cider, overripe pineapple, lime, tangerine notes, stone fruit-apricot & peach, caramel, vanillin, sweet, cream butter, very beautiful & extremely, powdery chalkiness, saline, sea fossils, delicate, grey volcanics (almost ash), bread dough, light yeastiness, sesame oil, silvered almonds, chunks of just fruit in marmalade, jam, hints of candle wax, honeysuckle & comb, gentle white spice with the perfect light heat & palate penetration with yellow lilies, jasmine, spring flowers, fruit blooms with some mixed in cut greens. The acidy is perfect and gentle. The finish isn’t quite as good as the 02 Krug we had on my birthday in March but, it’s a close relative. It’s super; refined, delicate, unbelievable knitting, well balanced, elegantly polished like 75 degree sunshine on your face and persists softly like baby skin for minutes.

An amazing cuvée!

Photos of; the Champagne house of Egly-Ouriet, A-frame bottles in their cave, Owner/ Francis Egly (since taking it over from his father in 1982) in one of his Ambonnay Grand Cru Vineyards and vines around the estate.

Producer notes, Elgy-Ouriet was planted in 1946 to Pinot Noir in pure-chalk soil of ‘Crayères.’ Unquestionably one of the finest, south-facing terroirs in Ambonnay. Les Crayères is the top single vineyard of the estate, containing the oldest vines. 100% Pinot Noir from the renowned Les Crayères known for its extremely shallow topsoil and chalky bedrock. Completely barrel fermented, and aged 70 months on the lees. It's a blend of the 2010 and 2011 vintages and was disgorged in July 2018 after 72 months sur lattes. — 5 years ago

Ryan Hayward

10

It tastes like an apple pie with pumpkin but not overly sweet. Fantastic cider! — 7 years ago

dan boedeker

9.2

Again what this AVA excelled in for my taste, Dark fruit well balance. Not ideal for 100 degree wine tasting weather but that is why they also have a brewery and cider house in town.. Squirreling away for winter. — 7 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.3

How could anyone not love this? Undisgorged bubbly from a house that sits half in Slovenia and half in Italy. 9 years on the lees, disgorged in a sink of water. Deliciously leesy, baked apple, almost cider-like.. bringer of the funk. What a great bottle, especially for the money involved. Get yaself some. — 7 years ago

Laura Purdy

9.1

Tried the cranberry version today. Even better! — 8 years ago

Alexis Whitesides

9.6

Down east cider and yankees playoffs!! October love — 8 years ago

Marissa A. Ross

Wine Editor, Bon Appétit

9.0

AHHH SO SOUR I LOVE IT! Like sour pear basil Kombucha candies. Not sure it's going to pair that well with pizza but also ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Now, this is a Champagne worthy of my last year in my current decade.

It’s not inexpensive but, there’s a reason for that.

From the moment I put my nose to the glass, I got a a sense of warm, inviting delicacy. There is; cream, soft ginger, fall green apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, green melons, lightly bruised pear, marmalade jam, as soft as white spice can be, grey volcanics, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.

The palate enters like Tango dancers & cross-fades into ballet. Perfect richness, mousse & micro-oxygenation with gentle, absolute, perfect acidity. The minerality is fine, delicate & straight up in my wheelhouse. Cream, understated, melted butter, ginger, fall, Granny Smith apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/ peel/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, peach, tangerine, green melons, lightly bruised pear, some apple cider, marmalade jam, honeysuckle, herbaceousiness, a shade of mint, as soft as white spice can be, delicate, grey volcanics with limestone, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with, orange blossoms, white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The long, amazing, well balanced finish is simply Mozart.

The 02 is a blend of 39% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay & 21% Pinot Meunier. This bottle spent at least 12 years in Krug's cellars, receiving its cork in autumn 2014.

Photos of; the House of Krug, their very tall & countless stainless steel tanks they hold still wine(s), fermenting or library bottles in their caves & Krug Clos du Mesnil Vineyard. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Simply an amazing closer to the evening with very good friends. Thank you Christina for opening. This is really delicious now but, will continue to improve over the next 20 years.

The nose reveals; yellow florals & lilies, sea spray, sea fossils, some of the most amazing chalkiness you can experience, lemon, lime zest, pineapple juice, green melons, grapefruit with pith, vanilla notes, orange blossoms, touch of of apple cider, woody notes, brioche with spring florals with greens.

The body is delicate, rich, yet restrained. Micro oxygenation, beautiful mousse, sea spray, sea fossils, some of the most amazing soft chalkiness you can experience, lemon, lime zest, pineapple juice, green melons, passion fruit, grapefruit with pith, vanilla notes, lanolin, orange blossoms, touch of of apple cider, woody notes, brioch, elegant beauty, richness, excellent acidity, balance, length and polish for days.

Photos of; Grand Cru Vineyard of Piper-Heidsieck, fermentation tanks, well aged library bottles we’d all like to open and the House of Piper-Heidsieck. — 6 years ago

with James and Christina

Michael Piaker

8.9

16 June 2018. Brooklyn Cider House, Brooklyn, NY. — 7 years ago

William Hughes

9.2

Birgit Eichinger is my Austrian wine crush. Cider, lemon merengue, wet rocks, and a hint of Chanel No. 5. No kidding! My wife put it on this morning and I just smelled her wrist. Flavors of Meyer lemons, quince, apple, and flan bolstered by pleasant acidity. This woman is a favorite in our house ! — 8 years ago

Laura Purdy

8.9

Changing it up tonight for a cider tasting event. Good stuff! — 8 years ago

jerod peitsmeyer

9.2

life in the slow lane — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I like to thank @Severn Goodwin for his kindness & generosity for sending this beautiful bottle of Champagne.

We shared this with friends and paired this with apple walnut vinaigrette salad last night. Complimented the salad nicely. It was a nice yin and yang balanced tug of war of food & wine.

The body is beautiful in the mouth with nice acidity. Bruised apple & pear, some apple cider, pineapple juice, lime zest & candy, white peach, easy, soft chalkiness, soft, fine, grey volcanic minerals, sea spray, brioche with spring flowers and yellow lilies. Finishes softly, elegant, nicely balanced and persists nicely.

Photos of; the house of Caillez Lemaire, bottles waiting to sold, Current 18th century family Owners - Virginie and Laurent Van Poperinghe and one of their vineyards. — 6 years ago

Polly Marie

9.3

Very interesting. Almost like a cider from Bretagne but with a twist — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Key Lime Pie and Lolita? Hard slap of apple cider riding high on waves of apricot and cinnamon stick that is cheating with apple in Pickleville. Asian spices shimmer alongside. Real tart briny lime plays nice with Old Key Lime House-made pie. Bing cherry bringing the cringe from the fringes to the face cave! Sugar-olive dichotomies. The push and pull cancellations have me imagining pickled persimmon existences, dried, spiced Asian plum, banana pepper, potpourri woods, candied ginger, and bite after bite the palatal assault assuaged by lime and sugar and graham cracker. Bittersweet tang for the twang thang. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The 2008 Launois Special Club might be the best they’ve made in the 2000’s that’s been released. Pronounced (loon wah). My palate tells me part of this was aged in tank and some of it in wood.

It’s made from two plots of 65 year old vines, one in the Grand Cru of Oger called 'Chenys' and one in Mesnil called 'Derriere Maison’. The plots in Mesnil are their oldest.

The nose reveals, bruised green & golden apples, apple cider, bosc pear without skin, overripe pineapple, meyer lemon, lime zest, spice, touch of nutmeg, cream soda, baguette crust, walnuts, volcanic minerals, sea shells, nice chalkiness, yellow lilies, acacia blossoms and spring flowers.

The body is full, rich, soft & creamy. Micro bubbles. The palate shows nice backbone of minerals and excellent chalkiness. Bruised green & golden apples, apple cider, bosc pear without skin, white nectarines, overripe pineapple, meyer lemon, lime zest, spice, coriander, touch of nutmeg, graham crackers, cream soda, baguette crust, walnuts, volcanic minerals, sea shells, nice chalkiness, yellow lilies, acacia blossom and spring flowers. The acidity is magnificent. The long, rich, well balanced, elegant finish astonishes. It’s very good tonight but will wait another 3-4 years before I open another.

Photos of, the House of Launois, two different areas that make up their champagne museum that encompass Champagne’s history and then some, as well as, some of their Grand Cru Vineyards.

This 08 Special Club was/is a steal at $59. — 7 years ago

Samantha Norried

9.4

Verry very interesting. Not too carbonated which is great! — 8 years ago

Yi-Fen Li

9.3

Happy b’day MBC💩 cider house rules! 🍎🍐quince — 8 years ago

with Clarke and Matthew

Justin Hansohn

9.4

I'm not sure the world of fine beverages is ready for this but this is one of the most interesting culinary creations I have come across this year. This is absolutely a 'have this with food' drink. So refreshing. Such good value and culinary creativity on display. — 9 years ago