Alan Weinberg

9.0

2021 base, 2 g/l dosage. Nice but needs time. — 7 months ago

Willie Carter

8.9

Light clear straw color in the glass. A fine stream of minuscule bubbles. A very precise and fine mousse with underlying creaminess. You immediately get the message that this is really a very nice Chablis with bubbles. The nose is initially dominated by bright and lively citrus fruits that are just plain uplifting. Some really nice gingerbread and cinnamon aromas begin to emerge slowly. A kick of white pepper and butter. This is one you could honestly just take in for a long time.

A Blanc de Blancs from Grand Cru territory in Tours-sur-Marne. Aged for eight years and disgorged in November of 2020. With a Brut dosage of 6.5 g/l, the acidity is not bracing but it sure is present and welcome. The vinous nature of this champagne is exceptional. Just so nice and clearly terroir driven. Impressive complexity and depth to be found here.

On the palate, there’s a bit of smoky wood to get the party started. Yellow apples and quince, along with pears and peaches. Orange peel and mango shine. A bit of chalk and wet stone minerality just for added measure. This performed well in the Riedel Winewings Champagne glass, allowing it the air to truly blossom. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.5

There are so many exquisite grower champagnes available but every now and then a producer just manages to enrapt you. And then they keep doing it. A plethora of fine bubbles in a shimmering light golden robe. Floral aromatics up front with white flowers and violets up front. Really nice tropical fruits combine with spices. Red fruits and chalky minerality with just a bit of fresh yeast.

Grower Champagne from Festigny that practices biodynamic methods in the vineyard. 100% Pinot Meunier, bone dry and I wouldn’t have it any other way with these wines. Customary low dosage of between 2 and 5 g/l. One of the true masters of Meunier, there’s refinement and elegance here but also some rusticity and such a strong representation of the terroir. Half and half from the 2014 and 2015 vintages and disgorged in August of 2019.

In such a good place at the moment, this is drinking splendidly. The palate features honeysuckle and pineapples, along with lemon zest. Fresh herbs, more spice, and greenery. Long, powerful finish. Austere but oh so lovely, this may not be the champagne for every palate but if you’re an acid freak you will be in heaven. A favorite of mine for a good reason. — 4 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2017 | Blanc de Noirs from 60% pinot meunier and 40% pinot blanc. Dosage 10g/l. Vinification and ‘elevate’ in barriques. Calcareous terroir. Very fresh and full bodied. We had it with a sardinemousse as a starter and today with our scrambled eggs for breakfast. — 8 months ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Light shimmering gold in the glass with a plethora of small, profuse bubbles. Primarily Pinot Noir and that’s clearly evident on the nose. Peaches and plums with a strong infusion of dried strawberries and red cherries. Apples aplenty with cinnamon rolls and toasted nuts.

One of the more esteemed growers, Paul Bara produces nothing but exemplary champagnes including this entry level bottle. Unmistakably Bouzy, their wines always represent the terroir and terrain so very clearly. 80/20 PN/CH with a dosage of 7 g/l and disgorged in September of 2020. The kicker here is the 50% of reserve wines they use for the final blend. Just astonishing and makes a huge difference.

The acidity here is tight with a bit of zip but mellows out over time given air. Nice harmony and balance, as usual. Apples and cherries dominant on the tongue. Creaminess abounds with medium spice and hazelnut. Amongst entry level grower champagnes, there just aren’t many better than this. Always an instant buy. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

My goodness is this thing singing a song I do want to hear. Medium straw with a fine mousse. Fine, tiny bubbles that go on and on. The nose is delicate and gorgeous. Apple pie, lemon tarts, and green apples. Toasted rolls, nuts, and butter. After it transforms in the glass you’ll find floral and herbaceous notes along with a healthy dose of chalk.

Solera method. While 70% of this Blanc de Blancs is from the 2015 vintage, the rest is from a perpetual reserve dating back to 1986. Straight out of Cuis in the Cote des Blancs. Two years on lees and disgorged in late 2018. The acidity is electric and the champagne is brawny in spots but never sheds it’s ballerina like poise. Extra Brut dosage with 2 g/l and the terroir speaks so clearly and honestly here.

Everything here is very clean and very precise. Minerality and salinity with a twist of lime initially. Creamy and inviting throughout, the fruit is lively. Terrific balance and depth with a long finish. A most harmonious champagne. — 4 years ago

Chip Habegger

9.3

Beautiful expression of the terroir and grape—so alive. Great acidity. Cherry and strawberry primarily. Medium-plus tannins. Chalky earthiness married to faint but heavy flowers—violet and hibiscus. The faintest whiff of cedar and tobacco hits as one drops the glass. — 4 years 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. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

These Pierre Gimonnet champagnes are always of the highest quality from the Côte des Blancs and with terrific prices. An original member of the Club Trésors de Champagne, the Special Club, and an easy buy, each and every time.

The color of starlight on a cloudless night. A surplus of tiny bubbles and persistent perlage throughout. A very clean and focused nose showcasing lemon peel, pears, and sea salt. Vanilla custard and pronounced smoke. Hazelnuts and freshly baked dough with a nice dose of spice. Apples of the green and red varieties.

Some love has to be shown to the labels. Classy metal front label and an ultra informative back label. Pure Chardonnay from the Grand Crus of Cramant (59%) and Chouilly (25%) with the rest coming from the Premier Cru terroir of Cuis. The acidity here is outrageous and highly focused, really beautiful. Very pure and creamy. Disgorged in December of 2019 with an Extra Brut dosage of 4 g/l.

Everything carries over to the palate. A very complex and harmonious champagne. Fresh and bold with more apples and spice. Strong minerality and yeast here. Long, enduring finish. This definitely lives up to the standards of Gimonnet and the Special Club. Don’t sleep on these 14’s, they’re alive and kicking. — 4 years ago

Fredybeans

9.4

Robe jaune soutenue
Nez somptueux avec du beurre de al noisette fraîche
Bouche précise longue
Manque juste un terroir plus noble pour la profondeur
Très belle tenue à l air — 4 years ago