David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Happy holidays. 🎅🧑‍🎄 ☃️ 🎄 🎁 ❄️

This is delicious. When it first hits your palate, it’s like hey, woah. It is super soft, micro-micro oxygenation. Delicate mousse, some maltiness, red apple cider reduction, pear, lemon meringue, lime pulp, grapefruit, orange peel, tropical melon, ripe pineapple, saline, sea fossils, chalky powder with an edge as it sets, white spice-ginger, white pepper, love the perfect limestone powder, brioche, baguette, some dough & light yeast, orange blossoms, white, spring flowers, racy, crisp acidity, excellent tension, structure, balance with beautiful long finish that lingers 90-120 seconds. Certainly one of the best and different champagne I’ve had in some time.

This cuvée is 100% Chardonnay and comes from the villages of Cramant, Chouilly, and Cuis.

Special Club Champagne must be produced with grapes from outstanding vintages harvested from the estates own vineyards. The cuvée must also be estate bottled and aged. It is the tête de cuvée(the most premier bottle of a grower’s estate) selection for the Champagne house.

There were 12 founding members, three of which currently remain: Pierre Gimonnet, Gaston Chiquet and Paul Bara. New members come and go every year. As of 2021, there are 28 members.

The process to become a Special Club is as follows. The wines must pass two rigorous stages of selection. Before that happens, members gather each February to taste each other’s still wines from the previous vintage. The members vote on whether to declare a vintage year, which would mean that the vintage was outstanding, and worthy enough of a vintage-dated Champagne. The vote must be unanimous. — a year ago

Phil Kessling

9.0

Tart, crisp and so refreshing. Farm house cider at it’s absolute best. — 4 years ago

James Rogers

9.4

The best can’t wait to get back to the finger lakes to pick up more — 4 years ago

with Lindsay

Peg Hanssen

9.5

Amazing with ribs with Jones Bar-B-Q Coconut and Pineapple sauce. Founded in 2011 – tasting room at the Deer Lake Orchard in Buffalo, MN. Combines 5 local apple varieties with toasted French Oak. A favorite, made with the U of M’s 1946 star Chestnut Crabapple. Terrifically complex – offering scents as diverse as seawater, roses, and vanilla ice cream; leading to a dry finish. Hints of orchard honey and crisp apple come alive against a light sparkle and subtle tannings. 2016 Bronze Medal, Beverage Testing Institute’s World Cider Championships. This cider is approachable, balanced and delicious. — 4 years ago

David Walser

9.1

At our new find Thai restaurant in Casares, Costa del Sol, Spain for another visit trying a more expensive wine (19,90€ vs. 19,50€ for the house red) and enjoying this a bit more than the house wine. At Roi-Et-101 restaurant — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 4 years ago

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

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Congratulations to TB12 on going to his 14th Conference Championship.

The nose shows; more macerated green & golden apple, pineapple than usual. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, chalk, sea spray, roasted white spice, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale with withering lilies and some spring flowers.

The palate has softer mousse & less lively acidity than previous bottles. Still nice but, it’s giving cause to wonder when this bottle was disgorged. Macerated green & golden apple, yellow peach, pineapple juice. Touch of apple cider, bruised pear, some dried apricots, nougat, melted, salted caramel, alluvial limestone minerals, grey volcanics, gritty chalkiness, sea fossils, saline, roasted white spice, nuts, dry yeast, rising bread dough, baguette crust, ginger ale that has the high notes of root beer, vanillin with withering lilies and some spring flowers. The acidity is ok but, seems off a bit. Change in base wine for this bottling? The finish still rich, elegant, well balanced persisting minutes.

Bottle is off slightly from the many others we’ve enjoyed.

Photos of; the House of Bollinger, branded cave with resting bottles, their Cooper making barrels and one of their Grand Cru vineyards.

1/17/21 — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

First time experience with this producer.

The nose reveals, bruised; red & golden apple, Bosc pear, overripe stone fruit & pineapple, lemon meringue, touch cider, nougat, almonds, cream to cream soda, hints of melted white butter, melted golden brown sugar, vanillin, sea fossil, crumbled, grey volcanics, chalky power, bread dough to yeast, limestone, understated limestone minerals, spring flowers, jasmine & withering white lilies.

The mouthfeel is rich, lively with excellent mousse. Quite beautiful. Bruised; red & golden apple, Bosc pear, overripe stone fruit & pineapple, lemon meringue, touch cider, nougat, almonds, cream to cream soda & ginger ale, hints of melted white butter, melted golden brown sugar, vanillin, sea fossil, crumbled, grey volcanics, chalky power, bread dough to yeast, hints of coconut with shell, white spice with just the right amount of heat, limestone, understated limestone minerals, spring flowers, jasmine & withering white lilies. The acidity is excellent. The finish is; well balanced & polished, elegant & simply near perfect finish. She is excellent wire to wire.

This is for you if you enjoy a Champagne that leans more oxidative.

@Paul T- Huntington Beach The mid picture to the right is what is seriously lacking in Ultramarine’s.

Photos of; The Champagne House of Pierre Paillard, Antoine Paillard, the beautiful Chalkiness from their Les Maillerettes Vineyard that only Champange can really deliver & one of their Grand Cru Vineyards. — 4 years ago

with James and Christina

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. — 4 years ago