Shay A

9.3

@Delectable Wine : This is Domaine Les Monts Fournois’s Vallée 75 Mois de Cave - Premier Cru NV de Luxe. I didn’t see it in the database.

From winemaker Juliette Alips (Louis Latour, GD Vajra, Louis Roederer), cousin of the Bereche brothers (who are helping consult).

I love any and all things by Bereche, so when this new producer became available to try, I bought this as well as the vintage Grand Cru Cramant (which I posted a month or two ago).

As the name suggests, this receives 75 months on the lees. Base 2015, disgorged Sept ‘22. Blend of Pinot Noir (70%), Chardonnay (20%), and Pinot Meunier (10%). What I enjoyed about this over the Cramant was how Bereche-like it was. Powerful, beautifully ripe, textural as expected from the extended lees contact. Spiced golden apple, Mirabelle, layers of ripe and exotic yellow fruit before channeling the darker red berry fruit. Kiss of toast and sea spray at the finish. Wears its 5.5g/l dosage really well. I enjoyed this quite a bit. 93+ — 6 months ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.6

Jeb 98 Waited the appropriate 3 hours after UPS delivery today,
Great nose, but definitely needs time, this will be great on Friday!
Reminds me of the 13 Bevan Syrah also from Bennet Valley,
I let that breath for 3 days
Winery notes

Syrah
The 2016 Judge Family Vineyard Syrah is sourced from the cold climate of the Bennett Valley of Sonoma. Meticulously farmed by Joe and Gail Judge, this rocky sloping vineyard planted on a mix of volcanic tufa, weathered stones, and clay, produces elegant and intensely aromatic Syrahs reminiscent of the great wines of Northern Rhone. Bennett Valley is a gently sloping elevated valley nestled between three mountain peaks in Sonoma County. Within the Sonoma Valley appellation

Sonoma Mountain and the Sonoma Coast, the well-drained mountain benchland soils combine with early morning fog and cool marine breezes to create ideal conditions for growing exceptional cool-climate varietals. The wine was cave aged in a combination of 78% used and 22% new French oak barrels for 20 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
100% Syrah -- Clones 877, 174, Estrella River
pH 3.79 Alcohol 14.2% TA 6.7 g/L
142 Cases Produced — 4 years ago

Charlie Evans

9.6

This was part of one of the more incredible things I’ve been apart of doing my job. A Bollinger R.D. Master Class with the chef de cave of the winery. Strictly Bolly R.D. designed to show the intricacies of champagne. Two ‘96 vintages, one disgorged 6 months prior, another disgorged 6 years prior. 3 different 2002 vintage R.D.’s with 3 different dosages, 2 of which were made specially for this class. One zero dosage, one at 3 g/l, and another at 8 g/l. 2004 vintage poured 15 mins apart to showcase how the wine shows differently when exposed to just a bit of air. Finally another 2004 bottled in magnum to show how the bottle size can affect the wine. A truly eye opening experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just stellar. — 5 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.5

Very light toasty nose with floral and lemony zest that make it mouthwatering and clean to the finish. Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir from 2017 vintage 48% reserve. Cave: June 2018, disgorged September 2019, dosage 5.6g/L TBL — 2 years ago

Dmitry Muzychak

9.2

Выпито с Абрамовым в L Angolo 11.09.20. Оченьвыдержанныц, с нотками копченого чернослива с приятным послевкусием , пинотаж. Понравилось. Мое. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Thought we’d try something new. Recommendation from the the Champange Buyer at K&L, Gary Westby.

The nose reveals; green & golden apple, apple cider, overripe pineapple juices, lime, lemon, kiwi, Bosc pear, understated, apricot liqueur notes, candy bar nougat, walnut skin, hazelnuts, bread dough, yeastiness, soft; chalkiness, sea fossils, grey minerals, yellow lilies, lilacs and spring flowers.

Green apple leaps onto to the palate followed by; golden apple, apple cider, overripe pineapple juices, lime, lemon meringue, cream, kiwi, Bosc pear, understated, apricot liqueur notes, delicate mousse, micro-micro bubbles, candy bar nougat, walnut skin, hazelnuts, bread dough, yeastiness, chalkiness is a little more gritty than the nose, sea fossils, grey minerals, soft, white spice with just a touch palate heat, yellow lilies, mixed greens, lilacs and spring flowers. The acidity is gentle & quite nice. The finish has nice finesse, well balanced, polished & persists minutes.

Smartly priced at $29.99. Buy it while it’s in, doesn’t last more than days.

Photos of; Gary Westby with the father-Daniel Thibault & son winemaking team, Daniel Thibault and a Marne vineyard vista.

Producer notes: Daniel Thibault, the chef-de-cave of Charles and Piper Heidsieck for over two decades. After inheriting two hectares of the family vines over 15 years ago, Thierry decided to produce his own champagne from them.

Champagne note: this is a blend of equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier from estate-grown fruit in the Western Valley of the Marne. — 4 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

Perfection after 2 hours. Insane!
@Bill Bender @Joe Lucca @Shawn R @David L — 6 years ago

with Joe, Christine and 2 others

Severn Goodwin

9.6

🎇🎉New Year's Eve 2020🎉🎇
❤️🍾Cheers to the Delectable Community🥂❤️

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
(Nelson Mandela)

Amount disgorged: 16,388 bottles in October 2008 - Dosage: 4g/l (No Reserve Wine)

Winery Notes:
"The 1990 Vintage is a blend of 17 different Crus, all classified as Grands and Premiers Crus.
Black grapes make up two thirds of the blend: 56% Pinot Noir, from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, and 11% Meunier, from the Premiers Crus in the west of the Montagne de Reims.
The blend is completed with 33% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and, to a lesser extent, from the Montagne de Reims." — 3 years ago

Fredybeans

9.2

Cabernet sauvignon de Loire. Donc de France
Robe noire
Nez thym laurier crème de cassis sauce soja
Bouche généreuse crémeuse mais dense finale gourmande
Finale sur la mûre écrasée avec cette note rustique mais noble
Très très beau vin nature et equilibre
Que les soit disant vignerons natures prennent de la graine et apprennent ce que nature veut dire

N est ce pas mr Bouju, mme Dumora et tant d autres .... restez humble et faites des vins stables
Curieusement ma cave est la Même pour toutes les bouteilles mais les votres finissent souvent à l évier — 4 years ago

Fredybeans

9.4

Robe noire
Nez fruit rouge épicé léger boisé mais qui a bien diminué avec l’aération viande
Bouche ample sur un gros fruit et finale dense fraîche presque fumée cendrée
Vin qui c est transformé avec 12 h d air car à l ouverture bouche et nez vulgaire porté par un boisé atroce
Gardez vos bouteilles en cave — 5 years ago