Champagne Blend
Moussé Fils
L'or D'eugene Brut Blanc de Noirs
More Meunier magic from Moussé. Tasted blind, you probably would not peg this as an entry level bottle. Pure gold with attractive perlage. Straight chalk and minerality on the nose immediately. Orchard fruit and black cherries along with lime slices. A nice touch of soil makes this absolutely sing.
Perpetual reserve. Half of the blend is from a reserve that goes back to 2003 giving it charm and character. 80% Meunier/20% Pinot Noir with a low dosage of 3.5 g/l from Cuisles. Organic and natural methods used. Malolactic fermentation is carried out.
Very pure and clean even with the earth notes. Elegant and sexy on the tongue. Racy acidity, energy, and such beautiful tension. More chalk and orchard fruits on the palate with a little yeast. Still incredibly young but it feels mature and thoughtful. Let this sit and really meditate over it. Beautiful. — 3 days ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Réserve Champagne Blend
Delicious after our first hot day. Need to buy more half bottles of their n/v Blanc.
Not sure where Delectable’s source for this cuvée is at $46. I paid just under $30 for a 375ml.
Beautiful mouthfeel/mousse. Sour lemons w/ hints of meringue, lime zest- candy, kiwi, pear, white peach/nectarine, understated notes of pineapple juice, beautiful, soft grey volcanics, edgy, soft chalkiness, yeast, soft, melted, salted caramel, white spice, sea spray, cream, spring flowers, jasmine, some yellow & white lilies excellent soft acidity with a smartly polished & well balanced finish lasting minutes. — 13 days ago
Pierre Gerbais
Grains de Celles Rosé
Just take a look at this color. So striking. So sexy. Nice perlage and cream. The nose is so crisp and fresh. Pears and lively red cherries alongside mangoes. Freshly baked bread aromas are very nice here, as well are the grapefruit and strawberry.
Yet another young hotshot champagne maker, Aurelien Gerbais from the Aube. A friend and neighbor of Cédric Bouchard and that’s all you need to know. 50/25/25 PN/CH/Pinot Blanc with an extra brut dosage of 3 g/l. The low dosage avoids the trap of being austere, but rather it’s an inviting and gracious Rosé. The addition of 10% Coteaux Champenois Pinot Noir gives it that beautifully sexy color and viscosity.
Dry with breathtaking acidity, the terroir really speaks here. The palate follows the nose with more summer berries and light yeast. So lovely, so sleek. Good sex in a bottle. If you see these, get them. — 15 days ago
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2007
I still remember the first time I drank a Cristal, when a friend popped open a bottle (that he bought duty-free on a trans-Atlantic flight) at his SoHo apartment some 20+ years ago. Wasn’t much of a wine drinker then, but how wine could taste this good?!
Though from a lesser grand vintage, the 07’ did not disappoint. The purity of the fruits and chalky minerality are second to none. Crystal clear acidity provide great tension throughout. Graceful textured full body.
58/42 PN/Ch. Disgorged in 2015. — 11 days ago
Ruinart
Brut Rosé Champagne Blend
Another go to n/v Rosé Champange because of quality & availability in 375’s. Although, most people think their recent price increases are unwarranted. In large part, I agree. They just haven’t passed my threshold.
Lots of strawberries, black cherries, blood orange, uncooked rhubarb, blackberries, peach, Rainer cherries, loads of white spice w/ heat, sea fossils, dry yeast, some bread dough, weighed, crispy, crunchy minerals, excellent, powdery chalkiness, red flowers & both pink & red rose, lively, crisp acidity, great length and balance with polished, ripe fruits and falling onto pronounced minerality on the long set.
The bottom photos tell you all you need to know as to why the region of Champange is so excellent. Not many places in the world have that kind of chalk & for me, that’s what makes them special. — 12 days ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Rosé Champagne Blend
It’s 1/2 bottle n/v Billecart evening.
This is a more appropriate color of rose for the Rosé color of this champagne.
My go to n/v Rosé Champange for a number of reasons…quality & 1/2 bottle availability are right up there.
Blood orange, black cherries, Rainer cherries, lean strawberries, pomegranate juice, hints of raw rhubarb, grainy, grippy, sharp chalkiness, crunchy volcanics, limestone, sea fossils, baguette crust, deep white spice, orange lilies, peach roses, excellent, lively acidity with a rich, well balanced smart finish that starts clean, ripe fruits falling onto perfect minerality. — 13 days ago
Vincent Couche
Millésime Extra Brut Champagne Blend
Nez de pommes, brioche et patisserie mais en finesse et modération tout la bouche avec des bulles assez fines et une belle fraîcheur, très bien pour le prix. 90-91
Nose of apples, pastry and brioche but with finesse and moderation just like the nice soft yet delicious palate, nice tight bubbles and good crisp acidity, great for the price. — 13 days ago
Willie Carter
A nice golden hue with a multitude of small bubbles. The nose features ample fresh fruits upon opening. Pineapple and lemon tarts. Green apples and subtle, pretty white flowers. Toasted Brie and roasted hazelnuts really take this to another level.
From Premier Cru vineyards in Trigny and aged an incredible 11 years on lees. 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Hand harvested and undergoes malolactic fermentation and disgorged in April 2020. The “magical vintage” of 2008 is well represented here.
There’s a constant creaminess here that is warm and inviting. Solid acidity throughout and very fresh. More tropical and citrus fruits to go with the stony minerality. Just a bit of toasted bread but it does say hello. Medium length finish with a hint of spice. Fun and definitely worth your time. — a day ago