Richard Lieu

10

From monvina.ca

Great smell of dark ripe fruits and liquorice, chocolate, leather.

Strong tannins, full bodied — 3 months ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

A rather rustic approach at first glance with reduction in the nose and a slightly deviant character that will fade after a long time of aeration. For the rest its a concentrated gamay (Côte du Py) natural trend, unfiltered, in the Foillard, Lapalu, Lapierre style etc. In a little less accomplished, even if it remains totally in my taste, this cuvée will not please as much as the names mentioned above for non-amateurs.

Un abord assez rustique de prime abord avec de la réduction au nez et un caractère légèrement déviant qui s’estompera après un long temps d’aération. Pour le reste c’est un gamay avec de la concentration (Côte du Py) tendance nature, non filtré, dans le style Foillard, Lapalu, Lapierre etc. En un peu moins abouti, même si ça reste totalement dans mes goûts, cette cuvée ne plaira pas autant que les noms cités ci-dessus au près des non amateurs. — 3 years ago

Carter White

9.0

Zippy and refreshing, tingly bubs. Could drink this all day. — 5 years ago

Brian S

9.6

Venus is a stellar no dosage champagne. Definitely worth seeking out.

A unique terroir
A Brut Nature champagne
Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
Vintage champagne

Always a vintage champagne, this cuvee comes from a single vineyard of 60 ares in AVIZE (Fosse aux pourceaux).
No heavy mechanical machines were used in the maintenance of this vineyard, which has solemnly been worked by man and by horse.
Vénus is the domain’s single vineyard emblem.
Bottled under cork.
Disgorged 2 months before the release date without dosage.
This cuvee is only available in bottle. — 5 years ago

with Ellie

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Nature Gamay of very good quality, in the spirit of Marcel Lapierre (his nephew has told me). At the same time greedy, accessible, and with a very beautiful aromatic density which unfolds especially when one gives the wine time to air out. Superb for its price.

Gamay nature de très bonne facture, dans l’esprit de Marcel Lapierre (son neveux m’a t’on dit). À la fois gourmand, accessible, et avec une très belle densité aromatique qui se déploie d’autant plus qu’on laisse au vin le temps de s’aérer. Superbe pour son prix. — 6 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Gamay nature. all in fruit. notes of red and black fruits. Explosive floral nose on notes of iris, peony, rose. Round and dense palate. Modern and ancestral wine at the same time. Requires 1 hour of ventilation to find your balance.

Gamay nature. tout en fruit. notes fruits rouges et noirs. Nez floral explosif sur des notes d’iris, pivoine, rose. Bouche ronde et dense. Vin moderne et ancestral en même temps. Nécessite 1 heure d’aération pour trouver son équilibre. — 6 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A stately medium straw color in the glass with tiny, fast paced bubbles. This is a rather intense cuvee. The nose gets the party started with toast and white flowers. A bit of citrus, a bit of red cherry. There’s an innate smokiness to the wine that permeates throughout. Very distinct, very appealing. Very sexy.

100% Pinot Meunier from Montagne de Reims. This is an exciting champagne, so full of personality and character. Quite dry and complex, even at this young age. That youthful vigor is in full force here though without many of the problems other young champagnes have that cause them to be clunky or awkward.

A plethora of apples on the palate with more cherries. A touch of blue fruits and more yeast on the tongue. The smoky nature is still prevalent here and on the long finish. Unique and beautiful, this was a pleasure. — 2 years ago

Blas Jodar

9.5

Punt afruitat per sec. Final suau, no agre. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Black fruits expression of the gamay, foreshadowing the North Rhône’s Syrah. Many juicy shades of fruit including black cherry, blackberries, licorice, pepper, flower nuances, marked acidity. Still fits very well even at D+4. Very nice product, nature style

Expression très fruits noirs du gamay, préfigurant les syrah du Rhône Nord. Beaucoup de nuances juteuses de fruits dont cerise noire, mûres, réglisse, poivre, acidité marquée. Se tient encore très bien même à J+4. Très beau produit. — 4 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Tasted over 4 hours, this wine really needs time to deploy and give its measure. First nose close to a Syrah from the northern Rhône with notes of black fruits and smoky bacon. At the beginning of the tasting we appreciated this beautiful mineral grid that gives a beautiful conduction to the tasting... then the tannins unfold end up with a lot of breadth, coated, powerful... a wine that is apparently unfiltered, with a somewhat natural character, which gives it a magnificent texture in the mouth.

Dégusté sur 4 heures, ce vin a vraiment besoin de temps pour se déployer et donner sa mesure. Premier nez proche d’une Syrah du Rhône nord avec des notes fruits noirs et lardées fumées. En début de dégustation on a apprécié cette belle trame minérale qui donne une belle conduction à la dégustation... puis les tanins se déploient finissent avec pas mal d’ampleur, enrobés, puissants.. un vin à priori non filtré, avec un caractère un peu nature, qui lui donne une magnifique texture en bouche. — 5 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.2

Really great sparkler. Tons of acid and some tropical fruit, citrus, tart green apples really shine, but just enough body to give it some balance. This is clearly all about the acidity though. I could see how some would not enjoy that part of this wine. — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

One of, if not, the best Crozes. Dark and red berry fruit on the brooding nose. Granite and sappy olives. Really expansive and clean. The top cuvee of 3 Crozes at Darnaud from the oldest vines. Layered, elegant nose. Truly elite. Palate is juicy and so balanced with sleek red and black berry and cherry fruits. Succulent. Dense and chewy but super energetic. Awesome concentration and power. Amazing tannins pumping juicy pure fruit to the super mineral and olivey finish. Young and can only improve.

Greatly improved overnight. 9.5 to 9.6. Amazing elegant wine with just unreal granite infused dark fruit and so pure and balanced. This is one of the finest Crozes I’ve ever had. — 6 years ago

Katerina

9.5

Cuvee Louis, brut nature, NV. Cuvee of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (50/50) from 1996 through 2000, bottled in May 2001 and degorged in November 2016. Raisins, little honey, exotic fruit, brioche on the nose and also tasted. Middle-full body, matured. Still nice acidity, juicy and potential for further maturing. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

LOVE the new Vintage Brut Nature Cuvee. — 3 years ago

Mark S.

8.9

100% Munie. Natural wine. Aroma. Sour. Emilien Feneuil Cuvee Totum Brut Nature Champagne Blend @, Picco Enoteca, 230729 — 3 years ago

Peter Zandbergen

9.3

Cuvee Le Présent, an equal blend of the three regular champagne varietals. — 3 years ago

with Elise

Willie Carter

8.9

California meets the South of France and nothing but good things happen. A violet and light ruby color in the glass with a nose that could easily transport you to the Old World. Cherries and cranberries up top with jasmine saying a quick hello. Umami and woodland forest goodness. Baking spice with a hint of sage and rosemary. Some really wonderful vegetal aromas that really take this to another level. Such a fun and interesting start.

Crunchy, playful, and as bright as the day is long. Partial carbonic maceration and light bodied with low alcohol, thankfully. This is a really energetic and focused wine with that herbaceous nature really coming to the fore after more time in the glass. So incredibly lively throughout, there’s nothing heavy or plodding here. The palate excites with more strawberries and forest notes. All kinds of delicious herbs going on here for days. Just ridiculously good. Served this chilled and really, serve it anytime for anyone. Let the fun commence. — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

New tete de cuvee from Caillez Lemaire and their new highest end bottling. And it is STUNNING. The nose jumps out of the glass with all types of screaming minerals and wet earth. Spice. Green apple. Endless complexity. Sickness. It’s wafting and so so aromatic. Super yeasty. A nose that is dripping with character. Herbs as well. So so deep. Just an insane nose. 9.6. Only open 5-8 minutes and it’s changed 5-6 times. Sickness. Virginia was “hoping” I would like it. I wish I could be even as half as humble as her! Wow. That palate has flavor! Flava in my ear as the acid gets to my ear. RIP Craig Mack. Anyway this is bananas. Amazing sap and power. So sappy. Concentrated and so pure. Painfully intense. Wow, huge spice on the finish. So fresh and precise and wow is this long. What palate presence. Nose gets tons of saline and iodine and the palate develops a mineral sweetness that is stunning. Wow. This is sick. The palate presence of great BDB cannot be denied. A masterpiece. — 5 years ago

Greg Shearer

9.0

Blend of Sylvaner and Gerwurztraminer by the litre, juicy with citrus and melon. — 6 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

NV cuvee with zero dosage. Good effort! Playful acidity, refinement, lively wine. 100% pinot meunier. — 8 years ago