Tracy Hall

9.5

Balanced not sweet go to rose. There is a light toasty nose that translates to more serious flavors in the mouth and finish. Red fruit and strawberries. Sigh — 4 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy Spring! It’s one of our favorite points in the year. More; daylight, a little warmer in CA and everything starts to bloom which, means a long summer of gardening and being outdoors every day/night is not far off.

Since it was such a great day and basically most Californians are shut-Ins, the voluntary self quarantining was getting to me. I did the landscaping and got an afternoon of fresh air today. A breath of fresh air...ahhh! Wow, was it needed after Gavin’s Newsom’s estimate of 25.5 million Californians would be infected with Coronavirus over 8 weeks yesterday.

So, a good night to celebrate another day of being virus free with my 2nd favorite N/V Rosé Champagne.

All my numerous previous notes apply.

Stay safe everyone and remember the new terminology of the new decade...social distancing! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Photos of; Spring in our backyard & a Billecart Grand Cru Vineyard.

— 20 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Light amber with a bouquet of stone fruits with citrus notes and yeasty tones. Plenty of bubbles dancing in the flute. Crisp and fresh, mineral, white flesh fruit, citrus well balanced with acidity. Lingering finish with zesty ending. Nice Grand Cru. Tasting Sample. — 3 days ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

Should quarantine force me to eat pizza parlor offerings nightly? Maybe not but I’ve tasted Rotari before and was excited for a reason to get into another bottle which, spoiler, does well with well Parmesan/garlic infused quick pizza parlor orders. I mean it would be great in many places methinks but right now we are all either ordering in or cooking so...really thought this went well with some seasoned bread stuff. Wet stones, and cherry and peach yogurt and some lemon curd on the nose. Ripping acid. Abv were I to guess is...13 and it is, lemme see...12.5. They say lolz. I should make this review more amusing maybe? Or is this the time we all just need to exchange virtual hugs and carry on. I miss hugs. — 7 days ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

Happy Anniversary to my dear wife!!! 25 years together..... — 10 days 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. — 13 days ago

Michael Herzog

9.3

Love this linear, focused Rosé. It never disappoints. I love these Extra Bruts. Drank with some pasta and blistered tomatoes and it was a great pairing, but just a great night with parents and social distancing on the porch. I’ll keep going back to this well. — 12 days ago

with Judy

Matthew Cohen

9.2

75 bdb 25 Bdn.

On open nose is yeasty. A hint of lemon zest. pretty. A hint of candied lemon peel.

Palate - wow. Deliciously lemon fruit that is so good it’s almost sweet even though it’s brut. Some nice minerality. Extremely high on the deliciousness scale.

Long lemony finish. Some lemon peel. — 4 days ago

Tracy Hall

9.4

If you like your rose a little more serious and a less sweet, then you’ll love this. The nose is of red berries but the flavors in the mouth are not sweet, a nice toast lifted by a balanced amount of acid. Definitely would pair well with spicy or rich food. TBL — 10 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Have had odd glasses of La Grande Dame but this is the first time I have shared a bottle with the better half and we were both mightily impressed. A veritable effervescent cloud of ultra fine bubbles. Yeasty aromas of Vegemite and fresh bread - some green Apple notes (aldehydes?). Lemony and grapefruit flavours on the palate with a silky texture. Very fresh at 16 years of age with intensity. Fine and subtle yet full bodied and intense - quite beguiling. The epitome of fine champagne. Will definitely buy the 2008 La Grande Dame. — 14 days ago