Château La Vallée
Marc Hébrart
Special Club Brut 1er Cru Champagne Blend 2018
This is the 2018 Marc Hébrart Brut ‘Special Club’ – a beautiful bottle of vintage bubbles hailing from a collection of premier and grand cru sites in the Marne and Montagne de Reims regions of Champagne, France.
When you see “Special Club” on the label of a bottle with this distinctive shape, you’re dealing with essentially a prestige cuvée of a grower-producer who’s a member of the “Club Trésors.”
Marc Hébrart joined the Club Trésors in 1985, which is an association of quality-minded grower-producers. Grower-producers operate differently than the big champagne houses (e.g., Veuve-Clicquot) in that they are smaller-scale vignerons who own the entire production process from the vineyard to the winery and cellar.
They have helped raise awareness and appreciation of artisanal champagne wines that speak to a sense of place and personality, unobscured by extensive, widespread blending.
To achieve the status of “Special Club” a wine must undergo a rigorous application process and meet minimum quality metrics culminating with in two blind tasting panels – the first tasting evaluates the base wine after the first fermentation; the second and final tasting occurs after a minimum of three years aging sur lie.
From our studies we’ve learned the 2018 vintage bore above-average fruit; the warm and dry summer paved the way for a riper expression in an otherwise marginal climate. This wine is made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.
The bouquet has a medium (+) intensity of yellow and green apple, lemon zest, white peach, gardenia, almond biscotti, nougat, pastry, biscuit, and toast notes. The palate is creamy with vibrant acidity, adding lift, a fine-beaded, persistent mousse and long, elegant finish.
— 3 months ago
Philipponnat
Clos des Goisses Brut Champagne Blend
Again slightly deeper colour . Quite rich and ripe on the nose with brioche , baked apple , lemon peel , touch of honeysuckle. On the palate more baked apple , lemon peel , ginger . Quite rich and decadent almost , but balanced acidity , creamy texture . Buttered pastry and lemon tart . Good ginger tinged finish . This will need more time than the Leon , quite dense and rich . Better in 5-8 years and will last well a further 10 — 25 days ago
Gonet-Médeville
Brut Blanc de Noirs 1er Cru Pinot Noir Champagne
Bright acidity up front. Followed by honey and crisp red apple. A touch of raspberry. Complete yeasty brioche finish. — 25 days ago
Jérôme Prévost
La Closerie Fac-simile Extra Brut Pinot Meunier Rosé Champagne 2018
Absolutely worth the hype. One of the best grower roses. Ripe strawberry, wild herbs, Swiss chard. — 3 months ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend Rosé 2008
#AgedWineTuesday
HURRICANE PARTY
Pale salmon in color.
Light nose of citrus, strawberries, earth, light herbs and minerals.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and small bubbles.
Dry on the palate with raspberries, light cherries, limes, green apples, light grapefruits, minerals and herbs.
Long finish with limes and light almonds.
This is a delicious Rosé Champagne. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.
This 16 year old is showing nice complexity at this point. Feels still young and very fresh. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
I've had this vintage a few times before, and it is very consistent.
A delicious Champagne that’s perfect for sipping on its own. Will also pair nicely with fresh seafood.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$400. — 2 months ago
Sipping Fine Wine
In 1829, Champagne Bollinger introduced an instantly recognizable, dry, toasty style that has been coveted ever since. Six generations of the Bollinger family have maintained that trademark style, and still owned and managed by the same family since it was founded. Gold color with a nose of fruit and baking spices. On the palate apple and peach, toasty notes with great bubble flow. Long crisp finish ending with yeasty mineral tones. Nice! — 17 days ago