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.
— 2 months ago
#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. — a month ago
More weight than the last time I had it, getting better with age — 5 months ago
2019 disgorge, improved day 2 — 6 months ago
Lovely champagne with lemon cream, toast, green apple, and chalk. Paired with H.L. Mencken — 3 months ago
A killer NV entry level — 6 months ago
Fabio Franchella
Etwas in die jahre gekommen - prickeln nur noch dezent, präsente röstaromen, pfirsich, hauch aprikose und litschi. — 7 days ago