Donald Williams

9.4

Champ Persin Brut. Marvelous. — 8 months ago

with Bonnie

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

For $35 at the Benchmark Bin Sale I’m happy.

Reductive in style with shades of oxidative. Golden apple, bruised pear, apple cider notes, lemon & lime citrus, green melon, some pineapple juice, ginger, crumbled chalkiness, limestone, saline, sea fossils, baguette crust, yellow lilies, white flowers w/mixed greens. Good acidity with a nicely balanced finish.

Visited the property in October 2022 and it is impressive. The walk through the Clos de Goisses vineyard was spectacular. Ate two bunches of the unpicked Pinot Noir, which only furthered the reason I can no longer eat table grapes. As well, the view of the Cote de Blancs from there is stunning! — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

With New Years around the corner, grab something nice for 2022. Made with 100% Pinot Noir from 10 different "crus " (or villages), from the North & South areas of the Montagne de Reims, as well as the famous Cote de Bouzy. Deep salmon pink with full aromas of berry fruit and citrus mineral notes wrapped in a delicate fine mousse. On the palate flavors of raspberry and strawberry, bright acidity with spicy notes and orange zest. Long silky finish, ending with earthy yeasty mineral character. — 3 years ago

Aravind A

9.5

Disg 28 Jan 2016. Lovely nose, and totally cote de blanc chard: lemon, lime, vanilla, mineral notes. On the palate: stunning acidity, more lemon, lime, vanilla custard, and lemon oil and stone finish. Soft mousse, and lovely density. Fantastic. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Haven’t sipped this in quite awhile. 375ml to refresh my palate memory.

40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier. Varietals fermented separately in stainless steel vats. 5 to 10% of wine is vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels.

Texture is round and elegant. The fruits are; both peach, mango, apricots, slightly oxidative white citrus-lime hovers the edges & pineapple juice. Nougat, marzipan, toasted nuts, brioche, saline, crushed chalk, white spice that presses into the palate, notes of cheese cloth, limestone marl, moist, pulpy, grey volcanic minerals, yellow lilies with spring white flowers, jasmine blooms, round, soft acidy and a well; balanced, structured & tensioned finish that lands squarely on mid minerality and lasts 90 seconds.

Photos; Charles Heidsieck signage, Charles Heidsieck, chalky tasting area in their cellar and Cote de Blanc vineyard. — 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

100% Chardonnay sourced from the Cote de Sezanne just south of the Cote des Blancs, the Hugues de Coulmet is single vintage cuvee that spends 24 months sur lie prior to release. Pale straw lemon color with frothy mousse and lively bead of bubbles. A nose of fresh fruit with yeast, nutty notes and floral scents. On the palate flavors of peach, berry and citrus flavors with biscuit tones. Nice balance with acidity, delicate textures, medium+ finish ending creamy with toasty oak and chalky mineral character. — 2 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.3

As we begin to return to dining out, it’s such a pleasure to have a nice bottle of wine outside on a warm day in San Francisco. My friend wanted some good Champagne, so I opted for a reasonably affordable bottle from one of my favorite producers. This is a non-vintage blend of 1-3 years worth of wines from several plots of Chardonnay that Pascal Agrapart farms organically around the Cote des Blancs. It has wonderfully crisp character and a nice unripe apple and pear quality along with its stony, cistern-like minerality and a faint saline note at the end. Mouthwatering and beautifully filigreed. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

2008 doesn’t disappoint. My other bottles will lay down for another 5 years plus.

It is fresh, lush, rich with great o2. The flavors burst onto the palate. Bruised apple, Bosc pear, ginger ale to ginger, cream soda, cream, lemon, lime, orange citrus, biscuit, yeasty, limestone, chalk, saline, baguette crust, yellow & white florals, the acidity is outstanding. The finish is well balanced, structured, big structure and lasts two-minutes.

Pictures of my October visit Philipponnat. Pano from their Clos de Goisses of the beautiful Cote de Blancs, upward look at their Clos de Goisses, Clos de Goisses signage as you walk up to that vineyard and their cellar.

Really good w/ Himalaya Pink Salt Popcorn!!! — a year ago

Gio Pop

10

Oaky, weighty, strawberry — 3 years ago

Philip Dobrin

9.1

I’m in the minority it seems in preferring the cote faron — 4 years ago