Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hour. The 2009 pours a deep, slightly dull ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with beguiling notes of strawberry, raspberry, dried red flowers, sous bois, mushroom, licorice, dried green herbs, and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Despite the power of the vintage, this is impressively balanced and only seemed to gain energy as time went on. Drink now with patience through 2059. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷

Overview
This distinguished cuvée from the esteemed family-run house (est. 1818) earns its name “Sous Bois” (“under wood”) by being fully vinified and aged in oak barrels. The blend features ~34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 33% Pinot Meunier—a balanced trio that brings both richness and finesse. The oak elevates its texture, resulting in a strikingly layered and structured Champagne that’s a step above the usual non-vintage Brut. 

Aromas & Flavors
Lively orchard fruit like pear, green apple, and citrus mingle with decadent notes of brioche, roasted nuts, vanilla, and a tertiary spice layer from the oak. A mineral undertone provides brightness underneath the creamy, toasty character.  

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet refined, with a fine and lingering mousse. The palate feels velvety and textured, balanced by bright acidity and a satisfying, mineral-driven finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Fermentation and aging are conducted entirely in oak barrels at cool temperatures. A portion of the wine includes reserve wines, which contribute depth and consistency. Lees aging ranges from 6 to 7 years. No malolactic fermentation in most lots, preserving freshness and clarity.   

Food Pairing
A versatile and luxurious Champagne—ideal with roasted poultry, creamy shellfish dishes (think lobster or scallops), and earthy mushroom preparations. Works elegantly as both an aperitif and a gastronomic accompaniment.

Verdict
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois NV is a masterclass in barrel-fermented Champagne. It blends textural richness with precision and finesse—bold yet balanced, complex yet harmonious. A standout choice when you want something unforgettable and elegant. — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Semi transparent Ruby red. Aromatics of dried rose petals and violets with Sous Bois. Profound flavour intensity with savoury red cherry. Burgundian overtones. The Langtons Classification adopted Main Ridge as a top Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir many years ago - almost the original. Oak is in balance and doesn’t intrude. A very good Pinot, and probably a point or two behind their premium Cuvée, The Half Acre. Had the last one on 30/5/25. Good but not great. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Gnarly dark fruit with dried herb undertow, leather, black pepper, a bit of tar and savory fruit. Old school. Drinking well — 5 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Not bad, worth buying 3

Burghound 93
Review Date: 10/2025
Read All Reviews
(this is only released after 10 years of bottle aging). A fully mature, exotic and somewhat honeyed nose displays full-on secondary aromas of spice and ripe white-fleshed fruit but no sous-bois. The delicious, rich and full-bodied flavors are a combination of succulence and power while displaying excellent length on the clean, dry and complex finale. This is exceptionally good and especially so for the vintage.

Vinous 93
Review Date: 08/2025
The 2015 Pouilly-Fuissé Grand Beauregard Hommage à Joseph Burrier is a special cuvée, a selection of the best dozen or so casks, aged two years in cask, one year in stainless steel and seven years in bottle. It has a lucid green-gold hue and a very Côte d'Or-like bouquet that you might liken to a Chassagne-Montrachet—very well defined with scents of lime, yellow flowers and later a touch of clear honey. The palate is lightly spiced on the entry with a dab of stem ginger, tangy with marmalade and sour lemon. Slightly petrolly towards the finish like a mature Riesling with noble reduction, this is a fascinating late-release that will give pleasure over many years.(NM) — 5 months ago

Sagee Aran

9.1

A Golden Chardonnay. Oak noticed, full body with apple strudel notes. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a pretty ruby color with a transparent core and maybe some slight rim variation. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. No obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, developing with strawberries, raspberries, mushrooms, sous bois and soft baking spices. Delicate. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Finish is medium+. Lovely and quite elegant. I called Bourgogne Rouge from a great producer but it was 2012 Raphet “Clos Vougeot”. Oooop. Drinking well now with some secondary characteristics just beginning to show. Drink through 2032.
— 2 years ago

Doug Powers

9.5

There is some evident oak up front in this Cuvée Felix, lots of fresh, clean red-fruited Grenache which is less ripe than the 2015 CdP opened with this, some mineral and floral notes as well, very good balancing acidity which keeps the wine youthful (it really seems like a 10-year-old CdP), I’d say it will improve for 5 years and easily last 10 more years, but the long, lively finish means it’s drinking very well tonight!! Purchased at the domaine in early 2007. — 5 months ago

with Jim

Jason Sliwa

8.9

I may have inadvertently aged this too long. Diminished fruit, high acid. — 9 months ago

Yan Gagnon

9.0

Présentation: Ce Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2021 de Fattoria Le Pupille est l'expression parfaite du terroir toscan de la Maremme. Produit principalement à partir de Sangiovese (appelé localement Morellino), ce vin reflète l'expertise et la passion de cette propriété emblématique dirigée par Elisabetta Geppetti. Dégustation: Visuel : Robe rubis profond aux reflets grenat, brillante et limpide, avec une belle concentration. Nez : Bouquet intense et complexe, mêlant des arômes de cerises noires, de mûres et de prunes, accompagnés de notes d'épices (poivre noir, clou de girofle), de tabac et d'une légère touche balsamique. Des nuances subtiles de sous-bois et de cuir apparaissent à l'aération. Bouche : Attaque franche et généreuse, dévoilant un bel équilibre entre une structure tannique élégante et une acidité vivifiante caractéristique du Sangiovese. Le milieu de bouche révèle des saveurs de fruits rouges et noirs bien mûrs, rehaussées par des notes d'herbes méditerranéennes et d'épices douces. La finale est longue, harmonieuse et légèrement minérale. Note personnelle: Je suis particulièrement impatient(e) de pouvoir déguster le Saffredi, autre cuvée prestigieuse de Fattoria Le Pupille. Ce vin d'exception, considéré comme l'un des Super Toscans les plus remarquables, promet une expérience gustative encore plus intense et complexe que ce magnifique Morellino di Scansano Riserva. — a year ago