Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale to mid Ruby. A sooty earthy savoury red fruited note with raspberry and new leather. The palate is reserved yet with M+ intensity. Delicate yet assertive. Still very fresh for its age. Elegant with enough palate weight to make it totally enjoyable. Benjamin Leroux was the winemaker who has gone on to more accolades with his own label. Jasper Morris thought that this was the best wine made by Benjamin Leroux during his 14 year tenure at Domaine du Comte Armand. Would go on for several more years if you were lucky enough to be holding some. Pommard is another commune which has no Grand Crus but this must be one of the best Premier Crus. I concur with Jasper Morris MW when he had a bottle of this very wine with friends when he said “we were very sad to finish the bottle “. My son Hugh bought this wine for me from Sotheby’s NY in December 2013 and brought it home in his luggage for Christmas that year and I am so glad he did. This is one of the 1001 Wines. — 19 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.8

Armand de Brignac “Gold” Brut – NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A prestige multi-vintage Champagne, composed of three distinct vintages sourced exclusively from estate-owned Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses, and Ludes. Blend composition; 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier.

Handcrafted in small batches, this cuvée exemplifies depth, polish, and harmony, a benchmark luxury Champagne that delivers substance beyond the spectacle. Dosage is kept discreet, allowing purity, texture, and natural vinosity to shine.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, and baked quince lead the nose, followed by brioche, toasted hazelnut, almond cream, and hints of citrus oil. Subtle honeyed notes and chalky minerality add impressive aromatic layering.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet energetic. The mousse is fine and persistent, framing a palate that is both rich and precise. Chardonnay provides lift and elegance, Pinot Noir adds structure and depth, while Pinot Meunier rounds the mid-palate. Long, polished finish, lingering but never heavy or fatiguing.

Food Pairings
Caviar, lobster with beurre blanc, sashimi, truffled poultry, aged Comté, or simply on its own as a statement aperitif.

Verdict
A spectacular Champagne that justifies its prestige. Complex, impeccably balanced, and deeply satisfying, the Gold Brut delivers true luxury through craftsmanship and terroir, not excess.

Did You Know?
Armand de Brignac is produced by the Cattier family, whose Champagne lineage dates back to 1763. Unlike many prestige cuvées, the Gold Brut is crafted from 100% estate fruit, with each bottle riddled, disgorged, and finished by hand , a rarity at this scale.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of the most delicious Champagnes tasted recently, memorable and worth the investment. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2002 vintage. Opened with a Durand. Cork in pristine shape. Not decanted. Dark color but airy nose and light-medium body. Like just forming or disintegrating fog, really difficult to get a cohesive grip on a slippery palate. Ethereality to a fault. Hints, glimpses, scents, tastes of greatness but never just enough to remain confident in your rating. And, I suppose, that is exactly where the greatness of this wine lies. A tortured, maddening encounter that leaves you befuddled and asking yourself if it was your fault or not. 2.27.26. — 7 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2003 vintage. Opened (not decanted) and tasted after 1 hour and 3 hours. Perfect cork and fill. Immediate, perfumed nose upon the open as it couldn't wait to escape. Light-medium/medium body. A quiet, simmering intensity throughout. First tastes invited the pretty, berry flavors. Last tastes emphasized delicate tea and earth influences. Feel like another 5-spot might just find it tickling the top of the bell curve. Still climbing currently. 1.23.26. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Armand de Brignac “Rosé” Brut – NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A prestige multi-vintage Rosé Champagne crafted from estate-owned vineyards in the Montagne de Reims, including Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses, and Ludes. Blend composition; predominantly Pinot Noir, supported by Chardonnay and a smaller proportion of Pinot Meunier, with a measured addition of still red Pinot Noir wine to achieve its delicate rosé hue. Produced in small batches, this cuvée emphasizes finesse, purity, and subtlety rather than power.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh wild strawberry, raspberry, and red cherry glide out gently, followed by rose petal, citrus zest, and faint brioche notes. The fruit profile is precise and lifted, with a quiet chalky undertone and restrained pastry character.

Mouthfeel
Exceptionally delicate and refined. The mousse is fine and silky, with bright acidity carrying the wine effortlessly across the palate. Light-bodied for Champagne, elegant and poised, finishing clean and graceful without weight or richness.

Food Pairings
Tuna tartare, salmon sashimi, shellfish, light charcuterie, soft cheeses, or as an elegant aperitif in good company.

Verdict
Not my preferred Champagne style, but undeniably well executed. Subtle, polished, and extremely delicate, this Rosé delivers finesse over intensity and proves its quality through balance and restraint.

Did You Know?
Armand de Brignac Rosé is assembled using multiple vintages and finished with the traditional Champagne method, with each bottle completed by hand, a rarity among luxury Champagne brands.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A memorable experience enjoyed with friends, especially alongside the Gold Brut from the same house, a beautiful contrast of delicacy versus depth. — 3 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Gonzalo @modern — 5 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby , garnet rim. Quite open and fruit driven nose , cherry , strawberry , earthy porcini. On the palate this is still quite fruit driven red cherry , raspberry , velvety mouthfeel and rounded tannin , fresh acidity, good length. Quite intense with quite primary , fruit forward , cherry , raspberry . Well balanced and fresh . Though really enjoyable will probably improve over the next 5-8 years . At Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud , Dublin , 22nd January 2026 — a month ago

Jocholla

9.4

Perfect sip to follow caviar, kettle chips and crème fraiche. Little pricey but worth a splurge every now and again. Bright fruit, elegant tiny bubbles, impressive package obviously but there’s more than just marketing here. — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Pair of 12’s with the Rousseau showing more finesse & floral than the Roumier that will need more time — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Drinking well showing red cherry, berry, earth, spice & floral notes — 4 months ago