Kevin Mullally

9.0

Delicious. — 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The Grand Siècle 26 is a blend of the three best wines from 2007, 2008 & 2012. 65% from 2012, 25% from 2008 and 10% from 2007 and composed of 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir. They also cherry pick only the top of the steel tanks for this cuvée.

It flows juicy as it loads. Precision and focus. Incredibly creamy yet clean. Lemon, lime, green apple, both peaches, pineapple juice, green melon, faint caramel notes, cream, brioche, gram cracker crust, some bread dough, super fine delicate chalkiness & minerality, understated white spice at first and rises on your rooftop, field of spring flowers, perfect, rainfall acidity, well knitted, excellent structure, tension that is amazing yet understated, elegantly balanced and one of the best finishes one can know. It sings in the mouth. @ K&L Champagne tasting. — 5 months ago

Chris McCauley

9.2

Voted Best n the World this year and man, it’s sooo good! — 5 years ago

Kathryn McCarty

9.2

Excellent! Deep rich flavors! Bordeaux like quality! Very balanced. — 3 months ago

Sam Wood

9.2

Base blend time in oak really shows on the nose & is lovely. Seems like fairly high dosage and sugar lingers for a bit, but extremely good. — a year ago

Nick

9.0

Light n bright, kind of herbaceous on the finish and really refreshing. Red fruit ripe cherries, nice acid very balanced — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It is only for variety that I drink any other N/V Blanc de Blanc Grand Gru Champange. For just under $45, this is extremely hard to beat.

This is my style, primarily reductive with just the right amount of oxidative characteristics.

The nose is fresh & ripe with green & golden apple, very, ripe pineapple, mango, ripe green melon, lemon & lime zest, excellent white spice, cream brulee w/ burnt top, light, salted caramel, touch of fresh herbs, pronounced chalkiness, grey volcanics, sea fossils, saline, bread dough, baguette crust, limestone with spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine.

The palate is ripe, lush, lively & dazzling fresh. Shows gentle, beautiful mousse & micro oxygenation. Ripe with green & golden apple, very, ripe pineapple, mango, ripe green melon, lemon & lime zest, kiwi, grapefruit w/ a hint of sugar, white peach, honeycomb, excellent white spice with just the right even medium heat, cream brulee w/ burnt top, bruised Bosc pear, lemon meringue, vanilla bean, light, salted caramel, nougat, silvered almonds, touch of fresh herbs, pronounced chalkiness, grippy grey volcanics, sea fossils, saline, bread dough, baguette crust, limestone with spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine. The acidity is lively & simply perfect. The long, rich, well polished & balanced, finishes gently & persistently on the palate with soft spice in the long set.

If you can receive wine shipments from K&L Wine Merchants in SF, you owe it to yourself to order some bottles of this cuvée. They are the only retailer in the US Launois allows to rep their cuvées. Guarantee you won’t regret it.

Wine that bridges the palate from the end of white cheeses to vinaigrette salad.

Photos of, one of their Grand Cru Vineyards, House of Launois, two pics of their extensive Champagne tool & artifacts museum. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Finished the tasting with my go to N/V Rose’. Always get the creamsicle.

@K&L Rose’ Champagne tasting lead up to V-day. — 3 months ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.6

Hard to beat for the price,
K&L notes,

The pristine condition of this stunningly copper-colored brandy is inspiring - it's gorgeous. In the nose there are delicate fragrances of spice, sesame seed, light oak, and baked pears; seven more minutes in the glass bring out pineapple, light toffee, milk, and brown sugar. The palate entry is elegant, composed, and moderately sweet in more of an oaky than a fruity way; by the midpalate stage, there's flavor evidence of ripe pear, white grapes, cake frosting, Oloroso sherry, orange peel, and dark honey. End up sugary sweet, satiny textured, and long in the throat. 4 Stars - Highly Recommended - Spirit Journal - F. Paul Pacult 40% ABV
Related items click to collapse contents — 2 years ago

Daniel Bloom

8.9

Bordeaux raised up as old school Rioja.
25% Cab Franc, 25% Cab Sav, 30% Red Stem Merlot*, 20% Petit Verdot.
Very interesting indeed.
N: Dark chocolate, leather with buried cassis. On the nose it’s big, but it’s only 12.5°
P: Black Cherries, bitter chocolate, brambles, cassis, tiny blueberries, very refreshing acidity and well integrated tannins.
Here’s to the old/new world. — 3 years ago