La Grande Closerie

Jérôme Prévost

La Closerie Fac-simile Extra Brut Pinot Meunier Rosé Champagne

Not sure if anyone’s noticed, but lately, my tasting notes here have been a little scarce. Not for lack of tasting - trust me, the bottles have been opened, the glasses filled, and my palate put to work. But so many have been uninspiring, fleeting, forgotten before the last sip. And then, boom! A bottle like this.

Popped in the morning, savored through the evening. Great at first, but by dinner, it had truly unfurled. The nose? Cherries, plums, warm spices, rose hips, pink peppercorn, chalk, and orange zest, with a whisper of apricot. The palate? Plush yet precise, broad yet focused. Biscuity richness and an electric minerality. A saline, vinous, full-bodied stunner that lingers impossibly long.

This just reaffirms what I think about this wine - one of the best pink expressions from Champagne, period.

NB: In my mind (and admittedly, limited experience), the best champagne rosé’s include:

Selosse Rosé - haven’t had it in ages, but many bottles had in the past have brought great joy.

Bouchard Enfer - honestly, my sample size is too small, but both times were really impressive; though it must be noted that my company then thought it was more intellectual than pleasurable (too phenolic and soft).

Bereche Remensis - best value rosé? Consistently delicious and complex.

I have heard from friends that the DP P2 and P3 rosé’s deserve to be high on any list. Hope to try them one day.
— 24 days ago

Peter, Scott@Mister and 15 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Aaron Tan have noticed…and been there. Of the rosés you listed, I have only had the Bérêche and I would agree.
Aaron Tan

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@Jay Kline I love the Remensis! Hope the prices remain modest. A friend added Doyard’s Oeil de Perdrix, which I’ve yet to try.
Jay Kline

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@Aaron Tan I have some Doyard in the cellar but not the “Œil de Perdrix”. Interestingly, I’ve had Jean Vesselle’s “Œil de Perdrix” in the last month and it was wonderful. But not on the same level as Remensis

Domaine Pascal Cotat

La Grande Côte Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc

This lovely glass of wine has transported me. With some Manchego, olives and bread at the Wine Bar at the San Francisco ferry depot. — 2 months ago

Bollinger

La Grande Année Brut Chardonnay - Pinot Noir Rosé Blend 1990

The label was in absolute tatters but all other signs appeared to be good with this bottle. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 1990 Grand Année Rosé pours a deep coral color with very little mousse that dissipates in the glass quickly. On the nose, this was funky initially so we tossed it in the decanter which freshened it up. After 30min, it was positively singing! Desiccated strawberry, crème brûlée, pink flowers, and fino sherry. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. This showed remarkable power which was so impressive. I can’t say I’ve ever had a Rosé with quite this amount of age but boy did it ever work. If anyone has any of these laying around; I might suggest giving it a splash in the decanter for 30min first. Drink now. — 13 days ago

Douglas, Jan and 10 others liked this

Vilmart & Cie

Grande Réserve 1er Cru Champagne Blend

Amazing small producer - delicate berries, just the right acid and tart, subtle minerals — a month ago

Ira liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvee 169ÈME Édition Brut Champagne Blend

Love 169 🤗 — a month ago

Tom, Paul and 3 others liked this

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

La Grande Dame Brut Champagne Blend 2015

couldn’t wait. happy new year! — 2 months ago

"Odedi", Ron and 4 others liked this

Krug

Grande Cuveé 167ÈME Édition Brut Champagne Blend

Was looking through my wine collection today finding things I knew and some that I had forgotten about. Too much Krug - I know - not possible. The 167s I thought I should begin to reduce and so here we are :) — 2 days ago

Ira and Tyler liked this

Gosset

Grande Réserve Brut Champagne Blend

Al Biernat’s $175, mineral, grapefruit great value — a month ago

Talley Vineyards

Rosemary's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

Ruby in color with a very wide reddish rim, and medium plus intensity.

Stinky nose (in a good way) that reminds me of Northern Rhône.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, currants, light oak, tobacco leaf, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, barnyard, bitter herbs, light vegetables, earth, black tea, and black pepper.

Long finish with fine-grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Pinot Noir from California is already drinking beautifully. Elegant and interesting. Fruit forward with a touch of Burgundy in style.

Well balanced with nice complexity, and a great mouthfeel.

Needs 90 minutes in the decanter to open up properly, so be patient.

The nose feels like Northern Rhône, while the palate feels like Burgundy. What an interesting Pinot Noir.

This Single Vineyard Pinot will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years and see how it evolves.

Good by itself or with food. A delicious sipping wine that I paired with cheeses and crackers.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged in (40% new) French Oak barrels for 16 months. Unfiltered, unfined and vegan. A small production of 7,350 bottles.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$95.
— 2 months ago

Doug, Bob and 14 others liked this