Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Eric Rodez spent his formative years at Krug. This is an 9th generation family that has 9 hectares of Grand Cru vines in the village of Ambonnay that are Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.. Their vineyards are certified biodynamic and utilize highly sustainable practices. Eric, his wife Martine and their son Mickael operate the Domaine.

It is a spectacular cuvée from the moment you raise the glass to your nose. It is almost hypnotic. You feel the evanescence twirl into your nostrils. Lime with skin, kiwi, green & golden apple, lemon, underripe pineapple, green melon, white peach, sea foam, chalk powder, caramel, frothy cream, vanillin, delicate volcanics, dry limestone, lightly yeasty bread dough, some dry twig to barrel dust, white, yellow & spring flowers framed in blooming jasmine.

The mousse is soft, elegant and rich. Ripe; lime with skin, kiwi, green & golden apple, lemon, underripe pineapple, green melon, white peach, sea foam to spray, nice salinity, chalk powder, caramel, frothy cream, sea fossil dust, vanillin, hues of butterscotch candy, dry volcanics bits, white spice w/ a hint of palate heat, dry limestone, lightly yeasty bread dough to baguette crust, some dry twig to barrel dust, beautiful, delicate but zesty acidity, white, yellow & spring flowers framed in blooming jasmine with balance & length for days, perfect tension & structure-not too much or too little with elegance & beauty that lasts two-minutes and lands on delicate minerality.

Some additional cellaring, 94.

Bottled Spring 2021. Launch2024. 100% Chardonnay.
Vintages in the blend: 2020 - 28%, 2019 - 14%, 2018 - 24%, Previous vintages - 34%. Vinification: 15% in tanks and 85% in barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation. Blended with 90% reserve wine that did not undergo malolactic fermentation. 1.5g dosage. — 23 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. 100% Chardonnay pale straw color with aromas of stone fruits, floral and citrus notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, peach and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a long finish ending with a yeasty creamy character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Alan Weinberg

9.1

first time w this relatively new kid. Son of P-Y? Came out of the gate pretty pricey, as did Alvina Pernot. Guess you don’t need to earn your stripes now. But it’s a darned good wine. Minerals from front to back. Acid. A touch of lemon for fruits. Reminded son in law of Muscadet. But denser and no saline. Good stuff. — 3 years ago

Boris

9.0

At last had my chance to taste the new release of Ben Ryé, Son of the Wind, that roams on a small island of Pantelleria. Rich bouquet of dried apricots, raisins, orange peel, caramel notes, field flowers. Fresh, despite the sweetness, oily texture and simply tasty. Paired with lemon tart and it was magnificent.

Tasted on 2021-08-31 — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

From one of the relatively unknown and elite producers in Burgundy and a close friend of the illustrious Jean François Coche’s son, Raphael. Even this Bourgogne Blanc comes from old vines in Meursault which clearly evident in the wine. Vibrant energy and acidity intertwines with lemon curd, hazelnuts, a pixelated minerality and a striking intensity. Maybe lacking the depth and length of premier cru burgs, but what a tremendous entry level Bourgogne this is and a true over performer. — 6 years ago

Sean Lyons

9.2

Absolutely what you want from an Aussie Shiraz. Huge fruit right up front and on the long finish - blackberries, currants, cherries, lemon curd. Some nice oaky notes in the middle. A little on the flabby side, but that comes with the territory. Drinkable now with decanting, might be better in a year or so, but not much longer. — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

2015 ‘Buisson Renard’ by Didier Dagueneau, is a spectacular effort. Now headed by Didier’s son, Louis-Benjamin, Dagueneau wines continue to set the standard for the Pouilly-Fume region. The wine shows wonderful flinty and damp earth tones with lemon oil drenched sourdough bread on this marvelous bouquet. The rich, almost unctuous texture to this wine, truly satisfies. Lemon zest, beeswax, ripe pear and starfruit flavors with wet stone and smoky mineral undertones all nicely amalgamate on the palate. Intense and showing beautifully in its youth, this dazzling Sauvignon Blanc will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2033- 94 — 7 years ago

Dave

8.9

Zippy lemon and grapefruit. Peach. Wet stone. Very good.
Listening to Son Volt — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. 100% Chardonnay pale straw color with aromas of stone fruits, floral and citrus notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, peach and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a long finish ending with a yeasty creamy character. Nice! — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. 100% Chardonnay pale straw color with aromas of stone fruits, floral and citrus notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, peach and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a long finish ending with a yeasty creamy character. Nice! — a year ago

Rufus King

9.4

Very smooth, Sonoma red blend, dark fruit and berries, with a little spice, gift from son-in-law, served with lemon infused pork chops — 3 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.1

Des notes de fruits blancs, pommes, citeon, un peu terreux et silex, très Chablisien en bouche avec cette salinité propre à ce producteur parfois, mais assez de rondeur et de richesse pour en faire un bel ensemble. Seule la finale de longueur moyenne trahissait son rang de Villages. Malheureusement ma dernière! 91-92

Some white fruit, apples, some lemon too, a touch earthy and with some silex, very Chablis like salinity, nice depth and roudness, great moithfeel, good balance. Two caveats; length is average and it’s my last bottle. — 4 years ago

John Landis

9.5

Golden color; creamed lemon on the nose. Very elegant aromatics. In the mouth huge creamy lemon curd with awesome flavors and finish. Acid balance is perfect as well giving it a French signature. Best California Chardonnay since the Aubert Hyde and son. Even more elegant! Great wine and should drink well for 5-7 years. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Thought we’d try something new. Recommendation from the the Champange Buyer at K&L, Gary Westby.

The nose reveals; green & golden apple, apple cider, overripe pineapple juices, lime, lemon, kiwi, Bosc pear, understated, apricot liqueur notes, candy bar nougat, walnut skin, hazelnuts, bread dough, yeastiness, soft; chalkiness, sea fossils, grey minerals, yellow lilies, lilacs and spring flowers.

Green apple leaps onto to the palate followed by; golden apple, apple cider, overripe pineapple juices, lime, lemon meringue, cream, kiwi, Bosc pear, understated, apricot liqueur notes, delicate mousse, micro-micro bubbles, candy bar nougat, walnut skin, hazelnuts, bread dough, yeastiness, chalkiness is a little more gritty than the nose, sea fossils, grey minerals, soft, white spice with just a touch palate heat, yellow lilies, mixed greens, lilacs and spring flowers. The acidity is gentle & quite nice. The finish has nice finesse, well balanced, polished & persists minutes.

Smartly priced at $29.99. Buy it while it’s in, doesn’t last more than days.

Photos of; Gary Westby with the father-Daniel Thibault & son winemaking team, Daniel Thibault and a Marne vineyard vista.

Producer notes: Daniel Thibault, the chef-de-cave of Charles and Piper Heidsieck for over two decades. After inheriting two hectares of the family vines over 15 years ago, Thierry decided to produce his own champagne from them.

Champagne note: this is a blend of equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier from estate-grown fruit in the Western Valley of the Marne. — 7 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

✨ Cheers to treasures of the Côte des Blancs!

🥂 Allow me to introduce Champagne Agrapart & Fils, a fourth-generation grower-producer based in the Grand Cru village of Avize – right in the heart of the Côte des Blancs region, where Chardonnay reigns supreme.

🍾Pascal took the helm of his family’s winery in 1984 and is now joined by his son Ambroise, carrying on the family tradition of meticulous winemaking to craft exceptionally beautiful champagnes that offer an authentic sense of place.

🌿 In support of this aim, Agrapart pursues an ancient approach to farming the family’s 12 hectares of vines, in harmony with nature, according to the natural rhythms of the calendar, trading chemicals for compost, and working the land by hand.

🍇 In the winery, Pascal & Ambroise allow fermentations to happen naturally through ambient yeast found in the surrounding environment & on the surface of the grape skins. They neither fine nor filter their wines, and riddling is done by hand – a rarity in this day and age given efficiencies that can be gained through mechanization (e.g., gyropalette).

👉 Here we have Agrapart’s “Terroirs” bottling made with 100% Chardonnay from a blend of vintages and vineyard blocks from the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oiry, and Oger. It’s extra brut with 5 grams of sugar / liter in dosage.

😍 It is a stunning Blanc de Blancs expression giving voice to the Côte des Blancs.

👌 This wine is focused, nuanced, & elegant with perfumed aromas of lemon meringue, lemon pith, crisp apple, star fruit, white tea, blossom, oyster shell, salinity, toast, smoke, chalk, river bank, frozen pie crust, and blanched almonds.

On the palate it’s bone dry and laser focused with an electrifying acidity that is balanced by a creamy mousse and concentrated flavors consistent with the nose.

💫 Cheers to delicious wines of authenticity & soul! — 8 months ago

with Deked1

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.9

Quite yellow already. Overripe apples nose. Pronounced caramels in the glas, slightly oxidized soft apple flesh. Tart tannins. Meyer Lemon. Mandarine. My chinese son in law finally got his green card and so we celebrated from a distance. I did get the only six pack courtesy of the importer which made it to the US typically these end up at the ***’s restaurants. Guy Bouvet 2010 vintage. 40+ year old vines. — 3 years ago

Paul J

9.2

Medium gold color. As my 4yr old son said after a whiff - lemon pie, apples, lemon-lime. He honestly nailed it! Medium plus depth and medium finish. Great everyday Chard. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Founded in 1825, Bourgognes Faiveley has been handed down from father to son for over 175 years, now sixth generation takes the reins. Pale lemon with aromas of stone fruits and floral spice. On the palate flavors of pear and fresh crisp apple with slight oak and honeysuckle notes. Long finish ending with fruit and mineral character. Very nice. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. Coming off their highly successful 12’ & ‘13 vintages, the 2014 is also 100% Chardonnay straw with aromas of floral stone fruits and citrus notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, peach and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a lingering finish ending with a yeasty creamy character. Nice! — 6 years ago

Jamie Lopez Arevalo

9.3

Lemon and bergamot with melon and almonds. Bright acidity with texture. Still youthful and yet older than my son — 7 years ago