The word that comes to mind immediately is purity. One of the most pure, most honest champagnes I’ve tasted. Light yellow gold with effusive perlage. A sultry stream of bubbles and wonderful creaminess. The nose is a bit shy upon opening with a little apple, a little toffee, and a little mint. Soon the wine begins to truly blossom with fresh nectarines and subtle apricot. The brioche aromas are stately and buttered. Exquisite and exciting.
A collaboration between Dremont and Frederic Savart, very limited production with only 2512 bottles. With a dosage of only 2 grams, the acidity is quite high and zippy. Absolutely amazing purity and the terroir is positively shrieking here. A Blanc de Blancs from the Grand Cru villages of Avize and Oger and you can definitely feel that. Medium weight but is rich and feels substantial. This feels a bit like an event. Despite being primarily an entry level or a bit of a step above, this has real weight and substance to it.
The palate showcases whispers of what this could really be down the road. Really nice mouthfeel but a bit volatile at times. Plenty of pretty peaches and salinity. Pure Chardonnay characteristics of chalk and citrus abound here. Medium finish with the faint ghost of spice. This is really enjoyable today but try to hold it for a few years, if you can. — 3 years ago
Cotes de Catalan red with Guinea Fowl at Spring. Excellent fruit, not the graininess I can find in Grenache/Carignan reds at times. — a year ago
Valley Project/Kunin take on a Châteauneuf de Pape, which is a Cru (a named terroir, highest rank in the Cotes de Rhône region - AOC, villages AOC, named villages AOC and terroir). North grows more Syrah and south grows more Grenache, Pape is in the south in France. Cites de Rhône region known for GSM blends (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre). Chateanauf de pape also has white blends. — 2 years ago
A very lovely red blend. — 3 years ago
Simple but very well made. Lovely terroir and fruit— definitely villages level. Drinking well now & could evolve a bit but probably not intended for long haul (unlike other bottlings!). — 3 years ago
Catalan wine tasting #3
Expressive, herby, salty & vegetal. Light apricots in honey, dried herbs & underbrush. A mineral, rocky undertone.
On the palate more breadth than depth, a white-tea tannin profile, fresh acidity. Salty finish. brilliant with food.
Not a crowd pleaser. — 2 years ago
Upper class Gamay, marked by aging in oak barrels. Deep and concentrated. Evocation of Burgundy in classical style close to Château des Jacques. The fruit is set back, and the charm of gamay is not fully expressed, trying to play in the course of Pinot-noir without having the vertical character, imprint of the terroir. The 5 years of guards brought unity to the whole and a beautiful general outfit.
Gamay classe supérieure, marqué par un élevage en fût de chêne. Profond et concentré. Évocation de la Bourgogne dans style classique proche du Château des Jacques. Le fruit est en retrait, et le charme du gamay ne s’y exprime pas pleinement, essayant de jouer dans la cours du Pinot-noir sans en avoir le caractère vertical, marqueur du terroir. Les 5 années de gardes ont apporté de l’unité à l’ensemble et une belle tenue générale. — 3 years ago
Roger Ray
"this wine is known for its exceptional terroir and high wine growing methods. After aging 12 months in Oak barrels, this wine is refined in bottles in our cellars. 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre grapes reveal intense and complex aromas of spices and mature black fruits. Lively and tasty, this wine is characterized by complexity, delicacy and roundness, ideal with a piece of meat or veal filet." — 6 months ago