Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

vintage 2010 | Classic and complex. Redbrown rim with opaque colour. Cedar. Laurel. Tobacco. Leather. Comes soft in the mouth. Swallowfactor. Absolutely glorious. — 17 days ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

After I tried through the other Champagnes. This came across as sweet. Just not a fan of this house. — 3 months ago

Ted

8.9

Wait is this thing working?? Seems to be. Typical NZ SB. No complaints. — 5 months ago

with Jeni

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This had aged into something quite elegant. Only 13.3%, it’s got some fruit still but is quite “claret” like. I love how old school this is. — 8 months ago

with Dan and Angelo

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Arras — Blanc de Blancs 2013
Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A 100% Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling wine sourced broadly across Tasmania, aged extensively on lees for over five years prior to release, delivering depth, autolytic complexity, and finely tuned balance. Cool-climate fruit precision meets long cellar maturation for serious Champagne-caliber structure and finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of toasted brioche, lemon curd, baked apple, almond pastry, and subtle chalky minerality lead the nose. Layers of fresh citrus peel, pear skin, and gentle hazelnut evolve with air, framed by savory yeast complexity and restrained creaminess. The palate delivers precision rather than sweetness, with purity and tension driving the finish.

Mouthfeel
Creamy yet lifted, with fine, persistent mousse and beautifully integrated autolytic weight. The texture feels polished and expansive without heaviness, supported by vibrant acidity that keeps the wine energetic, linear, and refreshingly dry through the finish.

Food Pairings
Oysters and shellfish. Butter-poached lobster or scallops. Parmesan risotto. Roast chicken with herbs. Triple-cream cheeses or aged Comté.

Verdict
A compelling expression of New World traditional-method excellence, delivering maturity, balance, and serious structural integrity. Rich without excess, nostalgic in its yeast-driven complexity, and confidently positioned alongside high-quality grower Champagne.

Did You Know?
Tasmania’s cool maritime climate and long growing season allow Chardonnay to retain high natural acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness, making the region one of Australia’s strongest candidates for world-class traditional-method sparkling wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
Blanc de Blancs is my home base, and this bottle absolutely delivers. The autolytic depth, precision, and balance hit exactly the profile I love, serious, expressive, and quietly luxurious. A sparkling wine that rewards attention, not just celebration. — 8 months ago

LM Segal

9.6

So pure and multi-layered with that cotton candy thing on the tail…just phenomenal. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with a beautiful nose.

Showing black plums, black currants, cedar, dried figs, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, light black tea and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 32 year old Pauillac is still drinking beautifully, but a bit past its prime. Rich and elegant. Very complex and spicy.

This Second Growth Bordeaux needed 5 hours to open up properly, and was not that special right out of the bottle.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel, and still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes.

Robert Parker 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and with food.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — 25 days ago

Doug Griffin

9.4

Nose: One of the most captivating Chardonnays I’ve encountered. Enticing layers of lemon tart, ripe lychee, fragrant perfume, and a distinctive touch of holy basil.
Palate: Medium-bodied yet intensely flavorful, bursting with bright lemon curd, silky cream, and toasted notes. The acidity is vibrant and refreshing, keeping everything lively. Oak is present and supportive, adding structure without ever overpowering the fruit. — 4 months ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

9.0

Very interesting and unique Willamette Pinot. Cherry, spice, and heavy earthy aromas on the initial opening. Allow time to breathe so it can fully open up. Slightly chewy for a Pinot, but immensely flavorful and full bodied. — 7 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Not the champagne I had in mind for tonight, but sometimes circumstances play their part.

This is pleasant enough. It will go well with my almond tart later.

The mouthfeel shows nice mousse, somewhat lively acidity, bruised golden/red/green apple to apple sauce, bruised pear, white citrus blend-grapefruit w/ pith leading, quince, touch of brown sugar, some yeastiness, baguette crust, graham cracker, volcanic minerals w/ clay, white spice, caramel notes, vanillin, sea spray, grippy, grainy chalk, sea fossils-oysters, limestone marl, withering lilies, spring flowers, nice acidity and a well balanced, good length, elegant finish that lasts nearly 90 second and lands on mid intensity minerals and spice.

Photos of; the champagne house of Veuve Clicqoit and the widow herself. You see her under the metal gage and plated over the cork.

#DSLounge — 8 months ago

Sean Townley

9.0

Some funk up front. Better on day 2 — 10 months ago

with Mairead

Peter James

9.0

BHM Wine Tasting @ Netflix — 4 years ago

Andy Hall

9.4

Terrific. Opened this to make sure it wasn’t baked from a shipping issue. Obviously it wasn’t but I am amazed how approachable this wine is at such a tender age. 5 more years of bottle age and this will be a stunner! — 5 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Liked this previously. But today comes across quite rough. Touch volatile acid aka Ethylacetate. Cherry and quite bitty. 13%. Good enough but not more. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1966 vintage. Mid-shoulder fill. Lip under the foil an anthrax fever dream. Cleaned than up with an ice cube and a napkin. Used a Durand but this cork merely chuckled at it. Worst cork I’ve ever (tried to) extracted with a Durand. Bring out the funnel with screen to sift/filter out all the semi-ancient cork sed. Wasn’t going to decant as per usual guest wishes so went with the smallest decanter. Tasted 15 minutes, 45 minutes and 1.5 hours after opening. Light, well aged-Burgundy body. Substantial, (STILL!!!) feminine-styled offerings fruit/spicewise. Ummm…reason why Pichon-Lalande-and La Mission Haut-Brion-are my two fave BDX big guns. This was still showing better than you woulda thunk. 8.14.26 — 2 months ago

Ted

9.4

The oldest of a 4 bottle vertical I bought a few weeks ago. In a perfect window. Made a vodka sauce and wow. Great compliment. Fresh herbs after an hour of being open. Can’t wait to try the other 3 years. — 7 months ago

with Jeni

Lawrence Bernstein

9.3

2/26 - amazing qualities all around. A fruit driven wine with lots or red plum and darker blackberry notes. Nice cedar and tobacco notes. Firm tanins. Outstanding mouthfeel. Soft finish. 93 — 8 months ago

David White

9.0

Nice Central Otago Pinot,
Strawberry and raspberry on the nose and palate with good acidity and balance.
Flavours evolving and long lasting finish. — 10 months ago

Jenks

9.3

Brickhouse’s flagship Pinot, estate fruit, best barrels. Integrated tannin, cherry fruit, some savory forest notes, enjoyed over a several hours without food and the last glass was the best. Worth the wait, I dig it. — 2 years ago

Teresa Teixeira

9.6

2021 not to dry perfect — 4 years ago