Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It has been a while since I’ve opened a Clemence. A favorite of mine & Sofia once upon a time. Still drink it, just not as often as I have moved to mostly Extra Brut. This is a Brut at 8g. Excellent Champagne & value at $44.99.

I believe there are only two resellers you can acquire it, one east coast & one west-K&L. You have to buy it pretty quickly once they get their container. It took several yrs building that relationship as Launois is careful about who they let resell their cuvées. In fact, it is even difficult to get in France. K&L has standing orders from some French citizens they ship back to France once they receive it. Kinda crazy.

The palate has nice mousse with lively acidity and micro oxygenation. Lime/lemon pulp w/ zest, stone fruits-white dominant, grapefruit w/ pith, bruised red/golden apples, Bosc pear, caramel, vanillin, some yeast, baguette crust, white spice, gritty, grey volcanics, chalky bits, limestone marl, oyster shells, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers with a little greens mixed in, very good acidy, well; made/balanced/tensioned with a smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts minutes and land on excellent minerality.

If you get to Champagne, visit. They have a huge museum of champagne/wine artifacts that date back to BC. My two pics do not show its enormity. They are about 35-40 minutes south of Reims.

They are the only producer I know of that places a rubber casket attached to the bottom of their corks. So, next to never do their cuvées have cork taint.

Enjoying it with the Jasper Hill Farms - Willoughby, buttery washed soft white cheese. Try with Rainbow Crisp crackers or warm baguette. Also, on apples with and w/o honey. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The Ariston Aspasie Cépages d'Antan is a blend of one grape that is nearly extinct in Champagne, Petit Meslier and two rare grapes that get blended into Champagne. It parses into 40% Petit Meslier, 40% Arbanne, and 20% Pinot Blanc. None of the three main grapes; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier

Crazy good body and super soft mouthfeel. There is soft precision in the palate. Excellent micro oxygenation. Shades of the 2007 Taittinger Comte’s. Leads with the white citruses.- lime, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, some pineapple juice, tropical green melon, what softer than soft powdery chalkiness, limestone, volcanics just as soft, spring flowers for days, perfect acidy and a purely beautifully balanced, knitted, length that has length and a singing finish that goes on and on. @ K&L Champagne tasting. — 3 years ago

Robyn Pelling

9.1

Nice and light, fruity — 5 years ago

Andy Hall

9.3

2011 was a widely panned vintage in Napa/Sonoma across all producers and varietals. Painting with such a wide brush is dangerous in an agricultural area as diverse with thousands of micro climates. While 2011 may be a “treasure hunt” vintage, there are plenty of gems to be found. As wine lovers, that is our job to find the treasures. That said, this is an example of a very good wine in a challenging year. Bright red fruit on the nose, freshness on the front palette, a lot of depth, nuanced, a lot of harmony between fruit and acid. — 5 years ago

Jennifer Massolo

9.2

2006 Meyer BC Chardonnay micro cuvée in 2020. This is at an outstanding stage of its life. Just stunning. No oxidization. Beautiful richness minerality and balance. — 6 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Micro-bubbles galore, Yum! This might be close second for a Friday evening standard for @David T but tonight it is flowing into glasses on the complete opposite side of the Country. A wonderful Blanc de Blanc Champagne.

Nose has freshly scrubbed lemon, grapefruit peel, sliced Granny Smith apple, wet chalk, cold brioche and Gardenia blossom in a breeze.

Palate is fresh orange peel, grapefruit peel (like really wow), tart green apple, fresh walnut, crunchy brioche with a little hint of sweetened butter and a splash of acidic ocean water.

Finish is intense, yet elegant and lasting for many minutes. We are quite looking forward the the evolution of this bottle across the evening, as it warms from 46°F and gains air time.

Thank you @David T @Sofia Jalilie for allowing us into your week closing tradition. The next bottle should have us closer together. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Tasted from 1/2 bottle. They come in handy for dinner for two in many cases, but especially at a restaurant that allows corkage. Most do in California. It is even harder to find vintage champagne in 375ml’s.

The 2018 vintage was good to very good. You need to taste and or read up for its best offerings.

A note, I tasted at the Billecart-Salmon property in later October 2022 with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. As insightful as that was, he was asked other than Billecart Salmon champagnes, what was one of his favorite champagnes? His reply was surprisingly an older vintage Paul Bara he had recently. That’s a producer question that gets asked often. Normally generates a pause with some minor angst to answer.

The nose shows; lemon chiffon/meringue, bruised apple to slightly cider, bruised pear, yellow & white stone fruits, just ripe pineapple, orange citrus blend, lime pulp, tropical melons, whipped, white cream, white spice-ginger, yeasty bread dough, saline, crushed limestone pulp, crumbled chalk, sea fossils, white spring flowers set in yellow lilies.

The palate is round & soft. The mousse is delicate w/ micro oxidation. Ripe; lemon chiffon/meringue, white & yellow stone fruit, slightly bruised apple & Bosc pear, lime pulp, orange citrus rind, some tropical melons, cream, ginger white spice, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, saline, sea fossils, dry crumbled chalkiness, caramel notes, heather honey, warm perfectly toasted toast, graham cracker, nougat w/ nuts, yellow flowers set in a field of white spring flowers, excellent acidity with a nicely; balanced, structured, tensioned, polished finish that lasts a minute and falls on limestone laced with soft, dry, powdery chalkiness.

Photos of; the house of Paul Bara, chalky caves w/ riddling racks, old wood basket press & a vineyard picking party. — a year ago

Pamela Taylor

9.0

A nice gold hue in the glass, hits you with the freshest of herbs on the nose (dill, tarragon, hint of peppery micro greens?). Medium-bodied mouthfeel of lemon pith and fresh lime, floral notes, racy and lengthy finish. Digging this one! — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

A little different from the Rosés I drink but pleasant. Soft on the palate with micro oxygenation. Blood orange, we’ll cook rhubarb, poached strawberries, orange & tangerine citrus blend, some white citrus, extremely soft powdery chalkiness, limestone marl, baguette crust, crush rocks, light red & pink florals ( roses), nice acid, well balanced finished fruit & earth. 80% Pinot 20% Chardonnay @ Compline Tasting Bar — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Surprisingly, one I just haven’t gotten around to trying.

It’s very light on its feet. Micro oxygenation, lime & lemon pulp, grapefruit, white peach, slivered almonds, nougat, vanillin, notes of cream, delicate chalkiness & volcanics, saline, sea fossils, touch of yeast, lively acidity, clean, elegant, polished finish. — 5 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

Malt, cream, banana, vanilla, burnt match nose... all that! And this ‘real thing’ was the cheapest bottle among all the Micro brews at the shop. mamma show you how to do it! — 6 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.2

Pet Nat, natch. Floral and subtle apple notes. Very tart and has that kind of micro-effervescent mineral quality but it just smacks your palate. This is not a pink Pellegrino, if you will. Though, it is a modest 10.5% ABV, and as a real hand-to-mouth kind of drinker, I’m always into something I can mindlessly pound. Highly recommended. — 7 years ago

with Brendan

Ron from VA

8.9

This is one of those top 20 Bargain VA wines, at $17 at Wegmans. N/M is old of the older operations in the state and they have a lot of Chardonnay planted. Their micro-climate yields tighter acidity coupled with the granite based soils makes for northern Burgundian-esk chards. The 3 pillars of Chard-Balance: FreshFruit, energized acid, and texture. It’s all here, just in a budget, non-reserve way. Still, better than most at twice the price. Great white for food throughout the winter months. Toasty caramelized Apple notes are to the point - finish is dominated by the barrel attributes. No worries, cream-based anything :) — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Dia Bonita Albariño, Three Mile Vineyard, Columbia Valley AVA. 23 cases produced, barrel fermented, micro producer worth watching for Washington-state and Oregon-grown Spanish varieties like Albariño and Tempranillo. This is made like a high-end Chardonnay- fruity, crisp but softened via malolactic fermentation. Finish of floral, citrus, orchard fruit flavors with some minerality. — 2 years ago

Daniel veit

9.0

Micro-Negoc juice. Excellent and under appreciated sites. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured. While unusual, somewhat on-brand for Matteo Correggia, the 2010 “Le Marne Grigie” is a micro-production Bordeaux-blend (with a splash of Syrah) from Roero. The wine pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous but still showing abundant ripe fruit: currants, plums, tobacco, bell pepper, some purple flowers, organic earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+(?) acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Surprisingly youthful! Though this is certainly a bit left field, it retains it’s old world sensibilities. A fun wine to try if you can ever find it. Drink now and through 2030. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Yeah, this is really good. From one of the grandest Champagne vintages in a 100 years or so.

The nose is extremely complex. Notes of; mixed orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, white spice, faint sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens.

The palate is gentle, micro lean bubbles, amazingly, soft mousse. Just beautiful, orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, juicy lime pulp, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, graham crackers, vanillin, white spice, crushed more pronounced sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow & white lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens. The acidity is perfect. The finish is excellent with similarities wire to wire. Lasts minutes.

Photos from my October visit to Billecart and my tasting with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. — 3 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Fresh, pretty red fruit belies its 10 years of age. Very impressed with my first Iota Pinot...name (presumably) comes from micro lot production - can’t wait to try the others in the lineup. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Our friends deck coming along nicely. The kitchen bar & lighting is in.

Tastes really good tonight. Showing more of the right kind of oxidative notes I enjoy.

Golden & green apple, braised pear, overripe pineapple, lemon, lime juice, nougat, some apple cider, vanillin, yeast, bread dough & crust, sea fossils, grey volcanics, limestone, white spice, gentle, powdery chalkiness, micro oxygenation, excellent with spring flowers, yellow flowers & withering white lilies. Excellent acidity. The finish is rush, smartly balanced, elegant and persistent. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Peter Anthony Riso

8.9

MEBAC SCEA Bellevue Peycharneau Proprietaire Pineuilh, Gironde
70 Merlot 30 Cabernet Sauvignon
Saints-Foy Bordeaux AOC
Award winning every year, extraordinary Wine produced from a 37 acre hillside, on the far-eastern border of Bordeaux, near Bergerac.
Following manual harvest and sort, grapes are cold soaked 8 days at 50F to extract fruit and color.
Fermented 7-10 days at 83F in thermo-regulated steel tanks, pumping over three times a day.
Micro-oxygenation during fermentation obtains Fruit, richness, and silky Tannins.
Aged 12 months in French Oak barrels, 1/3 New Oak.
Deep purple color.
Intense, expressive nose of Red Cherries, Blackberries, Toast, Licorice.
Rich, concentrated mouthfeel, silky Tannins, smooth long finish.
Serve on own, or with steaks, pork loin, lamb chops, turkey, cheeses.
14.5%ABV — 7 years ago