Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.6

2021. Wow. Had no idea Australia was making such good chard. Mineral and crisp. Lots of almonds, apples green, and pear. Slight honeydew. Long finish. Captivating. — 8 hours ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV – Champagne AOC, France 🇫🇷

Overview
One of Champagne’s enduring benchmarks, Special Cuvée combines approximately 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier, with a significant portion of reserve wines contributing depth and consistency. Rich, layered, and unmistakably Bollinger, it delivers remarkable complexity at a price point that remains accessible compared to many prestige bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, citrus zest, baked brioche, roasted nuts, and subtle spice unfold in layers. Notes of fresh bread dough and orchard fruit intertwine with hints of honey and toast.

Mouthfeel
Vibrant and energetic with a creamy mousse and impressive depth. A delicate kiss of yeast adds texture and contrast, while the wine’s concentration and freshness remain beautifully balanced through the finish.

Food Pairings
Lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, aged Comté, oysters, or simply enjoyed as a celebratory aperitif.

Verdict
A richly textured and multi-layered Champagne that continues to justify its reputation as one of the region’s benchmarks. Complex, expressive, and consistently rewarding, it offers a level of sophistication that punches well above its category.

Did You Know?
Unlike many large Champagne houses, Bollinger ferments a portion of its wines in old oak barrels and maintains an extensive reserve wine program, helping create the signature richness and depth that define Special Cuvée.

🍷 Personal Pick
Few non-vintage Champagnes deliver this combination of richness, complexity, and value. The layered fruit, subtle autolytic character, and vibrant texture make Special Cuvée one of my favorite benchmark Champagnes and a bottle I never hesitate to revisit. — 3 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Oak, pear, citrus, mineral, and brioche. — 6 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Gorgeous pear and bright lemon. Minerals and salinity. Great focus. Excellent — 7 months ago

with David

Leo Gentile

9.3

This wine is testimony to great California Chardonnay that is also rare in style. No oak not malolactic fermentation. Hence the longevity. This 2011 is showing a bit of age with a deeper straw color than previous bottles from the same year. Still, only a hint of oxidation in the glass and on the nose. The pear and quince have evolved to a bit of caramel and butterscotch. Delicious to drink and I admit this might be the upper limit. I will drink remaining 2012 and 13’s in the next few months. — 8 months ago

Michael Patrone

9.8

This 08 always is a hit. More caramelized pear this time around compared to 6 years ago — 9 months ago

with Meghana

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Charles "Champagne Charlie" Heidsieck was one of the first to recognize the importance of the U.S. as a Champagne market. A blend with 40% reserve wines, fruit and floral bouquet, with orange blossom & yeasty notes. Fine bubbles, nice mousse, showing quality. Outstanding rich flavors of apple, pear and biscuit, well balanced, good structure, creamy. Long finish ending with toasty nutty oak & mineral notes. — 2 years ago

Dave

9.0

I grabbed this on the recommendation of @Sharon B
I would have thought this was reisling blind, due to a wee bit of rubber on the nose. I taste peach, pear, and macaroons. It's sweet. Most reviewers use the word "crisp", but this is neither crisp nor overly acidic. It's soft, and a bit flabby. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that.
Very enjoyable! Makes me want risotto for dinner.
Listening to Benjamin Gibbard — a month ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

8.9

2023 vintage. Crisp apricot and pear aromas on the nose, light oak taste on the palette, decent finish. Great afternoon wine with cheese, salami, and hummus. — 4 months ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v20. Very good! Bread and soft citrus zest nose. Fresh pear and lime fruit. Long, dry, bright yeasty finish. Small, firm lasting bubbles. Enjoyable! — 5 months ago

Kristina Conte

10

absolute favorite moderately priced easygoing red — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer and sits on a tree covered knoll overlooking the Napa Valley, with caves that extend for over a mile. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruit, sweet oak, spice and floral scents. On the palate flavors of ripe peach, melon and apple, with vanilla spice, creamy texture. Medium+ finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with mineral notes. — 7 months ago

Katie Butterfield

9.0

Gift from Maggie. Hints of pear. Nice and bright. Delish. — 9 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Clear and light. Pear and hints of lime. White pepper, a bit of tang. Slate. Salty edges and great texture. Very correct. A touch of sweetness. — a year ago

with Paul and Ara

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chateau Montelena — Chardonnay 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Released as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, this vintage continues the legacy that forever changed the perception of California wine. Crafted in Montelena’s unmistakable style, it favors precision, freshness, and restraint over richness, proving Napa Chardonnay can be both powerful and elegant.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, baked pear, crisp apple, citrus blossom, and subtle white peach are beautifully intertwined with delicate hints of wet stone, light vanilla, and restrained oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and exceptional balance. Rich enough to satisfy yet remarkably focused, the palate delivers silky texture, impressive tension, and a long, refined finish that never feels heavy.

Food Pairings
Lobster, scallops, roasted chicken, creamy risotto, grilled halibut, or triple-cream Brie.

Verdict
A benchmark New World Chardonnay that continues to set the standard nearly five decades after its historic triumph. Complex, poised, and beautifully balanced, it is a wine that appeals equally to classic California Chardonnay lovers and those who typically favor more restrained Old World expressions.

Did You Know?
The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the white wine category at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, defeating France’s finest Burgundies in a blind tasting and forever changing the reputation of California wine on the world stage. The 2023 vintage celebrates the 50th anniversary of that landmark event.

🍷 Personal Pick
I’m generally selective with Napa Chardonnay, often preferring leaner, mineral-driven styles. Chateau Montelena remains one of my rare exceptions. It captures the generosity of Napa’s sunshine while preserving freshness, finesse, and impeccable balance. This is a permanent fixture in my cellar and one of the few New World Chardonnays I’d confidently pour for someone who believes they don’t enjoy Napa Chardonnay. — 2 months ago

Joel Lara

9.0

This was my first Albariño, and I loved it! Bright, fresh acidity with lemon and pear notes on the palate. The finish has mineral notes coming through as well. Paired nicely with paella. Vintage was 2023. — 5 months ago

Joel Lara

9.1

This is dangerously good. The peach and pear flavors are vibrant and just mesmerizing, and it has a nice minerality and good acidity that help balance the flavors out. If you don’t watch yourself, this bottle will be empty in a flash. This is just what I needed to remind me that summer is around the corner, and soon this New England winter will be a distant memory. — 6 months ago

Jim Lyons

9.7

For what it’s trying to do, and at the price, it’s really fucking good.

Dry with some nice suddle peachy sweetness on the front. — 9 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.4

An excellent Pinot Noir with notes of blackberry, minerality, pine, and forest floor. On the bud, it’s enriched with raspberry, black cherry, and stewed fruits. Very smooth with a long finish. — 9 months ago

S T

9.2

Aromatic pear and apple, crisp, fresh acidity. — 4 years ago