Shay A

9.5

94-95

A grower champagne I always enjoy, but I’ve not had their special club offering with this much age before. I’ve been missing out! A stunner!

54% Cramant, 31% Chouilly (both Grand Crus), with 15% Cuis (Premier Cru); all old vines. Disgorged July 2012; 6g/l dosage

This may be an example of hitting lightening in a bottle, but this caught me (and others I was with) totally off-guard at how youthful it was…and more importantly, how unbelievably good it was. Channeling an oxidative flair at this point in its evolution, this scratched the itch for creamy, powerful, golden champagne. Autolysis on full display (in the best way) with lemon scone, honey roasted cashews, spiced pears aromatically. Honeyed graham crackers, lemon cream, Biscotti cookie, kiss of ginger and plenty of chalky limestone grit toward the finish (but the sweet autolysis lengthens it out beautifully). For me, this tasted like this was the exact right day to catch this wine at peak.

I wish I had a case of these. — a day ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

We had it on a restaurant. Its a pinot from the Loire, very fine and elegant, we had a most enjoyable experience with it. Great QPR. — 6 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Consistency is their middle name.

This has just started to shift from fresh to aging.

Bruised red apple/pear, lemon, lime zest, tropical melons, drier stone fruits, whipped cream, ginger, brioche, graham cracker, very light caramel/butterscotch notes, grey volcanics, limestone marl, sea fossils, gritty chalk, white & yellow flowers with greens, excellent lively acidity and a well balanced-knitted, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts near two-minutes. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Slightly deeper colour, with light lemon yellow core . Fine persistent perlage . Slightly more closed on the nose , with lemon oil , toasty roasted nuts , chalky hints. On the palate this is denser and more creamy , more toasty , with lemon hints and a chalky , limestone hint . Touch of bitterness with some saline hints . Good length . Nice now but will improve over the next few years , and last well a further 5 years or so . — 9 months ago

Kamall

9.0

Nice aperitif. Good value — 3 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.2

Dec 11, 2021 Saturday dinner w/ Jack D celebrating J2’s good news. This champagne was such a lovely surprise. Bright, crisp, citrus. Lots of complexity, and lots of fine bubbles. Good with food or alone. Wish I had more. First bottle purchase. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose shows; pineapple flesh to canned juice, green & golden apples, Bosc pear, white citrus blend-lemon-lime-grapefruit w/ pith, kiwi, vanillin, nougat, cream, ginger-ale, soft white spice, volcanic minerals, brioche, light caramel notes, yellow lilies and white spring flowers.

The palate reveals, ripe, juicy; green and some golden apple, lime candy with zest, lemon, grapefruit w/a bit of pith, Bosc pear, green melon, mango & kiwi. Graham cracker crust, vanillin, cream, note of caramel, brioche, volcanic minerals wrapped in limestone marl, beautifully toned chalkiness, sea spray, sea fossils-oyster lead, white spice w/ mid palate heat, some yeasty bread dough, touch of dry herbs, yellow lilies-flowers, white spring flowers, lively, crisp acidity with an elegant finish that is; balanced, nicely toned with excellent structure & length that lasts two-minutes.

94 with additional cellaring.

Vineyards planted between 1951 and 1991. 100% Chardonnay. Manual harvested at optimal maturity on 9/10-11. No chaptalization. Aging on fine lees in tanks 6 months. Bottled on April 25, 2016. Disgorged 6/22. Dosage-4g/l. Just over 3900 bottles made. — 2 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.2

A pleasant color, nose, and palate to my surprise as I know little about this wine from an auction win. Drinking wonderful straight out of the gate! — 4 months ago

David Shaw

8.9

Toasty, slightly tart. Good start to the holiday — 7 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Quite pale straw colour , fine bubbles . Quite fine and direct , chalky , wet limestone , elderflower , and lemon rind with a light toasty ,yeasty note . On the palate quite lean and direct , with lemon rind , chalky hint , sea breeze and some roasted nuts . High fresh acidity and just enough body to carry the linear palate mouthfeel . Oyster shell tinged finish. Drink now and over the next couple of years . December 2023 disgorgement , 2021 base . — 9 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

ample aroma. Strawberry, raspberry, plum, red flower. Sweet sour, juicy. Domaine Pierre Amiot et Fils Morey saint denis 22 @12000, AD, 250210 — a year ago

Winton Sweum

9.3

Light straw; smokey nose that suggests an impactful palate to follow; this is very mineral and masculine somehow. The chalky minerality is all I remember, that, and today this upstaged the 2015 Special Club. Base is 2019.
— 4 years ago

Katie Minter

9.0

Delightful find, nice red for the warm summer months — 5 years ago

Doug Powers

8.9

This is more youthful than the 2004, yet it also shows more merde than that other Chateauneuf, medium-long finish, I marginally prefer the 2004. — 3 months ago

with Jim and

Jose Lorenzo

9.2

In magnum — 3 months ago

Greg Koslosky

9.4

A lot of promise here still young but incredible depth of fruit and grip! Still very primary better in a few more years — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Aromas of citrus and flinty stone fruits. On the palate flavors of peach and citrus with floral notes and slight spice. Medium+ finish, vivid acidity ending with citrus and stony mineral spice. — 8 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Used the Durand on the cork - soaked to the edge. Decanted for 2 hours.

This wine had some gaminess. Smooth. Fruit was a bit wild and overpowered by the savory flavors.

Paired well with the chicken skewers and onions. Needed complex flavors in the food to pair well.

Good but quite a bit below the Beaucastel — 9 months ago

Barberry Garden

9.2

Oh, this bottle has waited for the right moment. Initially, I planned to put it on some wine tasting but figured I must take it on our little sparkling party (where everyone brings their own bottle to share). Turned out to be a good idea.

Expressive and mineral bouquet. Lemon, wet stones, cream, Jerez. Complex, multilayered. Mineral profile with a long and flavourful aftertaste. Wet chalk in the finish. Beautiful stuff. There is a lot to discuss.

Disgorged in April 2022
>120 months on lees

Tasted on 2023-06-28 — 3 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

Great value. 20€ in Spain. Very alive and bright — 5 years ago

with -