Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 2012 J. Lassalle Special Club is made from 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. The vines average 50 yrs old. Hails from Chigny-Les-Roses. Winemakers Chantal Decelle-Lassalle and Angéline Templier farm using the practice of Lutte Raisonnée, which means they fall just short of organic. Sustainable but use minimal chemicals. Rain during and at the end of the season when Mother Nature doesn’t dry the grape clusters, chemicals are often necessary to prevent mold. This isn’t Sauternes!

Texturally, it is quite nice. Beautiful fine mousse and micro oxygenation. Lively but not aggressive acidity.

Green & golden apples, pear, pineapple, lime/lemon with zest, orange citrus blend, green melon & kiwi. White spice, bread dough, nougat, limestone bits, thick chalky powder, graham cracker crust, melted caramel, vanillin, saline, sea fossils, understated herbaceous notes, fruit blossoms, spring flowers with an elegant, smartly polished, well balanced, nicely structured-crafted finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on volcanics & spice on the long set.

You could make case for 94 here. Perhaps fully with a few more yrs of bottle age.

Pairs well with the Jasper Hill Farms Limited Edition of their Champagne washed Harbison soft white. — 21 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

One of the most singular Champagne’s in the biz. Great to have with some age. — 23 days ago

Roman Boudou

9.7

V12, deg 2019 — 3 months ago

Vin d’Ottawa

8.9

Gentle bubbles, dry restrained marzipan — 14 days ago

Danny O'Brien

9.2

Raspberry, roses & tar on the nose, grippy tannins and a slight meatiness on the palate. Fruit is present but ever so slightly lacking for me, I wish it translated from the nose to the palate just a touch more. Overall very nice and enjoyable! — 19 days ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.9

Yeppers. Finally bought and opened. — 11 days ago

David D

9.2

A favorite mid-range Barolo, great value for the price. Good tar, dried roses, rounded tannins and acids, damp earth, some graphite, black pepper. From Flatiron Wines. 08/30/2025 — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened a few hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of an hour alongside the 1998 Bartolo. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, dried roses, tar, truffle, old wood, dried green herbs, and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. Stunning. This has a touch more oomph compared to the ‘98 vintage. Loved this with controfiletto di wagyu. Drink now through 2059. — a day ago

Pierre Jotterand

9.0

Great value for money rose — 3 days ago

Alan Weinberg

9.2

Showing great. Really an under the wire super bubbly. — 3 months ago