Austin Hohnke

9.4

Salted orange peel. Butterscotch. Toasted nuts. Amaze balls. — 2 months ago

Meredith Moody

9.0

This is a great sparkling wine. It smells almost exactly like apple juice to me and the taste follows suit. I wrote in my notes “overwhelming apple,” but that is not a bad thing. I also got some pear and like toasted notes. Bubbles are lively, makes it fun to drink. Strikes a good balance between fresh and rich. — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium lemon , hints of gold , quite a healthy colour with fine pretty persistent bubbles still . This quite intense with candied lemon peel , brioche , oyster shells , touch of porcini . On the palate this is intense ,with good volume and vibrant acidity. Buttered brioche , oyster shell , candied orange and lemon peel . Really quite lovely and intense , long and toasted brioche , chalky finish . This is at peak now , but no rush from here over the next 5 perhaps 10 years . — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It’s Miller time. Well…actually Billecart time. I like this more than I buy it. One of good cuvées easily found in 375ml.

The body creamy, layered, nice c02, bruised golden & green apple, ripe Bosc pear, pineapple flesh, tropical melons-mango driven, lime & lemon zest, cream soda, cream, white spice-ginger, bread, yeast, brioche, soft but grainy moist chalkiness, sea spray/fossils, slightly chard sourdough toast, wet/softened alluvial, limestone, wet river stone, notes of flintiness, yellow lilies, white orchids, fruit blossoms, jasmine, rainfall acidity, excellent balanced fruit & earth, tension, structure with a juicy two-minute polished finish that falls onto beautiful minerality.

BTW, home grown tomatoes with Companion Bakery wheat sourdough, lightly toasted w/ olive oil, burrata, Tondo balsamic (stunning), olive oil & fresh basil never gets old. — 3 years ago

Joe Christenson

9.1

Tasty and traditional. Toasted brioche, ginger, and toasted almonds. Well balanced, tight bubbles. Not quite finessed but delicate and approachable. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

Consistent excellence. Pure gold in the glass with a creamy mousse and a ton of tiny, fine bubbles. On the intoxicating nose you’ll find some smoke, apple cider, and orange peel. Tasty honey and apricots make their presence known here. Just hints of the yeast and toasted nuts for now but will be more present as time goes on. Oak, dark fruit, and some really lively violets top this off.

So much richer and more voluptuous than most similar offerings, Bollinger always stands out from the pack. Quite the vivacious champagne, this is full of life and full of power. Muscular in nature but still has more than enough finesse with a velvety mouthfeel. The complexity and depth is definitely a step above, due to the amount of reserve wines used in the blend.

The palate pleases with chalk, apple pie, and lemon rind. More orange and the thought of warm biscuits to go with baking spices and pears. Long finish featuring spice and cream. How many other entry level bottles from the other big champagne houses can compare? Excellent champagne, a beautiful journey. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

20-year tawny a personal favorite. I’m always amazed how good this is whenever I have a glass. Taylor run today from Oporto by descendants of the Yeatman & Fladgate families, both of which have been partners in the firm since 1830s. Complex aromas rich with dried fruits & nutty spice. On the palate apricot and sweet berry flavors with honey and toasted nut notes, well balanced nice acidity. Lingering finish ending smooth with oaky nutty character. Very Nice. Price keeps going up each year. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Jason Sliwa

9.6

Toasted notes set this apart from other champagnes for me. This was fantastic. — 3 months ago

with Eli

Jonathan Wall

9.3

Where am I? More Rhône-y than many modern Rhône’s. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium lemon gold , still some perlage. This is quite evolved on the nose , with candied peel, brioche , roasted nuts , brine and touch of porcini . On the palate this has good intensity , with high acidity . Creamy lemon peel , toasted nuts , brioche, and a mineral backbone . Quite persistent, lemon pith and chalky finish . At peak now and will continue over the next few years , though this won’t improve — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Although I find that La Closerie generally needs some bottle age to fill out and come into its own, LC19 is already showing fabulously flaunting deep, powerful layers of ripe orchard fruit with smoky minerals, toasted hazelnuts and exotic spices. The palate is impeccably structured and concentrated with a satiny texture and vibrant energy that gives way to a long mineral inflicted finale. Pinot Meunier from the master, it just can’t be matched. This is the best release since LC13. — 4 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

A magnificent Champagne with freshness, very elegant, slightly toasted notes, pure fruit with good backbone, excellent balance and a long delicious finish.

Magnifique Champagne avec beaucoup de fraîcheur, finesse et élégance tout en ayant beaucoup de tenue. Des notes légèrement toastées, des bulles assez fines et une belle finale longue et savoureuse, vraiment très bon. 91-92 — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 Comtes de Champagne pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of white peach, lemon curd, white flowers, lightly toasted brioche with chalk and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. This is delicious and fabulously balanced CdC. Drink now through 2036. — 3 months ago

Donald Williams

9.3

A nice one for our regular Sunday brunch mimosas. — 5 months ago

with Bonnie

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Amber in color, limited bubbles. Pretty stuff- apricot, honey, some sherry notes. Toasted brioche. Definitely aged but lovely and balanced. Probably would have been oak a few years back — 3 years ago

with Tony and David

Claus Bentin

9.9

For me, one of best champagnes I’ve ever tasted..
This 1996 is still so fresh and so much alive..
It’s apples, vanilla, honey toasted bread and a lot of other excellent notes..
I’m very impressed!! — 5 years ago

Jeff D.

9.4

Cheers! Brioche and toasted hazelnuts for days... — 6 years ago

Bryan Kesting

9.4

Rich and creamy Chardonnay. Lemon, Creme brûlée, and toasted bread as a secondary note. In a perfect spot and drinking beautifully. Good call @Shay A — 6 years ago

with Scott