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. — 2 months ago
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 . — 6 months ago
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 — 6 months ago
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


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. — 2 months ago
A nice one for our regular Sunday brunch mimosas. — 4 months ago
Austin Hohnke
Salted orange peel. Butterscotch. Toasted nuts. Amaze balls. — 17 days ago