Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2002 Billecart-Salmon ‘"Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" Brut Champagne (WWB, 95) which has a massive mouthfeel and glorious texture right now. This vintage is just thrilling to enjoy right now, made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay and resting for ten years on the lees. A bright beam of salinity falls over the limestone driven terroir, as Pink Lady Apple, kumquat zest and cinnamon infused sourdough bread flavors collide with minerals and the unctuous texture on the mouth. Generous, showing glorious length now at nearly the twenty year mark, this gorgeous bottling will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95 — 4 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Perhaps the food and setting enhanced the experience, but this was gorgeous and in a great drinking window. Beautiful nose and just a touch of sweetness, but not over the top. — 4 years ago

Ron R

9.5

With our homemade burgers! — 4 years ago

with Anne-marie

Willie Carter

8.8

You already know what’s up. You know what it is and exactly what to expect. A soft translucent blush color in the glass with a very aromatic nose. Fresh strawberries and apricots combine with dried herbs and minerality. It’s easy to disdain porch pounders but it’s hard to when it’s actually good. Easy drinking but with some heft and depth to it, there is a lot more substance here than most supermarket Rosés. Nice acidity and balance, it’s just the right amount of dry for what it wants to be. The palate follows the nose closely, with more red and citrus fruits, green apples, and watermelon. — 4 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

From my new hot spot. Light red but not Ramisco. Has real snap & freshness. Let it settle into itself, & like a nervous nelly the cranberry puckering acidity becomes more rounded. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Big weekend holidays call for big wines. Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Time to make the new Riedel Vintage Sommelier flutes really prove their worth.

The nose reveals; golden & green apples, sour lemons, lime juice to almost candy, touch of apple cider, overripe pineapple, lime, tangerine notes, stone fruit-apricot & peach, caramel, sweet, cream butter, vanillin, very beautiful & powdery chalkiness, saline, sea fossils, delicate, grey volcanics (almost ash), bread dough, light yeastiness, chunks of just fruit in marmalade, jam, hints of candle wax, honeysuckle & comb, gentle white spice with yellow lilies, jasmine, spring flowers, fruit blooms with some mixed in cut greens.

The body/mousse is gentle & delicate...super micro oxygenation/bubbles. She shows her beauty as she glides over the palate. More golden apple than the nose, green apple, sour lemons, lime zest to almost candy, touch of apple cider, overripe pineapple, lime, tangerine notes, stone fruit-apricot & peach, caramel, vanillin, sweet, cream butter, very beautiful & extremely, powdery chalkiness, saline, sea fossils, delicate, grey volcanics (almost ash), bread dough, light yeastiness, sesame oil, silvered almonds, chunks of just fruit in marmalade, jam, hints of candle wax, honeysuckle & comb, gentle white spice with the perfect light heat & palate penetration with yellow lilies, jasmine, spring flowers, fruit blooms with some mixed in cut greens. The acidy is perfect and gentle. The finish isn’t quite as good as the 02 Krug we had on my birthday in March but, it’s a close relative. It’s super; refined, delicate, unbelievable knitting, well balanced, elegantly polished like 75 degree sunshine on your face and persists softly like baby skin for minutes.

An amazing cuvée!

Photos of; the Champagne house of Egly-Ouriet, A-frame bottles in their cave, Owner/ Francis Egly (since taking it over from his father in 1982) in one of his Ambonnay Grand Cru Vineyards and vines around the estate.

Producer notes, Elgy-Ouriet was planted in 1946 to Pinot Noir in pure-chalk soil of ‘Crayères.’ Unquestionably one of the finest, south-facing terroirs in Ambonnay. Les Crayères is the top single vineyard of the estate, containing the oldest vines. 100% Pinot Noir from the renowned Les Crayères known for its extremely shallow topsoil and chalky bedrock. Completely barrel fermented, and aged 70 months on the lees. It's a blend of the 2010 and 2011 vintages and was disgorged in July 2018 after 72 months sur lattes. — 4 years ago

Howard Greenfield

9.8

Off the charts good- miserable day here in SoFla - but this cheered us up — 4 years ago

with Holli

Alexandre Pagliano

9.1

Dark rubi robe, nose of spices and dark berries. Very good medium length mouth with good balance and concentration. Its better than the vintage says. And in no rush to drink. Its a really good bottle ! — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Eric

9.7

One of the top Cali Merlots IMO. The vintage reminds me of Kid Rock. Didn’t make it until later in life. — 4 years ago