Château Haute Vallée
Georges Laval
Cumieres Les Chenes Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime 2015
Nice champagne with mellow acidity — a month ago
Tarlant
Zéro Brut Nature Champagne Rosé
Deg. 2021 , amazing bottle — 24 days ago
Jérôme Prévost
La Closerie Fac-simile Extra Brut Pinot Meunier Rosé Champagne
Not sure if anyone’s noticed, but lately, my tasting notes here have been a little scarce. Not for lack of tasting - trust me, the bottles have been opened, the glasses filled, and my palate put to work. But so many have been uninspiring, fleeting, forgotten before the last sip. And then, boom! A bottle like this.
Popped in the morning, savored through the evening. Great at first, but by dinner, it had truly unfurled. The nose? Cherries, plums, warm spices, rose hips, pink peppercorn, chalk, and orange zest, with a whisper of apricot. The palate? Plush yet precise, broad yet focused. Biscuity richness and an electric minerality. A saline, vinous, full-bodied stunner that lingers impossibly long.
This just reaffirms what I think about this wine - one of the best pink expressions from Champagne, period.
NB: In my mind (and admittedly, limited experience), the best champagne rosé’s include:
Selosse Rosé - haven’t had it in ages, but many bottles had in the past have brought great joy.
Bouchard Enfer - honestly, my sample size is too small, but both times were really impressive; though it must be noted that my company then thought it was more intellectual than pleasurable (too phenolic and soft).
Bereche Remensis - best value rosé? Consistently delicious and complex.
I have heard from friends that the DP P2 and P3 rosé’s deserve to be high on any list. Hope to try them one day.
— 2 months ago
Clos Canarelli
Corse Figari Red Blend 2012
Very rustic and musty, from what I hear this amount of time must have really softened its rough edges because this has some refinement to it. Amber red color, with slight coppery hints, the nose is musty like an old felt book binding, or some velvet church pews, with prominent fruit as it’s allowed to open up, and even some hints of dusty bubble gum and deep floral notes towards the edges. Looong legs on a medium body, the tannins are well integrated and grippy, with a strong foundation, but melt after a little while. There’s serious graphite and minerality here, but that opens into some savory notes, black currant and olive, as well as some balsamic, but after the tannin let go you get some serious cacao or dark chocolate notes, even some tobacco smoke, with fig and blood orange at the finish. I don’t know why people dog on this wine, it just needs time to mature, more than folks realize. Paired with spek, sheep’s milk cheese, and the film “A Prophet”. — 25 days ago
Marc Hébrart
Special Club Brut 1er Cru Champagne Blend 2018
Very surprised by this, but I guess no Mark Hébrart should be all that surprising. Definitely punches above its weight class, and has many similarities to the 2012/2013 PRSWC. Alluring freshness and vibrancy coupled with a shocking level depth and roundness. Very well balanced all-around; looking forward to cellaring the 2019s. Mouthfeel is pure velvet via a delightfully soft / oily texture. 60% Pinot Noir + 40% Chardonnay; Dosage: 4-6 g/l. Disgorged: 1/18/22 — 25 days ago
Jay Kline
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The BdB d’Aÿ GC pours a straw color with medium viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe orchard fruits and autolytic notes: apple, peach, lemon curd, lightly toasted brioche, nuts and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, creamy and toasty. Rich and decadent. Drink now. Disgorged March 2022. — 9 days ago