Champagne, France

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2015

Always a hit!

Medium straw color, small delicate bubbles. Aromas of citrus, apricot, eucalyptus and orange blossoms.

🏅95 Points - Robert Parker
🏅97 Points - James Suckling
🏅96 Points - Wine Spectator
— 6 days ago

Ed, Scott@Mister and 15 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay 2013

Classic Comtes lemon and brioche, this bottle seemed a little less ebullient than another bottle a few weeks ago, but still very expressive. — 17 days ago

Shay, Ira and 5 others liked this

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Yellow Label Brut Champagne Blend

Great History. Citrus notes. Had at Cru champagne tasting 11/21/24. — a month ago

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Great bottle, a bit on the oxidative side but very complex and long, we liked it a great deal. — 7 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Rosé Champagne Blend

Slightly muted but still fruity and yeasty. Pleasant but a bit overpriced — a month ago

Tyler, Tom and 11 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2004

Rich with citrus, apple & brioche — a month ago

Tom, Jeroen and 12 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 3 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 34 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T, those are relevant and salient insights. For me, when I purchase wines I'm not familiar with, I look to balanced critics for guidance. Most of the high-end wines I purchase, I don't need much critical input. Wines such as Pontet, Ducru, Troplong, The Pichons, Leovilles et al., I'm more comfortable buying, unless the growing season is a disaster. Here in my opinion, the critics value is amplified. Happy holidays, bud! @ESF, no rush my friend...
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

All great input! I agree WS is advantaged with the blind review but WA is always more detailed. There are definite patterns as WA loves the turbo charged but I find PP to be the most helpful but they generally are European only. It’s like finding a movie critic. No one is the best but you find the one that matches your tastes the closest and use it to help make best choices. Love the dialog!
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

wow, let me know when I can come over and share...!
Merry Christmas Ron.

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

David T
9.4

Always special to enjoy Krug. — 14 days ago

Shay, Jay and 10 others liked this

Bollinger

Special Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

In 1829, Champagne Bollinger introduced an instantly recognizable, dry, toasty style that has been coveted ever since. Six generations of the Bollinger family have maintained that trademark style, and still owned and managed by the same family since it was founded. Gold color with a nose of fruit and baking spices. On the palate apple and peach, toasty notes with great bubble flow. Long crisp finish ending with yeasty mineral tones. Nice! — 19 days ago

Tom, Paul and 2 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 10 days ago

Ira, Jan and 25 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.