Roger Coulon

Heri-Hodie 1er Cru Champagne Blend

9.2

An underrated producer, in my opinion, though my first time with the Heri-Hodie cuvée.

100% Pinot meunièr; perpetual reserve in stainless since 1995; 3g/l dosage; disgorged March 2023

I’ve said it before, but meunièr can really strut its stuff via perpetual reserve/solera style. The natural fruit forward tendency of the grape with the oxidative character of the aging profile marry really well. My benchmarks for this style are Mousse Fils L’Or de Eugene and Delouvin’s Perpetual…both of those show a bit more richness and spiced cider, whereas the stainless steel here provides a brighter lift. Needed a few hours in bottle to open, lots of red apple, yellow citrus and orange zest, and cinnamon aromatically. Trending toward golden apple and pear on the palate, this has a kiss of honeyed richness on the mid-palate before the limestone mineral takes over at the finish. Tasty. — 2 days ago

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David T

Agree on Mousse Fils.

Shay A

@David T : Especially at the price!

Carrel Francois et Fils

Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Jongieux Gamay

Zoë Wilkins

9.1

Easy breezy super drinkable gamay with a very pretty floral nose. Never met a gamay I didn’t like. — 7 years ago

Dehours

Grande Réserve Brut Champagne Blend

Shay A

9.2

My first experience here. 67meunier/ 25chard/ 8pinot. About a third of the wine is perpetual reserve going back to 1998. 2016 base, disgorged 2019.

At the price, and based on style, first comparison that comes to mind is Mousse Fils L’Or Eugene. There is something magical that happens with meunier in how it transforms with reserve wine. So much brown spiced pear aromatics…savory honey and apple spice too. Where this differs from the Mousse Fils is that the mid palate is just a touch less rich/more bright (due to the Chardonnay component), but it adds a really cool profile to this champagne. The reserve wine makes an appearance toward the finish as it has a cider-like flair. Great fruit with a vein of acidity, a beautiful combo of bright/aged characteristics. Definite re-buy.

Merry Christmas Eve! — 2 years ago

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