Vanessa

9.4

Depth & personality abound as this wine gives a sensory voice to the left bank (‘rive gauche’, south side) of the Marne River, which meanders its way through the Vallée de la Marne region of Champagne…

It’s not very common to find a mono cru (single village) from this part of Champagne, so it was exciting to sip & explore it with intention🥂

It was made exclusively from Meunier (the king of the Marne Valley), grown on old vines (54+ years in age) in the village of Mareuil le Port, made into a blend of the ‘Maisoncelle’ & ‘La Côte aux Châtaigners’ vineyards, in particular.

As a vintage wine, it aged 36 months (disgorged by hand in November 2023), adopting quintessential autolytic notes of pastry, graham cracker pie crust, bread dough, almond paste, nougat, and toasted hazelnut.

The aromas & flavors have notably autumnal characteristics resembling apple cider, cinnamon apple crumble, red apple skin, baked pear, nutmeg, cardamom, white blossom, lemon zest, fruit cake, & cherry preserves. These are balanced by a chalky, mineral spine of wet stones, saline, & oyster shell.

Despite its confectionery qualities, this wine is totally dry; it’s extra brut with only 2 g/l of dosage (added sugar) with a mouth-watering acidity, adding lift, cutting through the creamy mousse, with a persistent & polished finish, performing a series of pirouettes before its final plié.

Cheers to wines with soul & authenticity! — a year ago

with Deked1

Yann Mamelok

9.1

Greenpoint cidery — 5 years ago

Amanda Fritts

9.5

Really unique wine/cider blend of grapes and apples. Tart and juicy. Very easy to drink and great for summer! — 6 years ago

Michal Rosenn

9.2

cider just the way i like it — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Autumn’s Blush sparkling cider with black currant, 6.5% alc/vol. Light cranberry red with golden tinge, excellent clarity. Small head on pour but quickly dissipated, light carbonation, pinpoint bubbles. Black currant notes dominate in nose, as do tart (malic-citric) earthy black currant flavors, bone dry, minimal astringency. Tasty and well made as per Finn River standards, but the cage for the cork was one of the tightest, most difficult to open in my life. But hang in there, work hard at opening this one (pliers or a dry towel will work); you will be rewarded for your efforts — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.4

Flavored with wild harvested fir tips and ginger. Good head in pour. Pinpoint bubbles. Light golden yellow. Fresh ginger in nose followed by a rich apple aroma profile. Light fir flavor followed by a yummy cider with a light ginger finish. Excellent stuff — 7 years ago

Mark S.

9.0

Oak cider, acidic. Dry, Straight but with taste, citrus. Like Japanese sake. McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Chardonnay Margaret River Valley, West Australia 23 @2695, Felicit, 250329-250628 — a year ago

Anthony Auger

9.2

When Viners is at Todd and Scotty’s, you know the heavy hitters are coming out. Double magnum bottle, from 2007. I had no idea the bottle size changes the way the wine matures.
Great aroma, with some prune and mineral notes. Floral rose flavor upfront before the juicy cherry thing comes back. Mouthfeel is really special. The slowest roll down the palate, super soft that turns into a tannic grapefruit feeling. Finish is a slow burn, that eventually made me take my flannel off. — 5 years ago

Katie

9.4

Low alcohol sparkling wine, cider-esque — 5 years ago

Amanda Fritts

9.8

At first sip it tastes a bit like a cider and finishes like a juicy rose. Tart and refreshing. Unique and worth the search! — 6 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.5

My man. Always linear and focused. Don’t care for cider too much but this is why you should care about still ciders. And our still ciders — 6 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.6

Very light and lovely. Like a sparkling chenin. Lemons, grass, funk. This actually reminds me of alagash wit bier in some ways. This is more dry and dainty. Lovely cider. — 6 years ago

Christian Ingargiola

9.5

Reminiscent of Normandy. Super dry. — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Bright red color, good head, moderate carbonation with medium-sized bubbles. Nice balance of cranberry and apple flavors, acidity. Finish is astringent from rosehip infusion. Well balanced, well crafted. I seem to have some sensitivity to the botanical infusions, but despite this issue I enjoyed this superior Finn River cider . — 7 years ago

Karyn Fricke

9.1

Cherry nose, cedar, very smooth. The entire table enjoyed. — 3 years ago

Veronica S

9.0

A 14-years old chard, golden hues, soft cider on the nose, subtle honey and apricot lingers on the palate. Amazing. — 4 years ago

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.0

Super crisp and tart. Crunchy gooseberry, star fruit, jicama, lime, lemon zest, wet river rock, oyster shell, unripe green apple, basque cider. Super fine creamy mousse. Excellent for shellfish, sushi, and oysters. Extremely refreshing. — 5 years ago

Sandy Wolf

9.6

Bought from Hutu Wine Farm in Hood River. Amazing cider! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Perhaps, our favorite non Burgundy white. It is unique among whites.

Also, one of the best afternoons we’ve enjoyed. Appointments at Clos Mogador & Erasmus. Then, lunch looking back at both properties from Amcis. A great meal we would give two Michelin stars. This wine and a custom four course for two for only 70 Euros in 2015. Fantastic restaurant. A must do in Priorat.

The nose reveals; ripe & slightly sour pineapple, lemon chiffon, mix of well extracted stone fruits, notes of lime candy, banana peel, slight burnt brown sugar, blend of chalky minerals, volcanics, chamomile, vanilla bean notes, well cooked toast, sandy dry top soil, fennel (grows everywhere), tree bark with sap, mix of dark & white spice w/ white dominate and a fields of spring flowers.

The body is full & round with good viscosity. slightly sour pineapple, lemon chiffon, mix of well extracted stone fruits, golden apple to cider, tropical melons, kiwi, notes of lime candy, banana peel, fringes of marmalade, slight sugar in the raw, blend of white, chalky minerals, mint, volcanics, crushed dry sandstone, saline, chamomile, vanilla bean notes, well cooked toast, dry herbs, sandy dry top soil, fennel (grows everywhere), tree bark with sap, mix of dark & white spice w/ white dominate and a fields of perfume spring flowers with mixed greens. The acidity is round and rushes like a river. The long, rich, well knitted & balanced, polished & elegant finish goes on & on ending persistently w/ sweet white spice.

The 2017 is different than the earlier vintages we’ve had. It needs another two years in bottle. If you drink now, fully chill and decant 2 hours.

Photos of; Clos Mogador, Owners/Winemakers-Rene Barber Sr. & Jr. and vines around their Estate. — 6 years ago

Ian Pecoraro

10

Warm strawberries and rhubarb in the field. Apple cider spiked with raspberries. — 7 years ago