Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I’ve started to enjoy Marc Herbrart Champagne’s in the last six months. There are just over 20,000 grower producers in Champagne…hard to try them all in many lifetimes. Basically, impossible. I picked up some of his 2019 Blanc de Noirs today on Last Bubbles for $79…used a coupon and got the free ship. I bought two of these at Costco last weekend for $56.99. Had a glass at the end of last Friday night w/ friends. Enjoyed it, but wanted to taste it and write notes with a clean palate.

This lives up to that price point and slightly exceeds it. 91.5 rounding up to 92.

The nose has a sour Lemonhead candy quality (that’s a 1st time wine descriptor for me), white stone fruits-peach, nectarine, lime zest, cream, honeydew, brioche, saline, chalk, sea fossils, ginger, hues of ginger ale, white Spring flowers with greens.

The palate shows nice mousse…crisp. It leans into reductive but flashes some oxidative quality. White stone fruits-peach, nectarine, Meyer lemon, lime zest, lychees, Rainer cherries, some apple cider, bruised Bosc pear, cream, honeydew, pineapple juice, brioche, some caramel saline, gritty chalk-limestone-volcanics minerals, sea fossils, white spice-ginger with some palate punch, ginger ale notes, jasmine, white Spring flowers with greens with a well balanced, knitted, polished and elegant finish that lands dead smack on minerality and lasts two-minutes.

One thing I have been meaning to bring into the light with a post on Champagnes in general but haven’t yet is, I studied the hell out of French Wine Winemaking Laws. Perhaps, the strictest or at least one of the most restrictive in the world…growing, labeling, certain varietals for certain wines. Basically 3 grapes are primarily used in Champagne but 7 are allowed; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Pinot Meunier are the primary ones and Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are the ancillary ones. 5 grapes only in Bordeaux blends and you cannot irrigate there either. You get what the season gives you. Having said all that, there seems to be some allowed leeway in Champagne labeling…Extra Brut, Brut and Demi-Sec etc.. Nature is 0 to 3g, Extra Brut is 3 to 6g and Brut is 6-9g etc. This Marc Herbrart is 5.5g, which technically makes it Extra Brut. Yet it’s labeled Brut. I see this all the time. I regularly see champagnes labeled Brut that are 10-11g or more. So, if you care about the sweetness level of your Champagne, you should probably read up on the champagne you’re about to buy. Given how strict French Wine Laws are, I find this a little baffling.

This Marc Hebrart received its cork March 2, 2023 and as I mentioned, its dosage is 5.5g.

Photos of; Champagne House-Marc Herbrart, the man himself-Marc Herbrart, perfect vineyard Chardonnay grapes & vista of their vineyard(s). What rows!!! — 11 days ago

Jason Sliwa

9.6

Fantastic. Touch of pear and apple, a hint of brioche, elegant bubbles, piercing acidity. — 6 months ago

with Vicki and Eli

Jane Nuss

9.2

Pale golden in the glass with fine, persistent bubbles. Aromas of green apple, orange peel, pear, and peach, layered over rich notes of brioche and toast. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and complex, with a creamy texture, energetic mousse, and toasty depth. High acidity. Vibrant and refreshing with a long, satisfying finish. Consistently well-balanced, reliably delicious. A standout non-vintage Champagne. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

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. — 3 months ago

Ivor

9.1

New batch, still very nice! Bdb freshness with enough stuffing and depth. — 5 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

Brioche, Fresh Citrus, Chalk, Nuts. Creamy. Laurent Perrie Brut @, Eva, 250125 — 5 months ago

Bill Mowry

8.9

Floral with pear and white peach. — 2 months ago

with Lou, Amelia and 1 other

Ron Siegel

9.3

Disgorged Jan 17 this was rich with a touch of the Selosse ox — 2 months ago

Mario Zillner

9.5

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 — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of 70% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and rest Meunier, pale lemon color, light creamy mousse, tiny bubbles, with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, underlying toasty notes, dosage is 9g per liter. On the palate flavors of apple and peach with citrus zest, honeysuckle and chalky nuttiness. Lively acidity with good balance, long finish ending with fruit, biscuit and chalky notes. — 5 months ago