Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

After I tried through the other Champagnes. This came across as sweet. Just not a fan of this house. — 10 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

A favorite domestic sparkling — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Arras — Blanc de Blancs 2013
Tasmania, Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A 100% Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling wine sourced broadly across Tasmania, aged extensively on lees for over five years prior to release, delivering depth, autolytic complexity, and finely tuned balance. Cool-climate fruit precision meets long cellar maturation for serious Champagne-caliber structure and finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of toasted brioche, lemon curd, baked apple, almond pastry, and subtle chalky minerality lead the nose. Layers of fresh citrus peel, pear skin, and gentle hazelnut evolve with air, framed by savory yeast complexity and restrained creaminess. The palate delivers precision rather than sweetness, with purity and tension driving the finish.

Mouthfeel
Creamy yet lifted, with fine, persistent mousse and beautifully integrated autolytic weight. The texture feels polished and expansive without heaviness, supported by vibrant acidity that keeps the wine energetic, linear, and refreshingly dry through the finish.

Food Pairings
Oysters and shellfish. Butter-poached lobster or scallops. Parmesan risotto. Roast chicken with herbs. Triple-cream cheeses or aged Comté.

Verdict
A compelling expression of New World traditional-method excellence, delivering maturity, balance, and serious structural integrity. Rich without excess, nostalgic in its yeast-driven complexity, and confidently positioned alongside high-quality grower Champagne.

Did You Know?
Tasmania’s cool maritime climate and long growing season allow Chardonnay to retain high natural acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness, making the region one of Australia’s strongest candidates for world-class traditional-method sparkling wines.

🍷 Personal Pick
Blanc de Blancs is my home base, and this bottle absolutely delivers. The autolytic depth, precision, and balance hit exactly the profile I love, serious, expressive, and quietly luxurious. A sparkling wine that rewards attention, not just celebration. — 5 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

The first couple times I tried 08 I was definitely too quick to judge. It needs a ton of air, and it’s different from the rich, oxidative, nutty house style of the past, particularly the warm and ultra forward 2006, the previous release. 2008 is indeed young, tightly wound with a pulsating core of energy.

The first glass offers very little. Subdued, austere and youthfully reserved. But ensuing pours eventually unleash its core of powerful clean orchard fruit, coffee bean and grilled nuts. On the palate it continues to become so much more textural with crazy gains in weight, depth and fruit intensity as the night goes on. It really fills the mouth, saturating the palate with a satin-like texture, ripping citrusy acids and saline laced minerals that follow deep into its finish. Enjoyable now with enough air (needs 2 hours), but no doubt one to hold. To live forever. — 3 years ago

Hillary & Dave

8.9

Tangerine tea. Twigs. Flowers. Very nice. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne is a thrilling, dense new offering from this historic house. On the nose this takes on rich brioche and baked Pazzaz apple flavors that combine with lighter kumquat and marzipan tones that all meld in the glass. Fresh and vibrant, with a remarkably silky mousse, the weight and richness of this wine is impressive, while the bright character provides a wonderful foil. Rich layers of lemon zest dusted brioche with toasted hazelnut and Gravenstein apple with lighter vanilla cream and starfruit tones seamlessly combine on the palate. As several hours develop, the wine pieces itself together more magically with the intense citrus components melding with its weighty stature. Marvelous at this stage in its development, the 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to give this at least another year of bottle development before savoring. Drink 2021-2040- 97 — 6 years ago

Doug Griffin

9.4

Nose: One of the most captivating Chardonnays I’ve encountered. Enticing layers of lemon tart, ripe lychee, fragrant perfume, and a distinctive touch of holy basil.
Palate: Medium-bodied yet intensely flavorful, bursting with bright lemon curd, silky cream, and toasted notes. The acidity is vibrant and refreshing, keeping everything lively. Oak is present and supportive, adding structure without ever overpowering the fruit. — a month ago

David Shaw

9.2

Underwood Mountain Vineyard, Columbia Gorge, skin contact Grüner Veltliner. A bit of an experimental wine. Burnt orange in color, excellent clarity. Some sediment in the bottle, flocculent yeast, perhaps. A musk-like and pine aroma in nose, floral and grapefruit pith flavors, skin tannin finish with mild astringency, slight seed tannins bitterness with floral and light lactic notes in aftertaste. Bone dry. The body is light, almost silky mouthfeel followed by the skin tannin rasp on the finish. Not a variety I’ve previously seen done in an orange wine style. The more I taste this one, though, the more I like it. — 5 months ago

Brian S

9.1

For the price this bottle of Chardonnay is tough to beat all organic and biodynamic as well. — 7 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.1

Very well made but not what I want from wine. I have posted how much I enjoy my beer in this style and if I tasted this blind I would have identified as such. Strong acidic backbone with complex flavors. Enjoyed but I can obtain the same flavor profile from other beverages. My score reflects how well this was executed . — 3 years ago

Aloke Mukherjee

9.0

Christmas 2022 — 4 years ago

LM Segal

9.6

So pure and multi-layered with that cotton candy thing on the tail…just phenomenal. — 4 years ago

Jacob Wankel

9.0

A really solid white blend. Very refreshing and not overly sweet. — 5 years ago

Ted

8.9

Wait is this thing working?? Seems to be. Typical NZ SB. No complaints. — 2 months ago

with Jeni

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Not the champagne I had in mind for tonight, but sometimes circumstances play their part.

This is pleasant enough. It will go well with my almond tart later.

The mouthfeel shows nice mousse, somewhat lively acidity, bruised golden/red/green apple to apple sauce, bruised pear, white citrus blend-grapefruit w/ pith leading, quince, touch of brown sugar, some yeastiness, baguette crust, graham cracker, volcanic minerals w/ clay, white spice, caramel notes, vanillin, sea spray, grippy, grainy chalk, sea fossils-oysters, limestone marl, withering lilies, spring flowers, nice acidity and a well balanced, good length, elegant finish that lasts nearly 90 second and lands on mid intensity minerals and spice.

Photos of; the champagne house of Veuve Clicqoit and the widow herself. You see her under the metal gage and plated over the cork.

#DSLounge — 5 months ago

Mandi Speidel

City Territory Chicago, Maverick Wine Company

8.9

Standing Monday Night Soho House Date with Mig — 7 months ago

Peter James

9.0

BHM Wine Tasting @ Netflix — 3 years ago

Teresa Teixeira

9.6

2021 not to dry perfect — 4 years ago

Lindsay Evans

9.0

Very smooth and refreshing — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Tuesday the 26th of January was Australia Day and a public holiday. What better way to celebrate than Australia’s best fizz Arras Grand Vintage from Tasmania. Quite light lemon in colour. Very citrussy and mineral on the nose. 7 years on Lees showing in the complexity of the palate which still shows tension and refreshment. See previous notes for the 2007 which was slightly better and Champion Wine of the Royal Brisbane Show. — 5 years ago