Chris M

9.2

Terrific wine! Lighter in color but not in taste. Started off in full Zin-mode and gradually changed to be a bit dryer. Hints of toffee, caramel and plum with the slight touch of tobacco in later pours. A beautiful wine to drink on a crisp Fall evening — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Still quite a deep tawny colour . Really lovely on the nose with dried fruits , figs , touch of toffee and Christmas spices . Rich and filling on the palate with lovely balance from good acidity. Good length and balance . This really is at its peak at the moment , and will continue to show well perhaps over the next decade. — a year ago

Martinez

9.0

Amontillado by one of the leading producers in the Montilla-Moriles appellation (therefore made with Pedro Ximenez, as opposed to Palomino). About 25 years old - 12 years of biological aging under flor followed by another 12 years of oxidative aging. Aromas of caramel, orange peel, hay, some toffee. Dry, sharp, saline, long finish with intense notes of roasted hazelnuts — 3 years ago

Roger Ray

9.2

"The result is cherry red with hues of Violet in the glass. Ripe cherry black currant and licorice with a dash of French Oak in the nose, and a full velvety palate, fruity with toffee undertones. " — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Sherry, toffee and a gorgeous honeyed middle. Complex and delicious with a savory bite. — 10 months ago

with Paul

John Bratincevic

9.2

NOSE: plum, cherry, soft cassis, raspberry leaf, wet earth (mud!), a little fig, and a mild toffee/coffee note that I associate w/Bordeaux. All very restrained.

TASTE: well made. Leaves, earth, cherry, plum, smooth tannins with that nice toffee bordeaux taste. A little cassis on the finish. Good, grownup wine! Not worth the price to me - but good, grownup wine. 92. — 2 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.0

White pepper, red fruit and toffee notes — 4 years ago

John Malcolm

10

I thought this champagne was phenomenal - right up there Cristal, my usual favorite. Rich, sleek, and seductive. Lemon, pear, brioche, and a hint of toffee. Memorable! — 4 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Caramel, toffee, ripe fig and apricot. Loads of burnt honey botrytis. Rich and tertiary in the mouth. Delicious. Drink soonish. — 6 months ago

Vanessa

9.4

Today we began with a visit to Billecart-Salmon, which has been family owned since 1818. They are 7 generations strong, producing between 2 and 2.5 million bottles per year. We received our informative tour from Jérôme Lafouge. 👏

He explained how Billecart-Salmon grows and manages many of the vines used to produce their wines; they also source grapes 🍇 from other growers, but otherwise own the production process from the pressing of the grapes on… the facilities are pristine and processes are executed meticulously.

Each wine is vinified by vineyard plot. A unique feature of Billecart-Salmon is its decision to have a slow, cool fermentation process for all of its wine - both those vinified in barrels and those in stainless steel tanks - a process that takes 6 weeks to complete.

Each winemaking decision is customized based upon the type and condition of the grapes, e.g., some undergo a malolactic fermentation (where tart malic acid is converted to soft, lactic acid) while others may not, some have a first fermentation in oak where as some are stainless steel, etc.

At the end of our tour we had the pleasure to taste a few beautiful wines (pictured here).

Our favorite was the 2002 Vintage Cuvée Nicolas François comprised of 60% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ, Aÿ, Ambonnay, and Verzenay and 40% Chardonnay from Chouilly, Cramant, and Avize.

This wine was clearly developing lovely tertiary aromas. It also had great complexity retaining its primary and secondary notes. It was disgorged January of 2016, resting over a decade on the lees.

The aromas and palate had caramel, toffee, brioche, pie crust, toast, hazelnut, cream, melted butter, honey, ginger, candied lemon peel, quince, fig, and chamomile notes.

What an enjoyable experience and we loved meeting some new friends on the tour from Savannah, Georgia and Canada.

Santé mes amis 🥂🥂🥂 — 3 years ago

with Deked1