Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2013 “Au Paradis” pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, developing the wine is developing with notes of brambles, plums, tobacco, some leather and woody notes, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is pretty plush. To my palate, pretty much a fastball right down the middle of the plate and not quite as intriguing as the “Les Pavots” from the same vintage. Drink now with some patience and through 2038. — 2 months ago
Lovely champagne with lemon cream, toast, green apple, and chalk. Paired with H.L. Mencken — a month ago
A killer NV entry level — 4 months ago
This is the 2018 Marc Hébrart Brut ‘Special Club’ – a beautiful bottle of vintage bubbles hailing from a collection of premier and grand cru sites in the Marne and Montagne de Reims regions of Champagne, France.
When you see “Special Club” on the label of a bottle with this distinctive shape, you’re dealing with essentially a prestige cuvée of a grower-producer who’s a member of the “Club Trésors.”
Marc Hébrart joined the Club Trésors in 1985, which is an association of quality-minded grower-producers. Grower-producers operate differently than the big champagne houses (e.g., Veuve-Clicquot) in that they are smaller-scale vignerons who own the entire production process from the vineyard to the winery and cellar.
They have helped raise awareness and appreciation of artisanal champagne wines that speak to a sense of place and personality, unobscured by extensive, widespread blending.
To achieve the status of “Special Club” a wine must undergo a rigorous application process and meet minimum quality metrics culminating with in two blind tasting panels – the first tasting evaluates the base wine after the first fermentation; the second and final tasting occurs after a minimum of three years aging sur lie.
From our studies we’ve learned the 2018 vintage bore above-average fruit; the warm and dry summer paved the way for a riper expression in an otherwise marginal climate. This wine is made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.
The bouquet has a medium (+) intensity of yellow and green apple, lemon zest, white peach, gardenia, almond biscotti, nougat, pastry, biscuit, and toast notes. The palate is creamy with vibrant acidity, adding lift, a fine-beaded, persistent mousse and long, elegant finish.
— a month ago
More weight than the last time I had it, getting better with age — 4 months ago
Neil Valenzuela
Medium straw color. Smalll delicate bubbles, lemon skin, brioche and biscuit. Amazing citrus flavors, funky and yeast finish.
Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. — 3 days ago