Vanessa

9.5

Happy New Year’s Eve to you all! 🎉

To celebrate the holiday, we’re popping this special bottle of bubbles we’ve been eager to try. 😝

It’s Champagne Philipponnat’s 2004 vintage champagne made with 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay hailing from a single clos – Clos des Goisses – surrounded by a traditional stone wall in the Village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.  🍾

Talk about a singularity of place!  It was first produced as a single vineyard wine in 1935, a pioneering approach for a Champagne House in a land known for regional blending.

After fermentation, this wine aged on the lees for 10 YEARS in Philipponnat’s historic cellars in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ; a Premier Cru Village of the Grand Vallée de la Marne, located on the southerly flank of the Montagne de Reims, where Pinot Noir dominates like in the Grande Montagne.

Okay for the tasting note!  Wow. 🤯 It has pastry, brioche, nougat, and marzipan for days, next to toasted almond, lemon curd, white peach, baked yellow apple, dried chamomile, blossom, and wet slate notes. Despite its unequivocal richness, it has a spine of acidity lending balance and brightness.
 
Cheers to 2025; may it be filled with hope, health, joy, adventure, and amazing sips! 🍾🥂 — 8 days ago

with Deked1

Vanessa

9.4

This particular wine is an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (based on ’04 and ’05 vintages) hailing from a single parcel of 65+ year old vines, originally planted by Louis and farmed organically, called ‘Les Crayons’ in Oeuilly. This wine underwent a wild ferment with substantial aging in oak, without malolactic conversion, helping to retain and showcase the grapes’ natural acidity.

The medium gold appearance speaks to a delicate exchange with oxygen from aging in oak. It had a medium(+) intensity of ripe golden delicious apples, bosc pear, dried white rose petals, almond paste, nougat, brioche, pastry, toast, wet stones, and lemon curd.

Even with zero dosage, this wine is opulent, retaining a firm backbone of acidity, creating tension and adding lift. It offers complexity and richness, a fine mousse, and a creamy mouthfeel.

It is sumptuously delicious! — 10 months ago

with Deked1

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, aged in French oak 65% new and 35% 1 year old, fruit sourced from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 65% Zinfandel, 26% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah & 4% Alicante Bouschet. Deep Ruby with aromas of red fruits, oak, spice and floral scents. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with pepper, cacao, spice and smoky oak. Well balanced, fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, smoke and spice. Will age. — 8 months ago

JKT

9.2

At Oginos post Thanksgiving. Thumbs up! 35/65 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir and it shows, creamy almost velvety texture tingling with fine bubbles. 5.5g dosage. 40/60 2012/2013 harvest, disgorged 1-2016. All on back label! — a year ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

Interesting blend from the Languedoc. 65% Chenancon, 20% Mouvedre, 15% Carignan. Well balanced and really wants you to pair this with food right away. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc and rest Cab Sauvignon, deep Ruby color with aromas of dark black fruits, and a herb spice nose. On the palate flavors of blackberry, currant and cherry, with licorice, tobacco and burnt herbs. Fine grainy tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, smoky spice and earthy mineral notes. — 4 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Blend of Merlot (65%), Cabernet Sauvignon (29%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark ruby color. Aromas and flavors of black berry/currant/plum fruit with additional notes of black licorice and tobacco. Nice touch of oak on the nicely rounded finish. Medium bodied with balanced acidity and smooth tannins. Dense, rich and juicy. Thank you for sharing, Kevin Z. — 6 months ago

Adam Kincaid

9.1

65% Kratošija / 35% Vranec.

Im not too familiar with these varietals but this drinks like a hearty california syrah. Clear deep ruby color, with a masculine nose featuring cut wood, nuts, plums and cherries. There’s a bit of heat from high alcohol and strong acidity levels, medium tannic structure, but a good feel. Lots of ripened fruit, chocolate, and spice. Long warm finish. — 10 months ago

with Jillian

Daniel Ciolek

9.2

Exceptional on opening. Nose of dark berries and spice. Palate with complex of spiciness, juiciness, black cherry, blueberry, blackberry, & plum. Balanced low intensity tannins with lingering finish. — a year ago