Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Disg. 2/14…Always my favorite of the Lieux-Dits and without question one of the very best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the planet, it’s particularly special to have with some bottle age. It’s stunning today, rich and powerful with crazy depth to its layers with a deep, complex core of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, old rum barrels and candied white flowers, all seamlessly integrated. The palate is generous and detailed, with racy acids, waves of saline laced, chalky Le Mesnil minerals and a finish that stays with you. A BdB benchmark for my tastes. — 2 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Elegant and light, seems to hold back a little.. — 15 hours ago

Donald Williams

9.1

A nice example of a fairly obscure varietal. It worked better with my tuna entrée than with Bonnie’s rack of lamb. I think it needs a bit more aging. — a month ago

with Bonnie

Ira Schwartz

9.2

#4-disgorged 2017, 2011 base
#5-disgorged 2016, 2010 base
#6-disgorged 2010, 2003 base
#7-disgorged 2008, 2001 base
#8-disgorged 2007, 2002 base
Amazing consistency, oxidative notes with apricots and apple cider. On the palate, green apples , sherry notes and citrus zest. What separated the bottles were the various levels of freshness. All were enjoyable but none had that “wow” factor. My rating is a composite. — 3 days ago

Ira Schwartz

9.5

Bottle 13-disg 2009, 2004 base. Greater intensity and freshness on the nose vs bottle 12. The oxidative notes integrate with scents of spice . On the palate complexity with freshness. A landslide of apples, oranges and minerals. — 25 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

A wine I have purchased every year since the 05 vintage. This vintage is more open, approachable that had rich dark cherry, berry fruit, savory spice, underbrush, mineral & violet. — a month ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.8

Deg 11 mai 2021. Very fresh and pure, one of the best VO bottles I have tasted. — 7 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Beautiful wine showing red cherry, berry fruits, finessed & layered with lots of spice, earth, truffle & violet. This was an impressive 04 — 3 days ago

Alan Weinberg

9.4

Awesome wine. Lots left in the tank — 6 days ago

Will Stanley

9.3

It’s been a few years since I opened one of these, a perennial ‘cellar defender’ to open on a whim when duty calls. Sadly, this is my last – but my word, I must buy more! This was absolutely sensational, a wine that punches well above its weight and provides the sort of value only a select few wines in the northern Rhône can muster up.

A doppelgänger for rock-solid Cornas, and inky purple in colour, the nose is effusive with dark cherry, blackcurrant, kirsch, smoked bacon, iron and sweet balsamic – all of it fresh, and no trace of alcohol at 13.5% from a hot vintage. The palate is sappy, vibrant, detailed and harmonious with quite good concentration and a sneaky long finish.

I would love to see this thrown into a blind tasting with wines four times its price. At six years of age, this is on fabulous form now and may improve with further time in the cellar.

93 points – but 100 for value!
— a month ago