This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Krug
Vintage Brut Champagne Blend 2008
The 2008 Vintage is an infant. Tightly wound and vibrant, the 2008 still needs time. Today, bright acids dominate. I wouldn't dream of touching this anytime soon, as the 2008 remains embryonic, although from time to time the barest hints of signature Krug notes peek out from the wine's structure. Vibrant saline notes and sculpted fruit are the signatures of a cold, late-ripening year that produced classically austere Champagnes. Disgorged: Autumn 2019. Krug ID: 419044. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Henri Giraud
Blanc de Craie Champagne Blend
The NV Blanc de Craie is 100% from Aÿ and Louvois, based on the 2020 vintage. Readers will find a brisk, nervy Champagne that sizzles with tension. Lemon peel, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper are all beautifully delineated. I very much like the energy and tautness here. In fact, this is one of my favorite wines in the range. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 18, 2023. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Chardonnay
The NV Brut Blancs de Blancs is a very pretty, classy wine. Citrus, white flowers, slate, crushed rocks and white pepper abound. This vibrant, steely NV Blanc de Blancs is quite impressive, and also demonstrative of the new style at Billecart-Salmon. This release is based on 2017, with 23% reserve wines from 2016. It was done entirely in tank, with partially blocked malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 1.2 grams per liter. Disgorged: second trimester 2023. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Rosé Champagne Blend 2013
Tasted from magnum, the 2013 Cristal Rosé is ravishing. Dense, creamy and powerful, the 2013 captures all the qualities of the vintage, specifically the interplay of rich fruit from the warm summer and cooler inflections from a year that started late and ended late with a rare October harvest. Today, the 2013 is deep and beautifully seamless, but it is also young – far too young to be at its best. Dosage is 6.5 grams per liter, a bit less than for the standard bottlings, a decision taken to balance longer aging on the lees and a bit more residual sugar that is always left in the magnums after fermentation. Readers who can find the 2013 in magnum will experience one of the greatest thrills in wine. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Krug
Vintage Brut Champagne Blend 2004
The 2004 Vintage is a gorgeous Champagne that is just beginning to enter its first plateau of maturity. Dried flowers, brioche, mint, marzipan, tangerine peel and spice lend notable nuance throughout. A hint of reduction adds intrigue. As always, the 2004 is a linear, focused Champagne endowed with terrific energy. It is impeccably done. There's a bit more Chardonnay and Meunier than usual in this vintage, and that very much comes through in the wine's personality and overall feel. The blend is 37% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay and 24% Meunier as opposed to the more classic 50%/35%/15% blend. Disgorged: Summer 2018. Krug ID: 318031. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Billecart-Salmon
Cuvée Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2009
The 2009 Brut Blancs de Blancs Louis Salmon is a rich, heady wine. In 2009, Billecart-Salmon opted not to use lots aged in oak, which, along with partially blocked malolactic fermentation, helps explain the wine's freshness and verve. Lemon peel, white flowers, white pepper and chalk are all beautifully delineated. There's gorgeous density and power here, along with a good bit of vintage 2009 radiance. What a gorgeous Champagne this is. The Louis Salmon is a blend from Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly and Cramant. Dosage is 3.75 grams per liter. Disgorged: second trimester 2022. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Krug
Vintage Brut Champagne Blend 2011
The 2011 Vintage is a very pretty wine in this highly challenging vintage. Apricot, mint, dried herbs and a kiss of French oak open nicely in the glass. There is some of the savory character of 2011, but it is nicely woven into the wine’s fabric. To be sure, the 2011 is a slender vintage at Krug. That is especially evident in the wine's light-ish mid-palate and overall feel, yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. I expect the 2011 to be a relatively early maturing Vintage and would not push my luck on aging. Disgorged: Summer 2022. Krug ID: 322038. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Krug
Vintage Brut Champagne Blend 2006
The 2006 Vintage is a rich, opulent Champagne. Passion fruit, apricot, tangerine peel and spice all show the signs of a warm, radiant year. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2006 is an especially opulent Krug endowed with fabulous balance and tons of class. Warm weather during the summer yielded an extroverted Champagne that is already quite delicious. There was some disease pressure in August, but favorable weather in September helped stave that off. The rich, dense style of the 2006 stands in sharp contrast to the 2004 and 2008 in this tasting. Disgorged: Spring 2019. Krug ID: 219022. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Henri Giraud
Hommage au Pinot Noir
The NV Hommage au Pinot Noir offers plenty of Henri Giraud character in a more approachable style than the top-tier wines in most years. Kirsch, plum, cinnamon, dried flowers and cedar give the Hommage its effusive character. It oozes with Pinot charm. This release is based on 2019 and includes 40% reserve wines. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: April 24, 2023. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2013 Comtes de Champagne is a towering Champagne, as it was last year. Rich, sumptuous and explosive, the 2013 soars out of the glass with a captivating mix of tropical fruit, apricot, passion fruit, baked apple tart, mint and yellow flowers. It is one of the most explosive, extroverted Comtes I have ever tasted. Impressive. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago