This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Philipponnat
Cuvée "1522" Extra Brut Grand Cru Champagne Blend 2008
The 2008 1522 is another compelling mid-tier wine in the Philipponnat range. Creamy, sensual and inviting, the 2008 is super-expressive today. Bright Chardonnay notes add energy to the Pinot fruit in an effortless, gracious Champagne. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, chamomile and lemon confit all resonate through to the finish. The blend is 58% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ and Verzenay) and 42% Chardonnay (from Cramant). Dosage is 4.25 grams per liter. Disgorged: July, 2018. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Brut Rosé Champagne Blend
The NV (2013) Rosé is another positively stellar wine in a range of Champagnes that literally dazzles from the first wine to the last. Tense and transparent, the Rosé is super-expressive. Drops of still Pinot add a dash of color and flavor intensity, but the Selosse Rosé is ultimately driven by bright Chardonnay citrus, floral and mineral notes that build through to the textured, inviting finish. Dosage is 1.8 grams per liter. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Bollinger
La Grande Année Brut Champagne Blend 2008
Bollinger's 2008 Grande Année is rich, ample and full-bodied, with all of the pedigree of the vintage on display. Dried pear, dried flowers, chamomile, red plum and mint develop as the 2008 shows the breadth and creaminess that are such signatures of the Bollinger house style. A whole range of brighter, more floral and chalky notes appear later, adding translucence and energy. The 2008 is 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay taken across 18 crus, and it is the Pinot that very much informs the wine in both flavor and texture. More importantly, the 2008 is one of the best Grande Années I can remember tasting. Bollinger fans won't want to miss it. Disgorged November 2018. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Louis Roederer
Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne 2011
The 2011 Brut Blanc de Blancs is an unqualified success for the vintage, as it does not show any of the awkward green or vegetal notes that are found in so many wines. Medium in body and a touch lither, the 2011 offers lovely Chardonnay expression from a collection of parcels at both ends of Avize. Hints of lemon peel, white flowers and tropical fruit grace the pretty, understated finish. The first signs of aromatic maturity are starting to set in, so I would not push my luck on extended cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Laurent-Perrier
Alexandra Grande Cuvée Rosé Champagne 2004
Tasted from magnum, the 2004 Grande Cuvée Rosé Alexandra, Laurent-Perrier’s flagship Rosé is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir (on the skins) and 20% Chardonnay vinified together that has only been bottled seven times since 1982. From the very first taste, the 2004 is utterly spectacular. Rich, ample and vertical in feel, the 2004 is dazzling. Dried rose petal, star anise, tobacco, dried flowers, red berry fruit and earthy notes all grace this utterly exquisite Champagne. As good as the 2004 is today – and it is fabulous – it will be even better in another few years’ time. The 2004 has been nothing short of magnificent on both occasions I have tasted it so far. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend 2008
The 2008 Dom Pérignon is once again stunning. More than anything else, I am surprised by how well the 2008 drinks given all the tension and energy it holds. Then again, that is precisely what makes 2008 such a unique vintage – namely that the best wines are so chiseled and yet not at all austere. Lemon peel, almond, mint, smoke and crushed rocks are all finely sculpted, but it is the wine’s textural feel, drive and persistence that elevate it into the realm of the sublime. The 2008 will be even better with time in the cellar, but it is absolutely phenomenal even today, in the early going. Three recent bottles have all been nothing short of magnificent. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019)
— 5 years ago
Pierre Péters
L'Esprit Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2013
The 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs L'Esprit is a terrific example of a year in which both ripeness and acidities were elevated. Rich and sumptuous on the palate, with striking layers of nuance throughout, the 2013 has so much to offer. The combination of textural breadth and tension is utterly compelling. And that, in essence, is what makes 2013 such a fascinating vintage. Another few years in bottle will help soften some of the edges. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: July, 2018. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Moët & Chandon
Grand Vintage Brut Champagne Blend 2002
The 2002 Grand Vintage Collection is remarkably bright for a vintage that produced generally much more opulent Champagnes. Orchard fruit, almond, marzipan, chamomile, dried flowers and dried apricot all fill out the wine’s frame effortlessly. Rich and sensual, but also light on its feet, the 2002 is fabulous. The 2002 is 51% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Noir and 23% Meunier. Disgorged: May, 2017. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Krug
Grande Cuveé 167ÈME Édition Brut Champagne Blend
Krug’s NV Grande Cuvée 167ème Edition is positively brilliant. Chef de Caves Eric Lebel and his team have always put tremendous emphasis on the craft of blending. Never has that discipline been more critical than here, with the 167, which is based on 2011, one of the most challenging harvests in Champagne in many years. Brisk and racy in the glass, the 167 is laced with a range of lemon peel, baked apple, brioche and floral notes. Readers should plan on giving the 167 at least a few years in bottle, as it is presently tightly wound and not at all expressive. The flavors are beautifully articulated. In many releases, the Grande Cuvée is richer and more overt. The 167, on the other hand, is airy, weightless and sublime. Most importantly, it is an unqualified success. This release is based on 2011, with reserve wines back to 1995. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago
Delectable Wine
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(2012 base) The NV Brut Zero is a gorgeous entry-level wine in the Tarlant range. Even with no dosage, the Brut Zero is endowed with tremendous textural depth. Apricot, orange peel, mint, chamomile and dried flowers meld together effortlessly. The natural richness of the red-skinned grapes comes through in the wine’s weight and overall feel. This is a superb edition of the Brut Zero. The current release is based on 2012, with 35% reserve wines. Disgorged: December, 2018. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 5 years ago