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$349.95
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WA 95
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
3
available
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95 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 1998 Brut Le Clos Saint-Hilaire emerges from the glass with an exotic array of intensely perfumed, candied fruit. The wine possesses gorgeous textural richness in a deep, layered expression of Pinot Noir. The mousse remains refined and very elegant all the way through to the deeply satisfying, resonating finish. This is bottle: 001493 out of 6,750. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023. Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is a 100% Pinot Noir Champagne made from a small, one hectare plot located on the property in Mareuil-sur-Ay. The wine is fermented in oak and bottled with no dosage. In only its third release, Le Clos Saint-Hilaire has already established itself as one of the region’s most fascinating wines. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023. (Dec 2009)"
17.5/20 points Simon Field (The World of Fine Wine): "Mature nose with a complex interplay between stone fruit and sour honey; almonds and flowers in the background. The palate is equally engaging, albeit in the style that will please those who like their Champagne mellow and mature, with tertiary aromas starting to come to the fore. (Issue #34; 2011)"
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$899.95
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RJ 95–97
IWC 95
WA 94
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
2
available
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95 points (97 potential) Richard Juhlin: no tasting note given (Nov 2009).
95 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Light gold with a steady bead of pinpoint bubbles. Deep, musky aromas of buttered toast, cherry pit, blood orange, lemon rind, pungent herbs and yellow rose, with mounting spiciness. Deeply concentrated but showing unlikely finesse, with firm, gripping red berry and citrus flavors and exotic notes of candied flowers and smoky lees. Intriguing for its blend of richness and delicacy; the endless finish repeats the spice and floral notes and lingers with impressive clarity and notes of honey, anise and minerals. (Nov/Dec 2009)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2000 Brut Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Francaises emerges from the glass with an elegant, refined mousse that is captivating. Sweet, perfumed and layered, the 2000 VVF shows off superb grace and a long, vibrant finish. This is an especially elegant and understated version of this Champagne. My preference is to drink VVF before age 20. Bollinger’s VVF is one of Champagne’s rarest and most iconic wines. Just a few thousand bottles are made each year from Pinot Noir grafted onto pre-phylloxera rootstocks in Ay and Bouzy. This bottle was disgorged in July, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. (Dec 2009)"
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$114.95
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W&S 95
RJ 93–95
WS 94
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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List $157.00
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95 points Wine & Spirits: "[$157 list] Digging deep into its limestone soils, this 2002 comes at you with scents of jasmine, lilac, Asian pear and a continuous pale chalk power. The oak aging of its base wines darkens the fruit and increases its muscular tone, a tannic austerity gentled by the floral notes. The wine smells beautiful: For all its mineral backbone and ten years of maturity, the impression it leaves is that of a sunny meadow -- a scent tied to the freshness of fruit in the vintage. (Dec 2012)"
93-95 points Richard Juhlin (Apr 2012).
94 points and 'Highly Recommended,' Wine Spectator: "Ripe, appealing flavors of peach, Gala apple, toast and blood orange mix with a streak of minerality and notes of spice, all set on the fine-grained texture. Fresh and focused, with racy acidity and a long, mouthwatering, nut-tinged finish. Drink now through 2025. (11/30/11)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$150 list] The 2002 Brut La Grande Annee is marvelous. The 2002 is an understated Grande Annee that caresses the palate with layers of effortless, weightless fruit. The mousse is exceptionally fine, which adds to the impression of total elegance. This is a relatively bright, floral Grande Annee with plenty of aromatic lift, inner perfume and no sense of heaviness at all. A rich, creamy finish adds the final note of complexity and pedigree. The 2002 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 71% from Grand Cru villages and 29% from Premier Crus. Disgorged February 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. (Nov 2011)"
94 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(60% pint noir and 40% chardonnay; 71% of the fruit is from grand cru sites and rest from premier crus; disgorged February, 2011): Light gold. Ripe pear and honey on the explosively perfumed nose, with sexy floral and marzipan nuances expanding with air. Fat, full and palate-coating, boasting impressive power and thrust. Shows an intriguing blend of richness and energy and finishes long, with smoky and spicy nuances. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
93 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(60% pinot noir, 40% chardonnay, 100% grand and premier crus; $150 list). In contrast to the heightened expressiveness of the 2004 Grande Année Rosé this is actually quite restrained with discreet notes of green apple, pear and citrus peel. The delicious, intense and voluminous flavors enjoy a prominent effervescence that is almost foamy yet the bead is strikingly fine, all wrapped in a distinctly yeasty, dry and admirably complex finish that goes on and on. This too could be enjoyed now or held for a number of years to come depending on how much yeast character you like. Drink: now+. (Oct 2012)"
2 stars, Peter Liem (ChampagneGuide.net): "Made of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, this is spicy and bold, showing the ripeness of the vintage. It's exuberant and youthful at the moment, its rich red-fruit flavors feeling sleekly voluptuous, although it's all held in place by its underlying chalkiness. The aromas persist with fragrance and length on the finish, and overall, this promises to develop well--in fact, it should be much more interesting when the primary fruit calms down, allowing a more mature complexity to develop. (Last tasted: 11/11)"
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$49.95
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JG 96
AM 90
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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List $70.00
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92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The current release of Godmé Père et Fils Blanc de Noirs is a lovely wine, which is comprised entirely of pinot noir. The base wine of the new release is from the 2007 vintage, with fully forty percent of the blend hailing from reserve wines dating back to ’03, and the dosage is 6 grams per liter, which follows the trend of Monsieur Godmé to use lower level dosage in all of his recent bottlings. The nose is deep, pure and very vibrant in its blend of tart orange, apple, bread dough, complex and very precise minerality, citrus zest and a lovely floral topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and extremely elegant, with excellent focus, fine mid-palate depth, very refined mousse, crisp acids and excellent length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is a lovely wine that should age every bit as well as the bottling I tucked away in the cellar four years ago (which is reported on immediately below). Fine and high class juice. 2012-2025. (Jul/Aug 2012)"
90 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(Base wine 2006, 100% pinot noir). This is aromatically complex and while not quite as overtly fruity as the Rosé, this too speaks of red berry aromas laced with soft yeast notes. There is an exuberant effervescence with a creamy and very round mouth feel before culminating in mouth coating finish where the yeast notes of the nose are reprised. This is on the fruity side but often very fruit forward examples lack depth but that is not the case here. Drink: 2013+. (Jan 2012)"
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$74.95
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TP 95
JG 93
WN 92
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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List $85.00
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95 points The Tasting Panel: "Pale salmon pink; floral nose; smooth and juicy with raspberry, strawberry and lovely depth; elegant and sexy with balance, length and great style; pure and refined, classic. (Jan/Feb 2011)"
93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "Prior to my visit to the house in March, I had no idea that Rosé bubblies played such a large role in Gosset’s yearly sales, but I guess I should have known, as this has consistently been a house specialty and people are not dumb! The current release of the Grande Rosé is another superb wine, wafting from the glass in a youthfully complex and classy blend of blood orange, a touch of melon, orange zest, stony minerality and bread dough. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and tightly-knit, with a fine core of fruit, utterly refined mousse, lovely focus and excellent length and grip on the poised and still quite primary finish. This will be even better with a year or two in the cellar, though it is already quite tasty in its youth. 2012-2025. (Jul/Aug 2012)"
92 points Wine News: "[$85 list] Light tangerine hue; steady effervescence and impressive mousse. Nose of dusty rose and light yeasty scents. Creamy flavors of orange peel, toast and citrus-tinged minerality. Tart tangerine and lemon-lime notes mark a slightly bitter finish. (Dec 2008/Jan 2009)"
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$144.95
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WS 95
W&S 94
WA 93
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
7
available
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List $199.00
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95 points Wine Spectator: "[$199 list] Like finely woven silk, this offers beautiful texture, sublime balance and integration. Rich apple pastry, candied orange peel, crystallized honey and dried apricot flavors are layered with hints of smoke, sea salt and toasted nut. Lovely, with a fresh, persistent finish. Drink now through 2028. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. (12/15/11)"
94 points Wine & Spirits: "[$199 list] A 50-50 blend of chardonnay and pinot noir from grands crus in the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, this emphasizes chardonnay in mature scents of golden delicious apple crisp and ripe Bosc pear. Pinot noir gives it muscle, guiding the wine’s richness toward meaty dishes like pheasant roasted with morels. Acidity zips up the finish, keeping the nutty, caramelized aspects in check. A mouthwatering wine at a delicious moment of maturity. (Dec 2011)"
93 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$199 list] The 1998 Brut Cuvee des Enchanteleurs flows from the glass with juicy yellow peaches, apricots, mint, flowers and light honey. The wine shows gorgeous textural depth along with an utterly refined, impeccable mousse. All the flavors meld together seamlessly on the rich, buttery finish. This is a beautiful, complete Enchanteleurs to drink now and over the next handful of years. The 1998 is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Champagne Mailly, Verzy, Verzenay, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Chouilly, all Grand Cru villages... Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018. (Nov 2011)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(a 50/50 blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, all from grand cru vineyards): Light, bright gold. Poached pear, flowers, honey and toasty lees on the smoky, spice-accented nose. Broad and juicy, offering open-knit orchard and pit fruit flavors braced by tangy acidity. Smooth, sappy and smoky on the finish, which shows excellent clarity and closing bite. Tighter than the outstanding 1996 version and missing just a bit of that wine's heft. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
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$244.95
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W&S 96
WS 95
JG 95
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
10
available
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96 points Wine & Spirits: "Building on the exotic character of the vintage, this wine’s volumes of flavor range from lobster broth to star anise; the yeasty crust of a fresh baguette; the spritz of lemon zest. It’s a vibrant 2000, remarkable for the delicacy and intricate detail attained within the confines of a single year. Oyster bliss with a West Coast Kumamoto. (Dec 2012)"
95 points Wine Spectator: "Tightly knit, this is finely textured and expressive. Savory hints of fennel seed and cardamom accent dried apricot, bread dough, hazelnut, creamy espresso and grapefruit zest notes, remaining racy and focused through to the lasting, lightly briny finish. Drink now through 2027. (11/30/12)"
95 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2000 vintage of Krug is evolving very nicely and seems likely to be a year where the wine can offer superb pleasure at a fairly early age, which is not always the case with some of the more structured vintages from this superb house. The wine is blossoming nicely and shows some lovely secondary layers of complexity on the nose, with scents of apple, gentle smokiness, caraway seed, discreetly complex soil tones, bread dough and a gentle touch of nutskins wafting from the glass. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and seamless, with a superb core of fruit, very elegant mousse, suave acidity, excellent grip and laser-like focus on the very long, complex and intensely flavored finish. This is a superb vintage of Krug that is already a very impressive drink, and I cannot see a whole lot of reason to defer one’s gratification, as the wine is really showing brilliantly today. 2013-2035+. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
93-95 points Richard Juhlin (Oct 2012).
93 points Wine Advocate: "The 2000 vintage has a really pretty floral / peach blossom nose with nuances of chopped nuts, spiced apple slices, coriander seed and a touch of anise. The palate is elegantly fruited offering very crisp acid and a long finish with some of the baking spices coming through. This vintage is blended of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Meunier. (May 2012)" -Lisa Perrotti-Brown
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$149.95
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WS 95
W&S 95
RJ 94–95
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $190.00
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95 points Wine Spectator: "Very fine on the palate, with a lovely texture, carrying layered flavors of patisserie pear, dried apricot, smoked almond, crystallized honey and a hint of kumquat. Vibrant and mouthwatering, featuring a long finish of ground cumin and ginger. Drink now through 2022. (11/15/12)"
95 points Wine & Spirits: "This is the best release of Grande Cuvée we’ve tasted in the last several years, a wine that lives up to its historical greatness with Burgundian richness and Champenoise complexity. It’s layered, intense, almost tannic in its grip, bringing high notes of chamomile and allspice to leaven the resinous butterscotch and chalk cave depths. A heady and immense multivintage blend. (Dec 2012)"
94 points (95 potential) Richard Juhlin: "(50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier). Strangely enough, this exceptional wine is one of the Champagnes I've drunk on the greatest number of occasions--more than ninety times, in fact. Almost every time, some new element is revealed. Because it's been blended from ten different vintages and forty-seven different wines from twenty-five crus, variation is understandable. However, I have only missed spotting it on one occasion at a blind tasting, proving that its basic character is unique. The extremely tough acidity, together with the heavy, rich Krug aromas, are the foremost clues. Always check how straight the cork is in order to decipher when it was disgorged. When young, the acidity can be too hard. When middle aged and older, the Grand Cuvée has a fabulously complex nose and palate, dominated by nuts and honey. The aftertaste is always long and majestic, like a great symphony. The best bottles deserve even higher points than I've given here. (Apr 2009)"
94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "...It was disgorged in the fall of 2011, is primarily based on the 2004 vintage, contains fully a dozen different years in the blend- with the oldest wines included in this particular rendition of Grande Cuvée dating back to the 1990 vintage. The bouquet of this young and very promising Krug Grande Cuvée wafts from the glass in a blend of apple, tangerine, a touch of nutmeg, complex minerality, rye toast, orange peel and incipient notes of smokiness and nutskin. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and exquisitely balanced, with great midpalate depth, ripe and snappy acids, laser-like focus, elegant mousse and outstanding length and grip on the very refined and still quite youthful finish. While this release of the Krug Grande Cuvée is already quite enjoyable, I have a strong preference for aging my bottles of this wine and would be inclined to not touch this bottle until at least four or five years have passed, as it is likely to last another thirty-five to forty years! 2013-2050. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
94 points Wine Enthusiast: "With its minimum of six years' bottle aging, this is a beautifully integrated, mature wine. It has a wonderful toast character, layered over sliced pears and ripe acidity. With its complex poise between lightness and richness, this remains an intensely impressive wine. (Dec 2010)"
93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Krug’s MV Grande Cuvée is weightless and totally graceful from start to finish. The current release is a distinctly fresh, floral version of the Grand Cuvée, with tons of brightness in its aromas and flavors, but less in the way of the oxidative notes that are sometimes present in Grand Cuvée. Still, there is a lot to like here. This is one of the most beautiful Grand Cuvées I have tasted over the last few years. This release is based on the 2005 vintage, and includes wines back to 1990. This is Lot 411046. Disgorged: 2011. (May 2013)"
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$149.95
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RJ 92–96
WA 94
JG 94
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $169.00
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92-96 points Richard Juhlin (Jun 2012).
94+ points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$169 list] The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Perignons I have ever tasted, going back to 1952. Readers will remember that 2003 was a torrid vintage across northern Europe, especially during the critical month of August, when temperatures remained very hot for well over a month. The harvest was the earliest on record, until 2011, that is. I suppose its not that surprising Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy chose to make a 2003 Dom Perignon, given his penchant for risk-taking, an approach that has yielded so many memorable wines that stretch the perception of what big brand Champagne is and can be. The 2003 Dom Perignon is a big, broad shouldered wine. It does not have the seductiveness of the 2000, nor the power of the 2002. It is instead very much its own wine. In 2003 Geoffroy elected to use more Pinot Noir than is typically the case, and that comes through in the wine’s breath and volume. The 2003 is a big, powerful Champagne that will require quite a bit of time to shed some of its baby fat. The trademark textural finesse is there, though. I expect the 2003 to be a highly divisive Champagne because of its extreme personality, but then again, many of the world’s legendary wines were made from vintages considered freakish at the time. The 2003 is an atypically, rich, powerful, vinous Dom Perignon loaded with fruit, structure and personality. It is not for the timid, but rather it is a wine for those who can be patient. No one has a crystal ball, but personally I will not be surprised if in 20 years’ time the 2003 is considered an iconic Champagne. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2038. (Nov 2011)"
94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2003 Dom Perignon, which I had not had a chance to taste when it was initially released, is really a quite stunning example of the vintage. When I had initially heard that Moët et Chandon was planning to release a Dom Perignon from this torrid summer, I was a bit surprised, but figured that the superb track record Dom Perignon has had over the last several decades was sufficient evidence to not judge the wine before it was tasted. So, I was not disappointed to find that the 2003 Dom Perignon is indeed a young and classic wine in the making, with plenty of structural integrity and customary youthful snappiness. The lovely and very fresh nose wafts from the glass in a blend of quince green apple, complex minerality, young Dom herbal complications, sourdough bread, citrus peel and a nice touch of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and very well-balanced, with a rock solid core, superb mineral drive, refined mousse, outstanding acidity and fine focus and grip on the very long and youthful finish. A lovely Dom in the making that is quite classic in profile and needing time in the cellar to really start to offer up its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2040. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
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$159.95
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RJ 92–96
WA 94
JG 94
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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Dom Pérignon by David Lynch is a limited-edition bottling designed by the famous director, David Lynch. Displaying a bronze label with metallic designs, it is marbled with grantie tints, glitters of mica, shot through with bright trails for a flourish of modernity. The silver signature of David Lynch stands out as a hallmark of elegance.
92-96 points Richard Juhlin (Jun 2012).
94+ points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Perignons I have ever tasted, going back to 1952. Readers will remember that 2003 was a torrid vintage across northern Europe, especially during the critical month of August, when temperatures remained very hot for well over a month. The harvest was the earliest on record, until 2011, that is. I suppose its not that surprising Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy chose to make a 2003 Dom Perignon, given his penchant for risk-taking, an approach that has yielded so many memorable wines that stretch the perception of what big brand Champagne is and can be. The 2003 Dom Perignon is a big, broad shouldered wine. It does not have the seductiveness of the 2000, nor the power of the 2002. It is instead very much its own wine. In 2003 Geoffroy elected to use more Pinot Noir than is typically the case, and that comes through in the wine’s breath and volume. The 2003 is a big, powerful Champagne that will require quite a bit of time to shed some of its baby fat. The trademark textural finesse is there, though. I expect the 2003 to be a highly divisive Champagne because of its extreme personality, but then again, many of the world’s legendary wines were made from vintages considered freakish at the time. The 2003 is an atypically, rich, powerful, vinous Dom Perignon loaded with fruit, structure and personality. It is not for the timid, but rather it is a wine for those who can be patient. No one has a crystal ball, but personally I will not be surprised if in 20 years’ time the 2003 is considered an iconic Champagne. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2038. (Nov 2011)"
94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2003 Dom Perignon, which I had not had a chance to taste when it was initially released, is really a quite stunning example of the vintage. When I had initially heard that Moët et Chandon was planning to release a Dom Perignon from this torrid summer, I was a bit surprised, but figured that the superb track record Dom Perignon has had over the last several decades was sufficient evidence to not judge the wine before it was tasted. So, I was not disappointed to find that the 2003 Dom Perignon is indeed a young and classic wine in the making, with plenty of structural integrity and customary youthful snappiness. The lovely and very fresh nose wafts from the glass in a blend of quince green apple, complex minerality, young Dom herbal complications, sourdough bread, citrus peel and a nice touch of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and very well-balanced, with a rock solid core, superb mineral drive, refined mousse, outstanding acidity and fine focus and grip on the very long and youthful finish. A lovely Dom in the making that is quite classic in profile and needing time in the cellar to really start to offer up its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2040. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
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$132.95
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CG 96
WE 94
RJ 89–93
France
-
Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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96 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "And then there is this remarkable wine, whose depth, richness, vitality and precise character move it to the head of the class. A few privileged tasters will point out offerings at twice its price as proof that there is more yet to be had in Champagnes, but those wines, while spectacular, are no more drinkable or polished. For here, in a dramatic yet balanced presentation, is a serious wine that layers complex yeast, brioche and wheat toast notes on top of deep, lemony, chalky, creamy, lightly vanillin bits. Its finish is extraordinarily long, and it conveys an impression of impeccable crafting from beginning to end. (Dec 2012)"
94 points Wine Enthusiast: "This shimmers with its flavors of apple and lime, its hint of toast and its soft finish. It's finely balanced, a great selection that is ready to drink now. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2012)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "Elegant, with lovely texture and focused, lively acidity. Flavors of currant, candied lemon zest, honey and white peach lead to the creamy, biscuit-tinged finish. Drink now through 2019. (11/30/11)"
89 points (93 potential) Richard Juhlin: "(50% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir and 4% Pinot Meunier). (Sep 2011)"
Producer notes: "'The Cuvée Belle Epoque 2004 is like a freshly-cut diamond' says Hervé Deschamps. It is the perfect expression of the richness of Perrier-Jouët's exceptional vineyard. All the lightness of white floral notes: hawthorn blossom, linden blossom and white clover. A fresh, stylish wine with good structure, silky and elegant, based on teh mineral notes of the best Chardonnay Grand Crus. The floral, fruity notes give way to subtle spicy hints for a pleasant finish on the palate. The best moment: pre-dinner drinks. During a meal, this wine pairs well with seafood, fish and white meat. After seven years' ageing at Perrier-Jouët, this vintage can be stored for over ten more in your cellar."
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$129.95
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CG 96
TP 95
WE 94
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
7
available
|
List $150.00
|
96 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "And then there is this remarkable wine, whose depth, richness, vitality and precise character move it to the head of the class. A few privileged tasters will point out offerings at twice its price as proof that there is more yet to be had in Champagnes, but those wines, while spectacular, are no more drinkable or polished. For here, in a dramatic yet balanced presentation, is a serious wine that layers complex yeast, brioche and wheat toast notes on top of deep, lemony, chalky, creamy, lightly vanillin bits. Its finish is extraordinarily long, and it conveys an impression of impeccable crafting from beginning to end. (Dec 2012)"
95 points The Tasting Panel: "Luscious and vivid with tangy, bright fruit and great depth; stunning and complex with balance and vibrancy; great now but a candidate for further aging. (Jan 2013)"
94 points Wine Enthusiast: "This shimmers with its flavors of apple and lime, its hint of toast and its soft finish. It's finely balanced, a great selection that is ready to drink now. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2012)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "Elegant, with lovely texture and focused, lively acidity. Flavors of currant, candied lemon zest, honey and white peach lead to the creamy, biscuit-tinged finish. Drink now through 2019. (11/30/11)"
93 points (potential) Richard Juhlin: "(50% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir and 4% Pinot Meunier). (Sep 2011)"
Producer notes: "'The Cuvée Belle Epoque 2004 is like a freshly-cut diamond' says Hervé Deschamps. It is the perfect expression of the richness of Perrier-Jouët's exceptional vineyard. All the lightness of white floral notes: hawthorn blossom, linden blossom and white clover. A fresh, stylish wine with good structure, silky and elegant, based on teh mineral notes of the best Chardonnay Grand Crus. The floral, fruity notes give way to subtle spicy hints for a pleasant finish on the palate. The best moment: pre-dinner drinks. During a meal, this wine pairs well with seafood, fish and white meat. After seven years' ageing at Perrier-Jouët, this vintage can be stored for over ten more in your cellar."
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$379.95
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CG 96
WE 94
RJ 89–93
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
2
available
|
|
96 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "And then there is this remarkable wine, whose depth, richness, vitality and precise character move it to the head of the class. A few privileged tasters will point out offerings at twice its price as proof that there is more yet to be had in Champagnes, but those wines, while spectacular, are no more drinkable or polished. For here, in a dramatic yet balanced presentation, is a serious wine that layers complex yeast, brioche and wheat toast notes on top of deep, lemony, chalky, creamy, lightly vanillin bits. Its finish is extraordinarily long, and it conveys an impression of impeccable crafting from beginning to end. (Dec 2012)"
94 points Wine Enthusiast: "This shimmers with its flavors of apple and lime, its hint of toast and its soft finish. It's finely balanced, a great selection that is ready to drink now. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2012)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "Elegant, with lovely texture and focused, lively acidity. Flavors of currant, candied lemon zest, honey and white peach lead to the creamy, biscuit-tinged finish. Drink now through 2019. (11/30/11)"
89 points (93 potential) Richard Juhlin: "(50% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir and 4% Pinot Meunier). (Sep 2011)"
Producer notes: "'The Cuvée Belle Epoque 2004 is like a freshly-cut diamond' says Hervé Deschamps. It is the perfect expression of the richness of Perrier-Jouët's exceptional vineyard. All the lightness of white floral notes: hawthorn blossom, linden blossom and white clover. A fresh, stylish wine with good structure, silky and elegant, based on teh mineral notes of the best Chardonnay Grand Crus. The floral, fruity notes give way to subtle spicy hints for a pleasant finish on the palate. The best moment: pre-dinner drinks. During a meal, this wine pairs well with seafood, fish and white meat. After seven years' ageing at Perrier-Jouët, this vintage can be stored for over ten more in your cellar."
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$229.95
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TP 97
RJ 95
CG 95
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
4
available
|
List $349.00
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97 points The Tasting Panel: "Pale and bright; fruity nose; crisp, tangy and supremely elegant; pure, juicy and classic with hints of raspberry and citrus; fine bubbles; smooth, very long and graceful; wonderful. (Jan/Feb 2011)"
95 points (potential) Richard Juhlin: "(46% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay, 4% Pinot Meunier) Light and shimmeringly lovely with pearl necklace mousse. A stingy aroma initially that slowly opens up in a creamy style that is reminiscent of the finest homemade vanilla ice cream. The core of the flavour is replete with red fruits bathed in floral, creamy Chardonnay from Cramant. A shy spiciness from whence originates the biscuit aroma that in time becomes the roasting of coffee, can be detected in the empty glass. (Mar 2009)"
95 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "Although so rich and yeasty that images of fresh-baked brioche leap to mind, this lovely, wonderfully refined wine comes with a marked boost in fruitiness compared to its stylistic peers. There is something akin to California fruit deep down at its heart, and while it has real Rosé richness and weight, it is low in astringency and is just about as polished as they come. (Dec 2010)"
93 points Wine & Spirits: "[$349 list] This rosé's brisk mousse suspends tart cherry flavors over a delicate web of structure. The mousse is part of that web, as is the edgy acidity and light, tight tannin, all merging together into a firm, evanescent pinot noir. This has the clarity and purity that pinot can attain in Champagne, a pristine limestone beauty to pour as guests arrive for dinner. (Dec 2010)"
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$154.95
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JG 95
WS 94
IWC 93
France
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Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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95 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The Réserve Liesse d’Harbonville is Ployez-Jacquemart’s Tête de Cuvée and it is a fantastic example of the 1996 vintage. The wine is barrel fermented four to five year old Burgundy barrels and does not go through malolactic fermentation. It is made from a blend of seventy percent chardonnay and thirty percent red grapes, and then is aged a minimum of ten years in the cellar prior to disgorgement and release. The bouquet on the 1996 is deep, complex and truly stunning, as it soars from the glass in a blaze of apple, nutskin, tangerine, brioche, beautifully complex minerality and a topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite intensely flavored, with a great core of fruit, refined mousse, snappy acids and great length and grip on the complex and very intense finish. A terrific bottle of bubbly that is still on its way up and should prove to be one of the reference point wines of this great Champagne vintage.. 2010-2025+. (Jul/Aug 2010)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$165 list] Mouthwatering, with finely detailed texture and a harmonious array of Fuji apple, pineapple, vanilla, brioche and grated coconut flavors. A mineral base note drives this home and lingers on the finish of coffee liqueur. Drink now through 2021. 80 cases imported. (12/15/11)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Pale gold with an energetic bead. Explosively perfumed aroma of pure blood orange, yellow apple and smoky minerals. Deep, palate-staining apple and orange flavors grab the palate and hold on tight, gaining serious stony bite with air. Strikingly pure and concentrated, featuring expansive citrus and orchard fruit flavors underscored by subtle smokiness and dusty citrus pith character. Already a knockout, this should be even better with another five or six years of aging. (Nov/Dec 2007)"
92 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The house’s tete de cuvee 1996 Brut Liesse d’Harbonville is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot (Noir and Meunier) aged exclusively in French oak, but with no malolactic fermentation. This is a gorgeous bottling that achieves marvelous richness in its ripe apricots, smoke, minerals, brioche, honey and sweet toasted oak, all while maintaining the acidity and verve that keeps the wine in balance. The warm, toasty aromas and flavors are beautifully balanced in this extroverted, lively wine. This is a terrific Champagne from Ployez-Jacquemart. This bottle was disgorged September, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016. (Dec 2008)"
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$264.95
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W&S 97
WA 94
WS 94
France
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Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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List $359.00
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97 points Wine & Spirits: "Essential Salon: A pure evocation of chardonnay in limestone, a powerful and profound Champagne. 'F*** yes,' said one visiting sommelier from Los Angeles. As for me, I love this wine. Its freshness is astonishing, tasting like fruit that was just picked, yet it somehow has the wisdom and harmony that comes with time. There’s a modulation to the flavors as they rise from limestone, dive into fresh cream and rise again in savory richness. Though other ’99s may not reach this level, the wine makes a stunning argument for its terroir. If you want to identify great Salon in the future, remember the scent of this glass. (Dec 2011)"
3 stars, Peter Liem (ChampagneGuide.net): "...this 1999 shows an undeniable refinement, driven by its archetypal Mesnil chalkiness as well as a surprisingly prominent acidity. It's a pleasing contradiction of characters: while its notes of Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and nut oils are luscious and atypically forward for a young Salon, it also feels unusually youthful and tense for the vintage, and as compelling as it is to taste now, it clearly contains hidden facets waiting to be revealed in the future. On the mid-palate it acquires a concentrated ripeness of flavor that hints at red fruits, and it finishes with expansive, mouthfilling dimension, persisting with long, kinetic and subtly complex length. As with the superb 1997, this wine will likely be viewed with suspicion by those who believe that a young Salon must only be all about razor blades and laser beams, but in truth, all of the post-1988 releases have shown a great deal of richness, and the 1999 is highly successful in its blend of modern personality and classical style. There's no reason to believe that it won't continue to develop for the next decade at least, and it should turn out to be quite exciting, particularly if you give it sufficient time in the cellar. Last tasted: 4/11."
94+ points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 1999 Brut Blanc de Blancs is impenetrable. This is a massive, full-bodied Salon that totally saturates the palate with fruit. Neither as austere or pointed as the 1996, nor as open as the 1997, instead the 1999 comes across as big, rich and powerful. There is little in the way of flavor or aromatic development, and it may be some time before any real complexity develops in bottle. Today it looks like the wine's best days are well off into the future. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. (Nov 2011)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$359 list] There's a streak of minerality and a lacy texture to this floral Champagne, with finely tuned acidity to focus the candied lemon zest, poached pear, nutmeg and ginger hints. A more delicate style, but seamless in its balance and finesse, with a subtle finish. Drink now through 2024. 5,000 cases made. (12/31/11)"
19/20 points Gault & Millau: "From a noble origin Le Mesnil, a single grape variety Chardonnay and only during major vintages, this 1999 is a vintage that provides a lot of emotions. This is not the most powerful vintage of the decade and one may prefer the '96, for example. But the fragility of the balance and the ethereal touches us and delights us as a mantilla placed on a soft shoulder."
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$139.95
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W&S 95
RJ 92–95
CG 93
France
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Champagne
In stock,
7
available
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95 points Wine & Spirits: "The contrast of depth and brightness, or intensity and weightlessness creates a sense of harmonic resonance in this wine. All the aromatics are potent, from the scent of rising bread dough to the red skin of an apple, all the corresponding flavors rich yet refreshing. The firmness of the acidity seems to add briskness to the mousse, leaving a clean, chiseled impression of the chalk soils in which this grew. Once in a while, there is a young beauty who will age into a more profound older beauty; La Grande Dame is part of that rare breed. (Dec 2006)"
92 points (95 potential) Richard Juhlin: "(64% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay) A fantastic wine that enchants the bon viveur with its gorgeous panache of acacia, white chocolate and hazelnut essence, and its tropical passion fruit finish. Clicquot hesitated for a long time before I went in and convinced them that the wine was good enough to fly the cuvée de prestige flag. Its purity and straightforward charm are delightful. (Oct 2009)"
93 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "[$150 list] 64% Pinot Noir; 36% Chardonnay. Seemingly a bit livelier than the typical Grande Dame, but still a rich wine based on its Pinot Noir heritage, it combines an admirably strong mousse with plenty of acidity and a dried toffee, nutty overlay of burgeoning complexity. Lovely. (Dec 2008)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "[$150 list] There's plenty of finesse in this sleek Champagne, along with an airy texture and loads of grip. Graphite, lemon, toast and mineral aromas and flavors prevail, and this takes on a chalky edge on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2010 through 2028. (12/31/08)"
92 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "[$150 list] Pale yellow with a steady bead. Orange, lemon, apple, smoky minerals and yeast on the nose. Fleshy orchard fruit flavors coat the palate and are energized by dusty minerals and a fresh jasmine quality. An energetic version of this bottling, with good finishing grip and lingering floral qualities. This gained weight with air: I'd hold off on popping the cork for at least another three years. (Nov/Dec 2008)"
92 points Wine Enthusiast: "A superbly ripe Champagne that has all the open generosity of the 1998 vintage. Peach and apricot aromas are followed by flavors of hazelnuts, honey and spices. Of course, it is still very young, and, like all vintages of La Grande Dame, it will age for many years. (Nov 2006)"
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$269.95
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WE 95
RJ 92–95
WS 93
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
3
available
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95 points Wine & Spirits: "There's a firm, juicy pinot noir at the core of this rosé, a bold young wine that's packed with citrus acidity and intensely concentrated fruit. If you open it now, the wine will need food to bridge its power, whether roast quail with chanterelles or a steak with sautéed wild mushrooms. Or cellar it, relying on the exceptional balance and depth of flavor to sustain the wine as it ages. (Dec 2006)"
92 points (95 potential) Richard Juhlin: "15 % Pinot Noir from Clicquot's best location at Bouzy. Clos Colin is added to the delicate white blend from Verzy, Bouzy, Verzenay, Ambonnay, Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil. A fairytale, elegant and beautifully scintillating champagne with brilliant intensity of colour and felicitously aromatic opulence. A sensual beauty to be drunk at once, but also a superb old lady in the future. Only 10,000 bottles for our thirsty world. (May 2009)"
93 points Wine Spectator: "Tightly knit, focused by racy acidity and a streak of minerality, this offers subtle notes of white peach, anise, biscuit and kumquat. The refined finish echoes a smoky note. Drink now through 2022. (12/15/12)"
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$299.95
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WA 95
WS 93
W&S 93
France
-
Champagne
In stock,
4
available
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95 points Wine Advocate: "Wow - really opulent nose with exotic spice and ginger notes supporting a core of decadently creamy, kaya jam, butterscotch, praline and marzipan aromas. The palate is very rich, silky, full and viscous yet beautifully balanced by crisp acidity and seamless dosage. Touch of creamy / spicy oak. Very long, multilayered finish. Tasted April 2009." -Lisa Perrotti-Brown
93 points Wine Spectator: "Simply seductive, this silky Champagne features expressive coconut, candied berry, grapefruit and spice flavors. Harmonious and fresh, with a lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2020. (11/30/09)"
93 points Wine & Spirits: "From two parcels of 40-year-old vines, this selection is made in older barrels. It's muscular but not overtly oaked. Like a number of wines from the 1998 vintage, this is going through an awkward phase, in this case, showing its acidity before it shows the fullness of its flavors. Yet it's clearly a great wine, with complexities that range from bitter melon to red apple skin and earthy chalk. The integration it develops with air predicts a long life ahead. (Dec 2008)"
92 points Josh Raynolds International Wine Cellar: "Medium yellow. Intensely smoky, energetic bouquet evokes ripe peach, honeyed pear, buttered toast and a wild cherry skin quality. Round and fleshy, offering deep but precise apple and pear flavors and bracing citrus zest bite. Really expands across the palate while maintaining energy and focus. (Nov/Dec 2007)"
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