Vallée de la Marne, WINE

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): The 2012 les Hautes Chèvres was the first vintage of this Blanc de Noirs, single vineyard wine to be made entirely from pinot meunier, rather than pinot noir. Vincent Laval had to replant his eighty year…

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

99 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): (60% PN, 40% CH; 18% barrel-fermented in old oak casks; partial malolactic fermentation; 4g/L dosage)... Even at 13 years of age it upholds brilliant primary definition of icy lemon citrus, with only…

Non-Vintage Rosé Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

95 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): (2010 base; 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir, 30% meunier; full ML fermentation; 9g/L dosage)... As precise and pretty as ever... gorgeously restrained rose petal, red cherry and strawberry hull fruit...…

Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

95 points The Champagne Guide: (2009 base vintage; 25% reserves; 6 g/L dosage). The 2009 base is an impeccable follow-on to the arresting 2008. A magnificent accord of white citrus and white stone fruits meets the gentle patisserie, butter and nougat…

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

96 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): The 2014 Brut Nature Les Chênes (Chardonnay) is fabulous. A Champagne of extraordinary precision, the 2014 dazzles from the very first taste. Chalk, white flowers, mint, slate and lemon peel race out of the glass.…

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

97 points Stephan Reinhardt (Wine Advocate): ...60% PN, 40% CH... Almost entirely fermented in stainless steel (only 5% was vinified in oak barrels) and aged for 11 years on the lees, this is a beautifully ripe and rich yet pure champagne with ripe…

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

96-98 points Richard Juhlin: 71% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay. (Jun 2019) 97+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): Bollinger's 2008 La Grande Année is superb, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, ripe lemons, honeycomb, warm…

Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

93 points John Gilman: ... the vins clairs for this new cuvée were all barrel-fermented. The wine does not undergo malo, is aged four years on its fine lees and finished with a dosage of 4 g/L... The bouquet offers up a refined constellation of apple…

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

95 points Stephan Reinhardt (Wine Advocate): ...pure, fine and intense on the nose, with sweet cherry flavors and a spicy-mineral background. Rich, round and elegant, this is a very fruity-elegant and balanced vintage Champagne with a (very discrete)…

Non-Vintage Rosé Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): The NV (2013) Extra Brut VV Rosé de Saignée Les Beaudiers is mostly Meunier (a few other varieties are interplanted) from vines that were planted on 1965, 1958 and 1953. The natural richness of the old vines…

Vintage Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

95 points James Suckling: Very chalky, oyster shell aromas and chardonnay’s signature, fine citrus fruit leading the way on the nose in restrained style. The palate has the same, intense, chalky, oyster-shell flavors. Very minerally with fresh,…

Non-Vintage Rosé Sparkling Wine from Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

95 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): (2010 base; 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir, 30% meunier; full ML fermentation; 9g/L dosage)... As precise and pretty as ever... gorgeously restrained rose petal, red cherry and strawberry hull fruit...…