The current release of the NV Champagne Brut Reserve is based on the 2019 vintage. It is roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Meunier, and Pinot Noir, with 35% reserve wine blended in. Fruity, floral, and open, with notes of fresh... Read More
The 2021 Riesling Wiebelsberg Grand Cru is from Boeckel's substantial 2.5-hectare plot, two of which are contiguous right in the heart of Wiebelsberg. Boeckel says, “This is not Riesling; this is Wiebelsberg.”... Read More
The haunting bouquet of violets, forest floor, red beets and berries holds you in its gentle grip so that you have to force yourself to take a sip. But when you do, the combination of great concentration and finesse is truly breathtaking.... Read More
In certain vintages, I actually prefer this wine—from 35-year-old vines in Pignan (Nord)—to the La Guigasse. The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Grand Pin offers up compelling aromas of rose petals, exotic dried spices,... Read More
Much like its Grand Pin stablemate, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse manages to be full-bodied and concentrated yet simultaneously light and airy in feel. There's less rose petal here and more garrigue, backed by silky... Read More
Fun and friendly, this has bright, high-toned blackcurrant and cherry fruit with quite mineral and grippy tannins that give a firm texture. Feels well worked, on the more savoury side, with the fruit concentration underneath the... Read More
A blend of 70% Sémillon, 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Sauvignon Gris, fully matured in stainless tanks, the 2022 de Cérons Blanc evokes aromas of lemon, lemon oil, jasmine, spring flowers and smoke. Medium to full-bodied,... Read More
The 2019 Château Laforge is more up-front and charming, with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of savory red and black fruits, leafy herbs, iron, and tobacco. It has good acidity, ripe tannins, and, as with all of the releases... Read More
Sunny yellow fruit aromas with a touch of lemon rind, peach kernel and toasted buckwheat. A dense and weighty palate with a honeyed note, but more on the floral, honeysuckle side. Really mouthpuckering acidity.
The NV Cremant de Bourgogne has a slightly burnished color. The nose is very yeasty with touches of baked bread and mushroom (not that far from a mature Mumm Champagne!). The palate is on the richer style of Crémant de... Read More
Plenty of chamomile and spice followed by ripe pear and sweet hay aromas mark this value-priced Champagne from the Arce Valley's D'Armanville, which has been making wine in the region for 150 years. Flavours of bruised... Read More
The color is bright red with purple highlights. The nose is intense and complex on spicy notes added to aromas of red fruit jam and a hint of light tobacco. The mouth is attractive and smooth with a tight texture, on ripe fruit... Read More