Bubbles
NV Segura Viudas, Cava, Heredad Grand Reserve
Cava, Spain
A small, fine, plentiful mousse. The opening aromas are of the ageing on lees, lightly smoky, with touches of biscuit or bread, which are followed by hints of honey, fruit and flower petals. The palate is excellent, fruity and full of flavor, with dried fruits from the lees ageing, but very elegant, giving the drinker a delightful sense of abundance.
67% Macabeo, 33% Parellada
$22 - 91 Points
NV Ruinart, Brut Rose
Champagne, France
Blend constructed on a base of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, mostly classified as Premiers Crus with 20 to 25% coming from wines reserved from the 2 previous years. The nose is subtle and fresh, first offering an original palette of tropical fruits guava and lychee that lead to raspberries, cherries and wild strawberries followed by rose and pomegranate notes, which complete the complex, intense aromatic profile. On the palate the attack is distinct and full, cradled by a gentle effervescence. The aromas of freshly picked berries are fully expressed with notes of clover honey, ground ginger spice and orange peel. The balance brings together a delightful freshness and voluptuous body, expressed by an elegant bracing touch of mint and pink grapefruit.
NV JP Chenet, Sparkling Rosé
Frais et Fruité, France
100% Bobal. A beautiful sparkling rosé that is as the label suggests, fresh and fruity. Delicate notes of strawberry and raspberry with delicate flowers, angel food cake and a hint of citrus. Fine bubbles and silky in texture, this wine is light and easy going making a perfect with everything from brunch to strawberry shortcake and makes a great addition to cocktails. Try the Pink Flamingo that blends grapefruit juice and strawberry syrup with this delicious Rose!
NV Maysara, Sparkling Rosé
McMinnville, Oregon
100% Pinot Noir. Demeter Certified Biodynamic. A stunning sparkling rose that is balanced with high-tension, acidity and minerality. The fine bubbles dance across the palate from start to finish with notes of delicate flowers, raspberry and brioche with a clean finish of dried cranberries, pomegranate and wild strawberries.
2013 Soter Vineyards, Brut Rosé
Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Oregon
89% Pinot Noir-11% Chardonnay- 100% Biodynamic fruit from the 40-acre vineyard. Fermented in barrel, aged for 8 months prior to bottling
before seeing 4 years on the yeast before disgorgement.
Complex on the nose showing notes strawberries, fresh picked raspberry and cranberry with almond, brioche, herbs and mineral.
The palate is racy and elegant at the same time. Complex and nuanced with notes of berries and almonds that weave into brioche, herbs, comté cheese and minerality.
Sophisticated and long through the finish.
NV Bonnet-Ponson, Brut Rose, Premier Cru
Champagne, France
40% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier, 25% Chardonnay, (30% of reserve wines from the preceding harvests blended in.
The nose is engaging with strawberry, bread pudding, citrus zest, orange blossom, mineral and a delicate ginger spice.
Fine and creamy mousse on the palate. Lively acidity and elegant flavors of ripe strawberry, petite raspberry, pomegranate juice, lemon zest, kumquat, rose water, mineral, brioche and hints of ginger spice. Lingering and vivid on the finish. Elegant and showing precision and intensity
NV Nicolas Maillart, Premier Cru Brut Platine
Champagne, France
66% Pinot Noir, 11% Pinot Meunier, 23% Chardonnay.
The Platine Brut is exclusively comprised of Grand Cru and Premier Cru grapes primarily grown in Ecueil, as well as Villers Allerand and Bouzy. 40% Reserve wine. Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in barrel for a certain amount of the reserve wines. Aged for an average of two years in bottle. Disgorged 03/18
Light golden color in the glass.
Aromas of crisp green apple, Asian pear, lemon pith, limestone earth, saline, biscuit, honey, almonds and hints of gun smoke.
Fine mousse on the palate that has an austerity. Tightly wound acidity and generous minerality. Flavors of apple, pear, under-ripe melon and lemon pith come laced with the notes of biscuit, almond, honey and hints of white flowers and smoke. The finish lingers.
2008 Bollinger, La Grande Année,
Chapagne, France
71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay taken across 18 crus. Finished with an eight grams per liter dosage. Disgorged 10/18.
Wonderful aromas show notes of chamomile, bruised apple, oxidized white peach and pear, dried white flowers, baguette, fresh baked biscuits and chalk with hints of sea spray and honeycomb. Very reminiscent of a delicate Manzanilla.
The palate shows a super-fine mousse with tiny pinprick bubbles. Great weight and viscosity with a creamy texture. Flavors show intensity repeating the nose with its bruised apple, white orchard fruits, dried white flowers, chamomile, biscuit and baguette notes that lead into the chalky minerality and almond tones. The finish is unending showing the depth and broadness of this wine.
An exceptional vintage Champagne from an exceptional producer.
2015 Alsina & Sardá, Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva Especial
Cava D.O., Spain
50% Xarel·lo, 50% Chardonnay
Aged for 36-48 months.
Scents of pear and apple with orchard blossoms, honeycomb, almond and light traces of spice and pastry dough.
The palate shows a persistent and fine mousse, bone dry and above moderate acidity. Flavors of apple, pear and quince are met with honeycomb, almond, pastry and floral notes with hints of spice and an underlining chalky-minerality. Long on the finish that shows just a hint of ginger.
NV Herbert Beaufort, Champagne Grand Cru
‘Carte d'Or Tradition’, Brut
Champagne, France
Small production Grand Cru Grower Champagne.
90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay. Zero Malolactic fermentation.
10% Reserve wine aged in five-year-old 600L oak barrels 30% aged in stainless steel tank and 60% from that year's harvest. Dosage is kept to a minimum, being almost extra brut.
Abundant aromas of croissant, brioche and proofed bread dough mingle with green apples, lemon and chalk. The palate is dry with high, austere acidity. The bubble structure is fine with tiny pin-prick bubbles. Flavors show the autolysis of the lees well with brioche, croissant, and dough that folds in green apple, almond, lemon and chalk. The finish lingers on and on.
2008 Philipponnat, Cuvée 1522
Champagne, France
The blend is 58% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ and Verzenay) and 42% Chardonnay (from Cramant). A portion of the wines are vinified in wooden barrels without malolactic fermentation. Aged 8 years en triage. Dosage is a discreet 4.25 grams per liter. Disgorged in March 2018.
Straw in color with golden hues. Showing a very fine and persistent bubble stream.
On the nose scents show a mixture of apples, white peach, apricot and golden raspberry with notes of orchard blossoms, almond, fresh baked bread, proofed bread dough, and biscuits with an underlying streak of chalk and river stone.
The palate shows great balance. Acidity is high but not overly so and in balance with the body of the wine and the creaminess of the mouthfeel. The effervescence of the wine if fine with pin-prick bubbles playing on the palate. Flavors of pastry, almond, apricot, white peach and apple show well with notes of golden raspberry, biscuit and subtle spice and chalk notes. Lengthy elegant finish.
Overall, very young and will age quite well.
NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 168eme
Champagne, France
A blend of 198 wines from 11 different years, with the youngest the acclaimed 2012 and the oldest dating back to 1996. It's based on the 2012 harvest, complemented by fully 42% reserve wines– a blend of 52% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 13% Meunier – was bottled in 2013 and aged for seven years in Krug’s cellars.
Aromas open with baked bread and brioche, pastry dough and a combination of marzipan and toasted almonds followed by honey comb, autumn leaves, pear tart, bruised apple, stone fruits, lemon, dried apricot and a combination of flowers, chalk and hints of oak and vanilla crème.
The palate shows a very fine, persistent and elegant mousse. Acidity is high and integrated into the wine. A more oxidative style with no austerity and still very young. Flavors cloak the palate in notes of marzipan, lemon juice, apple, peart tart Tatin, apricot, honeycomb, toasted almond pasty, brioche, butter croissant, fall leaves, oak, chalk and a discreet saline presence. The finish is long, balanced and harmonious. This should cellar very well!
NV Hubert Clavelin, Crémant du Jura Brut
‘Tete de Cuvee’
France
Entirely hand-harvested Chardonnay. Whole clusters are gently pressed. Following natural alcoholic and malolactic fermentation the second fermentation is done in bottle; méthode champenoise. Aged 24 months on handriddled slats.
Aromas show a mixture white flowers and buckwheat with lemon and lime zest, apple, salted almond, bread loaf, farm butter and hints of chalk and mineral.
The mousse shows a persistent and fine bubble structure that is accompanied by a creamy mouthfeel and juicy acidity. Flavors reveal notes of buttered brioche and almond that lace notes of apple, lemon, mineral and delicate floral tones. The above moderate finish lingers.
2012 Larmandier-Bernier, Grand Cru ‘Les Chemins d'Avize’
Champagne France
From a single, 0.7ha plot in Avize. Natural alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation are spontaneously triggered in Stockinger casks and aged on lees one year. Aging on slats take place for at least 5 years.
Bottled extra brut with only 2g/l dosage.
Aromas have intensity on the nose that shows scents of lemon curd, peaches and streaks of pear and pineapple that come with notes of orchard blossoms, marzipan, pastry dough, brioche and a discrete minerality in the background with oak nuances.
The bubble structure is extremely fine and compact. The wine is a richer styled champagne with a creamy texture that shows power, intensity and finesse. The wine, even at this young stage, is completely open and showing impressive balance. The palate is broad shows full flavors of pear, yellow peaches, pineapple, lemon curd, apricot preserve, almond paste, baked pastry dough, toasted brioche, white flowers and hints of saline and chalk. The creamy finish is smooth and expansive.
NV Christian Bourmault, 1er Cru 'R de Rosa'
Champagne France
80% Chardonnay, all from Cuis, and all vintage 2013 and 20% Pinot Noir, all from Cumiere, mostly 2013 with some 2014.
Plenty of lovely savory notes that pair with with the wines fruit tones on the nose. Aromas show a mix of strawberry bread pudding, cherry, fresh biscuit dough, raw almond, chalk, wet stone, rose hip, herbs and salty minerals.
The palate is extremely seductive with a smooth mouth-filling texture and a fine creamy mousse. Flavors of red berries and pastry dough mix with notes of biscuit, almond, rose hip, herbs, cherry pits, chalk and sea spray. Long, balanced and elegant through the finish.
NV Gran Moraine, Brut Rose Extended Tirage
Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon
First off this is not the wineries standard brut rose, which is a fantastic wine in its own right, but instead is what the winery has quietly labeled as 'The Lost Brut Rose'. This wine is exactly what it sounds like. The winemaker had set a bin aside in storage that was aging on the lees (en tirage) and yes was forgot about! The wine sat in storage a full two years longer than intended. The wine was rediscovered upon an inventory check at the warehouse.
This wine sees a full four years on the lees, giving it a beautiful intensity and richness. The blend is made of 56% Piot Noir and 44% Chardonnay of which saw 30% barrel fermentation. Think about notes of Brioche, rose petal, strawberry bread pudding, dragon fruit, honeysuckle, wild raspberry and hints of kumquat and nectarine. This stands toe to toe and then some with the best Champagne has to offer.
2008 Philippe Lancelot, Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut ‘Les bas de Saran’
Champagne, France
This Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is bottled at a 2.5 g/l dosage.
Disgorged 07-2020
The aromas jump from the glass revealing lemon juice, fresh apple and pear, white cranberry, soft white flowers, verbena, chalk, slate, and sea spray with hints of almond and homemade bread.
The palate is tight and austere revealing its obvious youth. At this stage it could benefit from a decant, but will also reward those who can wait! Bright lemon on the palate with flavors of apple, chalk, flowers, saline, biscuit and bread that all come into play. The finish lingers with notes of almond.
2009 Philippe Lancelot, Champagne Grand Cru Millesime
Champagne, France
Organic and extra brut at 3.87g/l dosage. 11 years on the lees.
Heavily scented with notes of almond croissant, sliced apples, lemon pith, carambola, brioche, chalk and delicate white flowers.
The palate shows focused acidity and a fine yet expansive bubble structure. Still showing a youthful edge and a very well put together Grand Cru at a great price. Flavors of green apple, lemon pith and starfruit marry with the notes of almond, brioche, croissant, chalk and flowers. So very well put together, just great quality and beats some of the Grand Marques in double the price point.
1999 Vincent Couche, Sensation Champagne Extra Brut
Champagne, France
A 50/50 split if Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Aged 19 years on the lees. No Malolactic conversion. Extra brut with a 5 g/l dosage.
Intense on the nose with a complex array of aromas that display a mix of oxidized and bruised apple, dried pear, biscuits, baked dough, chopped mushrooms, chalk dust, flint, herbs, dried white flowers, almond and umami notes in the realm of aged Parmesan.
The palate shows depth and a richness that is dry and met with above moderate acidity. Flavors show Oxidized apple, bruised white peach, dried pear, almonds, sautéed mushrooms, herbs, biscuit, baked dough, flinty-minerality, chalk and dried white flowers. Long through the finish. Bubbles are tiny and delicately excite the palate before dissipating.
2007 Raventós i Blanc, 'Mas del Serral' Pepe Raventos
Cava, Spain
Raventós i Blanc is a winery with one of the longest documented winegrowing traditions in the world. The family farm where the wines are now produced has belonged to the Raventós family since 1497.
This wine is a blend of Xarel-lo and Bastard Negre fermented in a combination of steel and concrete with indigenous yeasts. Aged on the lees for 100 months! Bottled Brut Nature.
Disgorged 05/25/2019.
Deep straw yellow with rose gold hues.
Aromas show a beautiful symphony of biscuit, proofed bread dough, chestnut, toasted almond, fall leaves, tobacco, straw and river stone that are highlighted with chalky mineral and a pure salinity that eventually give way to the notes of oxidized apple, pear and white fig.
A very discrete mousse a with tiny compact bubble. Acidity brings a freshness to a wine that carries weight on the palate. Flavors bring notes of oxidized red apple, bruised pear, quince paste and white fig that bring in the notes of toasted almond, brioche, baked biscuits, tobacco leaf, dried herbs, chalk, earth and sea mist. The finish lingers with persistence.
Farmed biodynamically. Only 2,735 bottles produced.
2005 Christian Bourmault, Champagne Grand Cru 'Clos Bourmault'
Champange France
The nose shows notes of biscuit and brioche that mingle with notes of chalk, sea spray, apple pie, preserved lemon, almond, honeycomb and hints of chamomile, jasmine and yellow flowers.
The palate is dry and shows a fine bubble structure. Above moderate intensity on the palate with flavors that follow the nose with notes of bruised yellow apple, pear tart Tatin, preserved lemon, honeycomb, almond pastry, brioche and chamomile notes that linger through the chalky laced finish. Acidity is above moderate and balanced with the phenolic components of the wine.
Serious Champagne lovers should seek this wine out!
This comes from an 0.8 hectare parcel in Avize, directly above the church. Organic viticulture. Yields are 30 hl/ha (about 1/2 to 1/3 the normal yield for serious growers). Vinified with indigenous yeasts in Trémaux barrique, élévage 8 months in barrel, Malo blocked and not bottled until June 2007. Aged en tirage 9 years, traditional fashion, under cork (“sous liege”). Dosage 5 g/l.
2014 Gran Moraine, Blanc de Blancs
Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon
The innaugural release. This wine is 100% Chardonnay and saw 66% barrel fermentation and an en tirage of 69 months.
In the glass the straw gold colors lead into aromas that envelope the senses with notes of baked apple, pear, persimmons, and lemon zest with notes of toasted almond, brioche, fresh baked baguette, orchard blossoms and wild flowers, sea breeze and oyster shell with hints of chalk and mineral.
The palate shows great elegance and complexity given its youth. The mousse is fine as tiny bubbles stimulate the palate. Acidity is high and balanced with minimal dosage of 3 g/L. The palate is dry but not overly austere. Flavors echo the nose and show a combination of apple, pear, lemon and white peach that weave into the notes of chalky minerals, saline, marzipan, brioche, baguette and hints of delicate florals, salted butterscotch and oak. The finish is long and reveals the very long life ahead of this wine.
NV Laherte Frères, Champagne ‘Rosé de Meunier Extra Brut'
Champagne, France
Composed of 60% Meunier (white), 30% Meunier (macerated) and 10% Meunier (still red wine). Dosage is 2.5 grams per liter.
A gorgeous color in the glass. The nose offers up fresh fruit flavors that are accompanied by florals, minerality and a slight touch of funk and earth. Raspberries, red berries, stone fruits, watermelon, orange, orchard blossoms, peonies, chalk, almond meal and hints of spice, earth and funk.
Rich and full bodied. This fully textured wine has great balance between its structural components. A fleshy mouthfeel meets a fine mousse, above moderate acidity and dryness that is not in excess. Flavors of red fruits, citrus zest, flowers, chalk and saline. The fleshy finish lingers with a nice freshness. 03/21 disgorgement.
NV Helfrich Crémant d'Alsace Brut
France
100% Pinot Blanc. 24 months on the lees. Approx. 8g/l dosage.
Light and playful on the nose with bergamot, pear, apple, melon, orchard blossoms and hints of almond pastry, slate and minerals.
The palate shows a fine mousse and full-layered textures. Acidity is crisp and moderate-plus. Phenolics are moderate. Flavors are enticing and show notes of citrus, melon and pear with floral qualities, almond and minerals that come with a slate-tinged finish that lingers pleasantly.
2010 Villa Crespia, Millè Brut Millesimato
Franciacorta, Italy
S100% Chardonnay. Primary fermentation in stainless steel for 8 month. Extended Tirage; Disgorged in 2018. From the best fruit of the vintage from all holdings throughout Franciacorta.
Deep straw color with gold reflections in the glass.
The nose opens with notes lemon pith, white stone fruits, almond, white tea and white flowers with touches of chalk, biscuit, herbs, green and white melon.
Good acid backbone on the palate with a balanced dosage that keeps it from being too austere. The bubble structure is compact and gives way quickly. The palate, while framed with good structure is fairly creamy on the mid-palate. Flavors come with lemon, white stone fruit, melon and apple notes that come with chalk, almond, flowers, bread dough and Southern biscuits and herbs. The finish lingers pleasantly.
2017 IZAR-LEKU
Hondarrabi Zuri, Spain
Izar-Leku means place of stars in Basque. The wine is aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks with 30% of the juice that was kept in barrel. The secondary fermentation in bottle spent 18 months with its lees. No dosage
The nose is expressive with notes of green apples, cider, white nectarine, white flowers, almond, biscotti and English biscuits with hints of seaside minerality.
The palate shows a persistent bubble structure. The wine is dry with focused acidity without being overly austere. Flavors mimic the nose perfectly with notes of green apples, white nectarines, cider, white flowers, almond, biscotti, sea mist and minerals. The finish lingers on with intensity.
2007 Michel Mailliard, Grand Cru L'Oger
Champagne France
Hand harvested from a single plot in Oger.
Fermented in stainless steel tanks and no malolactic fermentation. aged one year on lees prior to secondary fermentation. Extended tirage and bottled with a 5.6 g/l dosage.
Golden in color with a fine mousse. Expressive aromas show notes of light toffee, marzipan, baked puff pastry, and biscotti that come with scents of wildflowers, green apple, Asian pear, lemon peel and white nectarine and hints of chalky minerals, acacia and honey.
The palate is supple and round with a fine bubble structure, high toned acidity and moderate phenolic bitterness. Flavors show richness and intensity with notes of green apple, preserved lemon, and nectarine that come with honeyed biscuits, pastry dough, almond, acacia and flowers finishing with chalk and minerality. Long and lingering through the long finish.
NV Champagne Duménil, Blanc de Noir, Amour De Cuvée
Champagne, France
50% Pinot Meunier and 50% Pinot Noir. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Aged 5 years on lees. Only 2000 bottles produced.
Scents come with notes of brioche, biscuits and almonds with aromas of quince, apricot spread, orange blossom water, golden raspberry, chalk and sea mist.
On the palate the wine shows moderate palate weight, structured acidity and phenolics. A fine mousse and flavors of quince, orange zest, golden raspberry, brioche, biscuits, almonds, chalk and seaside minerals. The finish lingers with a touch of richness.