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Henri Giraud Champagne Argonne 2004

Henri Giraud Champagne Argonne 2004

I found myself seated next to Claude Giraud on the final morning of #IPNC (the International Pinot Noir Celebration). I had interviewed him the day before about his research, which made this bottle all the more special. Precise and ebullient, the very picture of lightness and energy, with the nose and palate conjoined in exquisite harmony. […]

Doyard-Mahé Champagne Carte d’Or Brut 2007

Doyard-Mahé Champagne Carte d'Or Brut 2007

The Doyard Mahe 2007 is citrus driven and clean, with tantalizing notes of lemon balm, lemon curd, white flowers and golden delicious apple. Light and twinkling, with a fine mousse and persistent finish that seems to have just a touch of sweetness. Champagne Doyard-Mahé 8.9 Points

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Campania Remensis Extra Brut Rosé

Bérêche et Fils Champagne Campania Remensis Extra Brut Rosé

Confession: I have a soft spot for Bérêche. I’ve tasted the Campania Remensis Rosé NV on more than one occasion, though this is the Extra Brut, with notably more focus and mineral verve than the regular Brut. What it shares, however, is joyous complexity, and a hue that is the exact color of ripe nectarines. […]

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Special Club Millesimé de Collection 2002

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Special Club Millesimé de Collection 2002

The Gimonnet Special Club Millesimé de Collection 2002 is the very picture of refinement. Crisp, classical notes freshly cut apples, pear, honeysuckle, and a wispy touch of smoke. The attack is lively, with brisk bubbles carving a wide swath trough richly textured layers. The flavors are quite understated, rather, it’s more about subtlety and balance—a […]

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Vieille Vigne De Cramant Grand Cru NV

Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Vieille Vigne De Cramant Grand Cru NV

The Vieille Vigne De Cramant Grand Cru NV is a rounder, fuller Larmandier-Bernier, brimming over with with ripe fruit character. Luscious notes of red apple skins, buttered croissant, rum cake and smoke. Dark gold in the glass, with a fine, fine mousse and a lovely touch of age. It’s quite sensual, modestly fleshy and graced […]

Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Champagne Premier Cru NV

Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Champagne Premier Cru NV

Larmandier-Bernier is a small, biodynamic producer, and one that has impressed me as of late—the Terre de Vertus Premier Cru NV boasts attractive aromas of buttered toast, marzipan, baklava, golden delicious apples, and stone fruit. This is a zero-dosage Champagne, that is light on it’s feet, as one might expect, with limestone, chalk and lemon […]

Nicolas Maillart Marie-Hanze Champagne Eaux Belle Brut NV

Nicolas Maillart Marie-Hanze Champagne Eaux Belle Brut NV

Nicolas Maillart’s Marie-Hanze Rosé Champagne Eaux Belle Brut is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay. Soft, and lightly-styled, the nose exhibits delicate aromas of graham cracker, tart cherries, cherry blossoms, and red skinned apples. On the palate, it comes across as retiring and shy, with moderate acidity, red berries, […]

Moët & Chandon Champagne Dom Pérignon Oenothèque 1996

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Oenothèque differs from the regular Dom Pérignon Brut in that bottles are aged on the cork, rather than on crown-seals, it also receives a lower dosage following disgorgement. As such this is a flawless Oenothèque. It reminds me of Michelangelo’s Davide in all that it communicates—timeless, there is lightness of form and yet the gravity […]

Philippe Gonet Champagne Rosé Brut NV

Philippe Gonet Champagne Rosé Brut NV

Tasted during Sunday’s Bubbly Pink seminar at Pebble Beach Food & Wine, the panel, by the was fantastic and included the likes of Ian Cauble. My favorite from the tasting was the Philippe Gonet Champagne Rosé Brut, a complex and earthy blend of 90% Chardonnay from Mesnil-sur-Oger and 10% Pinot Noir sourced from Vertus on […]

Marc Chauvet Champagne Special Club 2005

Marc Chauvet Champagne Special Club 2005

The Marc Chauvet Special Club 2005 is a provocative blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir from family-owned estate vineyards in Reims. Pale lemon yellow, the attack is decidedly creamy, but this aspect quickly dissolves through a layer lees-infused wet dough notes accompanied by lemon pith and white grapefruit rind. Perhaps what is most […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com