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Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion à Cramant Brut 2004

Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion à Cramant Brut 2004

The 2004 Diebolt-Vallois Brut Fleur de Passion lives up to its name. This sumptuous and beautifully rendered Cramant unfurls slowly with notes of white peach, golden delicious apple, and honeysuckle. The mousse is ultra-fine and utterly seductive, like a plunge into some fantastic glittery-gold enchantment (see Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss). Seamless waves of orchard fruit […]

Pierre Brigandat Champagne Millésimé 2009

Pierre Brigandat Champagne Millésimé 2009

A curious Champagne, the Pierre Brigandat Millésimé 2009 is extraordinarily pale, with a sun bleached straw-colored hue. The nose too, was quite unexpected. On opening a touch of sulfur as one would find in boiled egg yolk, followed by kelp and wet shell notes. After an hour of opening, it was just starting to exhibit […]

Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut NV

NV Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut

The Grand Brut NV is Perrier-Jouet’s entry-level label and can be found for less than $30.00 with a little online searching. It’s lightly-styled and offers up a welcoming springtime bouquet of white flowers, white peaches, raspberries, dried honey, and smoke. On the palate, a nimble and bright countenance is anchored by notes of orchard fruit, […]

Ayala Champagne Perle d’Ayala 2002

Ayala Champagne Perle d'Ayala 2002

Ayala Champagne Perle d’Ayala Brut Millèsime 2002 is an elegant blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir from the Grand Cru regions of Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger, Chouilly and Cramant. It’s been aged on the lees for eight years, giving it nice balance and weight against a tensile acid spine. Golden delicious apple, lemon zest and […]

Bérêche et Fils Reflet D’Antan Brut NV

Bérêche et Fils Reflet D'Antan Brut NV

Bérêche et Fils is an old house, and tiny, with little more than 2.5 hectares that are meticulously biodynamically farmed. Arguably, it’s one of my favorite bubblies, I’ve sung its virtues many times. The Reflet D’Antan Brut is no less deserving of praise—warm cinnamon bread, apples, baking spice and a whiff of smoke—comforting aromas that […]

Saint-Chamant Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2005

Saint-Chamant Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2005

Crisp and lively, With a sort of Mott’s apple sauce nose. Slightly creamy, with bright acidity and a medium finish. Doesn’t get my pulse racing, would make for a fine brunch wine. Sample 8.8 Points

Vincent Couche Champagne Sensation 1995

Vincent Couche Champagne Sensation 1995

Admittedly, I have mixed feelings about the the 1995 Vincent Couche Champagne Sensation, stylistically, it may be difficult for many to appreciate. Certainly, it is surprisingly developed for a ’95. Dark gold in the glass with an ultra-fine bead. The nose is somewhat oxidized, with notes of apple tart, smoke, brown butter and brown sugar, […]

L. Aubry Fils Champagne Dualis Brut Sablissime 9899 NV

L. Aubry Fils Champagne Dualis Brut Sablissime 9899 NV

The Aubry Dualis Sablissime is a provocative blend of 50/50 1999 and 1998 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that has seen an incredible 151 months on the lees. What has emerged is a wine that is spare in terms of fruit, and yet one of the most complex Champagnes I’ve tasted—evolving, ever changing aromas of earth, […]

Corbon Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 2004

Corbon Grand Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 2004

From Avize, Corbon’s Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 2004 has spent eight years aging on the lees. The color of spring daffodils, it’s equally vibrant and joyous, requiring little in the way of coaxing (me swirling the glass) rich aromas of warm croissant, salt water taffy, roasted nuts, brown butter and dried apples unfurl in happy […]

Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Reserve NV

Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Reserve NV

The Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV sports an unfortunate, nearly non-existent nose of yellow apple and discreet notes of pear and yeast on the palate. So clean it seems to have been wiped of all personality. Tabula Rasa. Ordinarily, I’d call this an entertaining wine, but for $35.00 there are tons of sparkling wine producers that […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com