Tasted blind. Disgorged spring 2010. Very different nose ? extremely dense and layered. But good freshness. Youthful. Some yeasty beeriness. Lots of layers. Jeroboam? No, this very fine wine was the magnum.
19 points, Jancis Robinson (October 2015)
Full yellow colour. Very rich, roasted hazelnut bouquet, the palate also very luscious and complex, almost like a white Burgundy -indeed, it could probably be enjoyed equally without the bubbles. Wonderful volume of flavour, which fills the entire mouth. Great harmony, great wine.
98 points Huon Hooke (April 2012)
This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.
98 points, Wine Spectator (November 2012)
Although the aromas are toasty, the flavors are still so fresh, rich, complex. This is a wonderful expression of taut minerality, pure citrus zest and then a wood-toast character that gives the wine both richness and sophistication. Given the fresh, intense fruit, this will certainly age for many years.
96 points, Wine Enthusiast (January 2010)
Deep gold with amber highlights. Open nose with an assertive fruity character (apricot, dried fig). The palate shows an exemplary mix of presence, vinosity and freshness. Sensation of fullness and huge length. An awesome Champagne.
100 points, Gilbert &Gaillard (March 2012)
Located 150 km east of Paris, Champagne is the French wine region renowned for producing the finest, most rich and complex sparkling wines in the world. The elegance, longevity and racy acidity of these wines are attributed to the influence of the chalky soils of the region and the cool, marginal continental climate. The region spans an area of 35,000 ha and has 4 main growing areas, each favouring one of the three noble Champagne varieties; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Champagne has a vineyard quality hierarchy based on the soils, aspect and overall quality of the grapes. Like Burgundy, these quality designations are allocated to the vineyards of the village. Of the 319 villages of Champagne, 17 have Grand Cru status and 44 villages are designated Premier Cru. All Champagne is produced by Traditional Method. The vast majority of Champagne is a blend of the three varieties and may also be a blend of several vintages producing the popular Non Vintage (NV) house styles. Top quality blends from exceptional years are sold as Vintage (Millésime) Champagne.
