WINES OVER CHINESE NEW YEAR - (8/2/2024-12/2/2024)
- NV Pierre Deville Champagne Grand Cru Primitif Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (8/2/2024)
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. Disgorged Oct 2022, 5g/l dosage. A clearly Pinot-heavy champagne with rich red apple fruit and a broad texture. Some cinnamon spice and toffee notes. Too much natural vibes and not enough cut for me. (88 pts.) - NV Guiborat Fils Champagne Grand Cru Prisme.17 Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (10/2/2024)
100% Chardonnay. No malo, 87% from 2017 vintage with the rest from 2016 reserve. 1.5g/l dosage and disgorged in Nov 2021. Second time trying this producer, understand why it has been getting some traction. A crowd-pleasing sort of grower champagne with ripe, slightly candied green apple fruit, but with high acidity and freshness. Very fruit-forward and expressive, in a good spot now. (92 pts.) - 2020 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne (10/2/2024)
Agree that this is plush, charming and open. Brilliant, perfumed nose that you rarely get in Bourgognes, dark red fruit with a blue tinge on the palate as with more recent Burgundy vintages. Primary still, but no harm opening one now. (91 pts.) - NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (11/2/2024)
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. Disgorged April 2022. Drank more like a Chard-dominant blend with green apple fruit, brioche and a crowd-pleasing sweetness. As usual, Hebrart is always a great introduction to champagne for non-believers but at the same time with sufficient precision to please nerdier drinkers looking for more intellectual stimulation. (91 pts.) - 2017 Emmanuel Darnaud St. Joseph Dardouille - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (12/2/2024)
Previous notes described this well. Intense, floral nose of blueberries that carried onto the palate. So northern Rhone with savoury, olive notes, but with remarkable restraint, depth and finesse that I didn’t expect. A superbly balanced wine, this is a producer that I will be seeking out more of. (93 pts.)
