I was suggested to try this as an oxidative style and I really…really liked it! Vouette & Sorbée Blanc de Argile. Caramel, marmalade, roasted cashews, ripe apples, grapefruit and ginger candies.
Creamy mousse, full bodied, good acidity that matches the profile, med to long finish. Flavors are similar to nose but have more honeyed characteristics with at sherry note. Gives me a Selosse Substance feel. Really enjoyed this and wish I grabbed a few more bottles!
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Trying to pre-hydrate for champagne jamboree extended weekend. Will post notes. Some monster 96s and 04s incoming!
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My current favourite Blanc de Blancs, it is such amazing value given how crazy other top growers have gotten. R19 was the best vintage of this cuvée I’ve had so far-and the Fidele from that vintage was also much better than usual. Few oxidative champagne makers get that balance of caramelly richness and acidity as spot-on as Gautherot does!
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I will have to try that now. Thanks for the recommendation!
Had the 2014 Delamotte BdB at Sushi Noz last night. Was drinking great and was perfect with the meal (and was much better suited than the half of Krug that we followed it with).
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predicting this goes down as one of the greatest comments in wineboard history. up there with “your prejudices are appalling”
bravo.
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Looks like I’ll be posting here a bit more often. I am embarking on a quest to see if any of the K&L sub $30 Champagnes are any good (If it was $29.99, it made the cut). All of our usuals, Roederer Collection and Bollinger Special Cuvee, have been creeping up a lot in price. Plus our Domestic standby of Roederer Estate is now $25/btl. Trying to see if any of these lower cost bubbles are worth it to sway us away.
Wish me luck! And I am open to any suggestions on the value front.
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It’s not Champagne, but if you haven’t tried Raventos Blanc de Nit, you should give it a try. About the price of the Roederer Estate and competes favorably with Champagne in the $50-$60 range.
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The L’acacia from Domaine des Tuileries is a 2019 vintage champagne made entirely from Meunier grapes sourced from Venteuil, degorged 07/03/2023. It undergoes barrel vinification and is unfiltered. Initially, the champagne’s character is dominated by pronounced wood influence, obscuring its true identity. However, after approximately two hours, its distinct characteristics begin to surface. The flavor profile is rich, leaning towards tropical fruits, with notes of lemon and wet slate. Remarkably, the acidity is high for a Meunier-based champagne.
This champagne exhibits a complexity and power comparable to a grand cru Burgundy, specifically evoking the muscularity of Batard Montrachet. Contrary to initial impressions, the Brut Nature’s ripeness is intentional. While additional aging on the lees might seem beneficial, it would compromise the wine’s Burgundian character. Although wood influence in champagne is not my thing, in this case, it contributes to a unique profile, the champagne has so much power it just swallows the wood. The champagne is a definite 97-98 points, the finish is just incredible, forget the hyped Vincey and La Rogerie, this is just amazing.
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And retailing apparently for 59 Euros! (But with very limited availability)
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Hi Donald, thanks for the note. I have access to the same Feb 2022 disgorgement of this wine at about EUR 100. Is it a good wine for medium term cellaring (3-5 years) do you think?
Thnx Brodie
This is the first release and micro production. We opened yesterday and at first just so closed but now it is just singing. I am not here to sell chamapgne, 59 is too cheap, this won’t stay long at such prices. I have my issues with Ulysse Collin, lets just say, if he turned his hand to Meunier, this might be wqhat it tastes like.
I think this has the substance for 5 year without problem. Although Brut Nature, my feeling is, it has residual sugar. I would not be in a hurry to drink this.
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Any experience with Emprientes and their chard? I just snagged a couple of each to try. Look at you, giving big points and me taking bait. I think that makes you a wine influencer now. SHAME. Lol. Looking forward to trying these.
We only got 24 bottles, we tried the meunier, the Les Crayeres is lined up next. I don’t think I am an influencer, this is tip, take it or leave it. to be honest we heard of this producer abot 6 weeks ago, because of the holidays etc it took some time to get the bottles. For a first release and no track record,not cheap, no tester behind them, these producers are challenging. I have a lot to lose obvioulsy if I recommend something which does not live up to expectation and I tend to be conservative but this champagne really amazed me. As the wines are sold through an agent, and we don’t really know much about the producer other than what is on the back labels, the website is not very informative, no real social media campaign. Is the producer going to stick with micro-vinification or expand.
La rogerie is the biggest hyped releases this year, we have tasted and they are good. Vincey the first releases were strong but this year a bit of a disappointment, going down the low sulphur route. For me this champagne transcends both of the other producers, I mean when I look back at the year, new releases etc this is the one to beat for me.
Also th Meunier, at first we thought with the richness, Bedel, then the crus from Maillart, at first felt a bit linear, but then over time it just exploded. I don’t like wood in champagne, at first there was cocnut and one was looking for the champagne and then sort of after two hours it just opened up. And then the finish, it just does not go away. For we are talking sort of Egly dimensions. Perhaps I am flasched by this champagne, but today it was better tzhan yesterday and this mornignjus tsinging and now we have a rest for supper. Why don’t these guys make magnums.
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When I get them in I’ll pop one and provide my most honest feedback. I am a skeptic at heart, but also an optimist. So I’m eager to try, and hope I’ve not been oversold. In any event, it’s a producer I’ve not had, and I love trying new wines so am excited regardless of the outcome.
Well, I finished the bottle now, the acidity really comes through and now spice. Also the finish. Perhaps it is just me, but this really hits the spot, my wife was a bit irked as I did not want to share the rest. I don’t really bother with points but because of the Petit Clergeot affair/95 points, this is just at a different level, far supererior. If you were in europe and not happy, i would buy them off you.
That color made my mouth water and made me think of pears and lemon, honeysuckle and just a hint of white toast.
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