Keith,
If you wanted to go with a Dhondt, I think one of the Adrien Dhondt’s would be interesting though the 2019 Les Nogers is a really nice example of what Cuis can do. Personally, I think the Etienne Calsac Les Rocheforts is a bargain on the list and I also like the Savart Bulle de Rose as a value choice. My top choice though would be the Emmanuel Brochet Le Mont Benoit (if they have any left). Egly VP is attractive for a restaurant price too.
My cheese of choice is challahocker
Overpriced at Beano’s in Beaver Creek, CO, but hard to go wrong with well prepared sea bass. 5 years post disgorgement makes up for the price.
Thank you so much!!!
I was debating the Nogers while also overlooking the Calsac😳
Laurent-Perrier 2008 Millésimé
Lemon yellow in the glass with a soft, integrated mousse. It smells of biscuits, lemon, white flowers and orchard fruits.
The aromas carry over to the palate with a caressing mousse, it finishes with biscuit and a twist of lemon from the signature 2008 acidity.
This champagne is in a class of its own - par excellence!
It is elegant and discreet with a low-key sophistication, all in a striking balance! Fresh, sophisticated, elegant and an extraordinary balance. This is not an in-your-face bold wine, but one of subtle elegance and complexity.
We have enjoyed bottles of it with langoustines and roe.
It is suitable as an aperitif, white fish and white meat dishes. It opens up after 20 minutes in the glass but then it is difficult not to drink too quickly, it is that good! But for those who can restrain themselves, there is a substantiated complexity where one can unravel the finer nuances.
Our bottles are dégorgéd in the first tertiary of 2021, so twelve years on the lees. It’s just entered its apogee.
We have one bottle and one magnum left, but I’ve tracked done a stash of 28 bottles and three more magnums! Fantastic QPR! 
That would also work very well!
Getting quite concerned by some of my recent Calsac experiences. Jan 24 disgorgement of the echappe belle over the last few days was absolutely not what I was looking for. Lots of green apple and pears and almost soapy mouthfeel. Like bad prosecco. Not rebuying.
Yes, as I posted in my La fete notes the 2024 disgorgement of lechappee is the worst wine I’ve had from Calsac. Horribly disappointing
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Maybe Brad or someone else can comment? I’ve occasionally experienced this with some very young Chardonnay Champagne. Made me think exactly the same thing. After going through them for years and then hitting something like this and practically writing them off only to find six months later everything was as previously remembered.
I’ve opened a lot of great bottles this year, and this is amongst my favorites. Thanks to @alan_weinberg for cuing me in to this cuvée.
“This unique cuvée is the memory of our house, with the union of 12 great vintages. 41% of this cuvée is vinified in barrels without malolactic fermentation with a balanced, elegant, powerful blend and carried by a beautiful freshness of 61% Chardonnay, 8% Meunier and 31% Pinot Noir. 40% 2013; 20% 2000, and the rest from reserves of 2012, 2011, 2004, 1999, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1988, 1983, 1982 and 1976.”
Consistent with previous bottles and consistently spectacular. I love this house, but this cuvée is truly something special. The old reserve wines bring depth, while the wine still shows remarkable freshness. Great complexity, medium to deep bodied, crisp and precise. The Chardonnay shines here, more than the red grapes. Pears and other white orchard fruits, sweet citrus, beeswax, and almonds. A special wine.
Thanks for the tip. Just grabbed a 6 pack and will try one out as soon as they get here.
The more I use the Coravin Sparkling, the more I’ve been noticing cases where the flavor is vastly improved (to my taste) between the glasses poured on initial opening vs. glasses after sitting on Coravin on 24h - 2 weeks.
I’m guessing this is basically equivalent to the notion that you should open your champagne several hours before drinking, pour out a taste and re-stopper to let it “breathe” (which I’ve noticed can have a major effect on the flavor in some cases)?
Yah. A lot of good champagne could be helped with some form of decanting. I know some are not a fan of that idea.
Disclaimer: we sell this.
I’ll need to revisit this.
Served with salmon rillette (fresh and smoked) and pollock rillette (cilantro) on crackers and bread.
Thank you for spying the low inventory list!
I went with the 2021 Brochet Le Mont Benoit
2021 Emmanuel Brochet Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Le Mont Benoit - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (6/27/2025)
The nose is well balanced and classic brochet as there is a slight oxidative touch before peeling back into tones of red apples, kumqaut, Bosc pears, Meyer lemons, peaches, apple blossoms, nougat, vanilla extract, biscuits, brioche, and yellow flowers. There is excellent depth that is seamless and elegant. The Medium bodied feel is refined and lengthy with tart, high acidity that is beautifully integrated already. This is beautiful and showing such lovely, rounded tones whilst possessing excellent balance across the nose and palate. This is drinking so well right now that it would be quite difficult to keep your hands off of it. (93 pts.)
Keith,
Glad you enjoyed it and that they still had some left. I love Emmanuel’s wines and the price on the list was at or below retail in many/most locations. I miss the days of this being a $45 wine!
I tried not to think about that as I was drinking it😂. Such is life, right?!
The good news for anyone who may debate about going there (which I’d greatly advise) is that I was told by the somm that they only have it on the list if they inventory it. Which could always mean that if you come later in the evening it may be gone, but overall it’ll be accurate at the start of service.
• Suenen C+C BdB (Base 2018; Deg 2022)
Enjoyable but still stiff and a bit bitter in the back. Rigid as opposed to sharp cut. Not bad, maybe just too soon to open.
This was a very nice way to end the week. It’s wide open,
dense and muscular, intense on both the palate and the nose, with beautiful tension between its equally feminine side. Fnishes long with nuance. It is developing a very toasty character.
This was, unfortunately, the last bottle from my six pack. I am tempted to hunt down some more bottles and put them away for several more years. Disgorged 12/22.
