Disg. 2020. I don’t think I’m buying any more from this producer. Most of the bottles I’ve have been misses, this one included. It feels heavy on the palate — no lift or energy. It’s actually kind of oily, which is weird for a champagne, IME. But, while it feels heavy, it also feels hollow. Strawberries and some cream and a lot of oxidation (maybe premoxed?), but the entire palate is kind of boring and empty. Cest la vie or something.
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2005 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut
Opened by a friend. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 8g/l dosage. Disgorged in 2013. Wow! Just excellent. 20 years old but fresh, lively and quite effervescent. Whitish straw color. Round with notes of brioche, chalk and lemon cream. Long finish. 97 points.
VM
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To get the disclaimer out of the way, I imported this but I am happily years out of the business so nothing to gain here.
I’m not sure how much reserve wine was added but, especially at that time, the production was so small that this is essentially a 2011 from the nearly unanimously panned vintage. Still drinking great. If served blind I don’t think anyone would say this is from a bunk vintage. I do think it was slightly better a few years ago. Not that it is over the hill but it is on the back nine and doesn’t have the vibrancy of youth. Retailed for about $40.
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I still have a few bottles of the Prisme 15 - another panned vintage. Really tasty stuff!
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I might be opening a Prisme 15 this weekend. I really like this grower.
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You were the one who recommended them!
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2 more bottles of the 02 PR winston churchill last night. 1st was absolutely glorious, “life affirming champagne” according to one of my guests and in his top 10 and possibly top 5 all time champagne bottles. 2nd bottle was a bit tighter and needed more time in the glass to open up but never quite reached the heights of the first bottle. These are rocking now.
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I will add to the Guiborat theme:
- NV Guiborat Fils Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Pur Prisme Brut Nature - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (6/21/2025)
This is very lean, mineral, and racy with hints of herbs and lemon oil on the palate. The bead here is very fine and gentle because of the 10 years of bottle age post-disgorgement. Nice length and finish. A really nice champagne. Disgorged November 2015 (base 2011).
Posted from CellarTracker
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Fleury Bolero 2008
100% PN
Disgorged December 2022, 0g/l, 30% oak.
I found it properly aged but three others found it past due. Lots of ripe fruit, some oxidative notes on the nutty spectrum, still plenty of acidity and a flash of salinity and minerality on the finish. I enjoyed this but can see why it’s polarizing at this point. Drink up.
Note: We sell this.
Another note: not a pop upon opening yet still enough bubbles in the wine.
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The delicate, fine bead is always something I have liked about Guiborat. Maybe that liking stems from my time in the brewing industry and preferring ales pulled by hand off the cask. The '08 Guiborat Mont Aigu is excellent in this and every other sense. Still sitting on those for some years.
edit to add some Guiborat trivia: IIRC the 11 was the first Prisme. Prior to that it was just Grand Cru BdB Cramant and a Millesime.
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I’m actually wondering whether there is a difference between the “Pur Prisme” and the “Prisme.11” bottling you posted upthread? Was the “Pur Prisme” just a latter disgorgement or is there some other diffrence?
I can’t remember for sure. The last year I was in the business was the year they changed to labeling them Prisme. We did not bring in the Pur Prisme, just the Prisme 11. I think the Pur is a brut nature, just not labeled as such. They had not made a nature for commercial purposes before that. In the years prior (I think I started with them during 2007 base which was just labeled BdB with the old silver label) we were getting a fair amount of pushback because the wines were pretty high in acid and low in sugar at ~4gr so I was afraid of bringing in anything more austere at the time.
I saw they also make a Meunier now.
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Thank you. This is very interesting. I appreciate the info!
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Kicking the weekend off this evening a wine from J L Vergnon, a producer rarely mentioned in these parts. I rather like it, although I wish I had more info on vintages/disgorgement.
- NV J.L. Vergnon Murmûre Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature - France, Champagne (11/07/2025)
From the producer website: from premier cru plots in Vertus and Villeneuve; vinified 50% in steel, 50% in 400L oak barrels; aged for 2 years before disgorgement; zero dosage. No vintage/disgorgement info except 061714 on the cork.
On first opening the mousse was quite gentle and the wine was rather disjointed, with the oak flavours dominating. However, with 15-20 minutes of air things improve a lot.
Then the nose is quite complex: notes of salty minerals, herbs (perhaps mint) and citrus. Also a bit of cream.
The palate has settled down after some air. The initial attack is crisp lemon, leading into some brioche, salinity and just a hint of oak on the mid-palate, then a finish which is rather drying and more-ish.
Overall, after some air this is a rather nice and interesting wine, working well this evening as a contemplative (rather than chugging) aperitif. For the ~US$45 that I paid I see this as an occasional repeat buy. (91 points)
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I like the Murmure, one of my grocery stores carried it at a good price about 1-2 years ago. Their Conversation, a NV with some dosage (5 g/L) is another bubbly I’ve enjoyed.
-Al
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That’s a great note, especially given the warmth of 2011. I’ll have to see if I can find this producer.
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Eric has them at Sec. Pretty sure the nice tension will be to your liking.
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