But doesn’t “tolerance” in that respect means the difference between what’s declared as dosage and what’s actually in the bottle? So you could declare 5g/Extra Brut and it could be anywhere up to 8g of residual sugar. But I always thought that the words associated with the declared dosage were fixed (0-6 Extra Brut, 0-12 Brut, etc).
Indeed. But I expect that there is some kind of “acceptable” variance. I asked Gemini and here’s what I got:
How it applies to your bottle
While the 3 g/l rule is a general “analytical tolerance” (meaning if a lab tests a bottle labeled Brut, it can actually be 15 g/l), there is a tighter overlap rule for the specific categories:
The Overlap Rule: Under the same EU law, if a wine’s sugar content allows it to fall into two categories, the producer can choose either.
The Extra Brut Limit: Since 6.7 g/l is technically closer to the Extra Brut threshold (6 g/l) than many standard Bruts, and because it falls within the acceptable margin of error for the production of that style, the Comité Champagne (CIVC) and EU regulators permit this labeling.
In practice, the +0.8 g/l figure is the industry-standard “internal” tolerance often cited by French customs (Douanes) and the CIVC when auditing labels. They recognize that between the time the “liqueur d’expédition” (the sugar syrup) is added and the time the wine reaches the consumer, minor chemical changes or measurement variances can occur.
3 Likes
So you could label an Extra-Brut at 6.7g/l and it could test at 3g/l more. So in theory, that Bonville Champagne could be 9.7g/l 
13 base fosse-grely is drinking well and probably at peak. beautiful golden color but still pours with a rather boisterous mousse. quite powerful and broad shouldered, more so than the pinot based les congnaux. intense aromas of walnuts, dried honey, baked apple, pastry yet with a subtle mineral top note. the chardonnay takes center stage despite it being a 50/50 blend. mouth coating and dense with fresh green apple and yellow plum. prominent acidty. unique and vinous, for lovers of the oxidative.
3 Likes
2009 Guy Larmandier Champagne Signé François Vieilles Vignes Blanc de Blancs
A reward after an eMTB climb up Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island. This bottle showed more richness than previous ones from the case. While the low-dosage 2008s were favorites, I was initially wary of the '09 being zero dosage. Not always, but I sometimes find non-dosed wines too lean, unbalance or even shrill, and in my experience they don’t consistently age as well. However, the natural ripeness of the warm 2009 vintage balances the style perfectly. Old vines, and 5 years on the lees This was the best of four bottles opened so far. Rich and balanced, with lemon curd, apple, gingerbread and brioche.
The 6 hour ride was amazing, except for the last hour when I prematurely depleted my bike’s battery.
13 Likes
NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Premier Cru Les Vignes de Vrigny
Opened by a friend. I’ve had ealier renditions of this wine in 2006 and 2016 so this appears to be a wine I try every 10 years. 100% Pinot Meunier. Disgorged July 2016. 2g/l dosage. Deep yellow color. Lower bead. Chamomile and tea aromas. Creamy texture. Citrus, chalk and almond notes. This disgorgement was showing some age and I would drink soon. Round finish. 91 points.
VM
8 Likes
- NV Bernard Lonclas Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne (5/12/2026)
Disgorgement 10/25. 8 g/l. More of a light tawny copper than pink in color. Persistent and broad mousse. The light bouquet starts off with ripe watermelon then follows up with apricot, apple, strawberry, and tangerine flesh. The palate follows suit with light-medium acidity and just a dash of sugar to seal the deal. With some effort and concentration, the finish stretches out for me quite nicely. Happy to have another in inventory. 5+10+16+8= 89 (89 points)
2 Likes
Double posted: 2012 Cristal for 3 mother's on Mother's Day
I almost forgot to post this gem opened on Mother’s Day to share with 3 mothers, Roelanda, our daughter and granddaughter while visiting in Coeur d’Alene:
2012 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 gpl dosage; the last time I had this vintage was a year ago and I was surprised to find it had consistent notes with that bottle; the color was a medium yellow and the nose suggested some nice acid bearing citrus fruit which on the palate translated into delicious honeyed lemon oil with a lime chaser and a hint of toasty brioche accent in the background; it held a steady balanced course throughout and finished impressively on an upbeat as it expanded over time in the glass; this is drinking beautifully now and has lots of time to reach its apogee.
Cheers,
Blake
5 Likes
We’ve had some excellent champagne in Spain so far, the above plus Egly rosé on 2 occasions. Then today a bottle of Lassaigne Cotet that did not please me.
8 Likes
NV J.L. Vergnon Champagne Grand Cru Conversation Blanc de Blancs
100% grand cru Chardonnay. Disgorged 1/20. my last bottle. Served a little too warm which made it difficult to judge. Yellow color. Lighter bead. Notes of brioche and citrus. I liked the previous bottle better. 88 points.
VM
1 Like
To accompany hot, buttered lobster rolls and fried whole belly clams:
It worked well with the lobster rolls. It did not work with the clams. The earthiness of the clam bellies clashed with the wine. It was amazing with the french fries!
1 Like
Are you in New England? Lobster and Ipswich clams were my favorites when I lived on Martha’s Vineyard.
A few days on Cape Cod.
1 Like
Gaspard Brochet - La Pie Tome V
Really liked this one. Very light on it’s feet while still showing enough depth to justify the prices out there. It may not be for the long-haul but it’s very enjoyable now. It definitely benefited from a day of air, so please give it some time after opening. Excited to try my other bottles.
2 Likes
What a great lineup of wines！
I’ve got some bottles of Sketch and the Forjas del Sarnes’ Albarino “Golliado a Terraira” that I’m keen to try side by side, as I believe they are from the same vineyard?
Thanks for posting. I’m happy to see this, as I have a couple resting in the cellar. I bought three different cuvées from Brochet but have yet to open one. There simply isn’t enough time, nor enough hepatocytes, to open all the wines I want to try…yet I somehow continue buying more.
Cheers!
this is why i live vicariously through otto and all the other northern european contributors who seemingly have far more robust constitutions than my own 
4 Likes
As I’ve said before, I love these in small format. Last night’s half bottle was wonderful, though it still needed some time in the glass to fully show its best. Mandarin orange and rind, ginger, almond, and brioche.
I have several of these in both full and half-bottle format. As expected, the halves drink better young than full bottles, but the difference seems even more pronounced with Krug than I would have anticipated.
To my palate, this isn’t showing quite as well today as the 169ème. That may sound intuitive given the base years, 2014 versus 2013, but Krug’s reserve wine library and blending skill often minimize, or at least transcend, the limitations of a lesser base vintage.
6 Likes
I think you’ll like it, judging from your usual favorites! Certainly not Krug, but beautiful in it’s own way.
1 Like
Extracted from a thread just posted: 5 wines tasted blind at dinner: 2006 Taittinger Comtes, 2006 PYCM les Meurgers des Dents de Chen, 2014 PYCM Meursault-Charmes, 1995 Clerc Milon, 2006 Muga Prado Enea
2006 TAITTINGER COMTES de CHAMPAGNE BLANC de BLANC- my bring served blind to the others; I’ve reviewed this champagne numerous times and have often referred to almost being embarrassed as to how many bottles I’ve had since release which is easily well over 200; recent bottles have been all over the place good with some showing some signs of maturation and others, varying degrees to none at all and this bottle was bordering on the none at all, amazingly; the color was a light yellow gold and initially the nose included aromas of fresh citrus fruit with lemon and grapefruit most prevalent and a suggestion of it being crisp and refreshing which certainly came to be once tasted; on the palate came a massive attack of serious honey coated yellow apple with spice, brioche and mild pepper accents; a small taste was a mouthful, confirming it was super rich, full bodied and fully loaded; this may have been one of the biggest of all 2006 Comtes I’ve had and over time in the glass, it even expanded more demanding smaller sips and greater appreciation; perhaps it was so atypical for the other 3 as they struggled to come up with anything more than it was a BdB with a high dosage; 2 had it as new world, NV California sparkling wine.
Cheers,
Blake
3 Likes