We consider this our house champagne, and it’s the perfect blend of crowd pleasing pleasure with vinous geekiness. Drinks great young too.
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Today another Paul Bara wine, and sadly, like yesterday’s, this doesn’t really hit the spot for me.
- NV Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Grand Rosé - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (07/09/2026)
70%PN, 20%C, 10%PN rouge. All Bouzy GC. Malo blocked. Bottled May 2022 (so 2021 base I guess). Disgorged Feb 2025, dosage 5g/l.
Strong red fruit and a little chalk on the nose. The palate follows: quite fruity, with strawberries, raspberries; just (but only just for me) staying on the right side of cloying, light acidity, and just a slight drying note on the finish.
Overall, this is a rather fruity, almost sweet, and one-dimensional wine. For me it is over-dosed to the point where it verges on cloying. It would work as a simple party fizz for those who prefer things sweeter, but it's not a repeat buy for me at the ~US$42 that I paid. (85 points)
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All right, this is becoming intolerable.
-Al
Extracted from a thread just posted: Dinner at Cafe de Klepel in Amsterdam with a dear brother: NV de Sousa Chemins des Terriors, 2023 de L'Ecette les Gaudoirs, 2018 Tissot Savagnin, 2014 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino
NV CHAMPAGNE de SOUSA CHEMINS des TERROIRS BRUT- this is comprised of 50% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir sourced from old vines organically and biodynamically farmed in the Vallée de la Marne, Coteaux du Vitryat and région d’Epernay; unfiltered and dosed at 7 gpl; after the long walk, I had cotton mouth and asked for a good palate cleanser and this was the right answer featuring bright acidity to support the chalk and mineral laden fresh mango, peach and apricot fruit delivered in a smooth textured medium.
Cheers,
Blake
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2017 Remy Massin & Fils Pinot Noir Champagne “Special Club” Brut Millésime
2nd time having this wine. Disgorged January 2023. 4g/l dosage. Light yellow color. Moderate bead. Rather fresh with citrus and lemon peel notes. Very young and I would recommend holding it for 3-5 years. 92 points.
VM
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This sounds remarkably bad:
" In Champagne, growers reaped their earliest harvest on record, racing to pick grapes before rising sugar levels pushed potential alcohol too high. Output there is expected to be roughly halved, with grape bunch weights at their lowest in 20 years."
Have loved the Elise Dechannes offerings. Bright, detailed and incredibly drinkable. Sad she has closed up shop.
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How was that old eisele SB?
Fantastic. Note posted on CT. Got it at Acker Auction fairly recently. 2 for $35. Go figure.
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Thats a crazy good price! And glad to hear it aged so well!
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Not champagne, but serious CA sparkler. SLS makes mostly still wines but previously worked under Nowack in champagne, although this is in a different style. Really impressed. LWS had this available, not sure whether theyll get additional vintages in since 22 was the most recent release last fall? spring? and I think was a mailing list exclusive.
- 2021 Samuel Louis Smith Blanc de Blancs Pelio Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County (8/29/2026)
A little brassy and tight on opening, this filled out into a more classic bdb with lemon curd, some florals, and a hint of pie crust. Probably the best American sparkler I've had, will look to find more. (91 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Cedric Bouchard VV/R21 at Kitchen Table London. Consumed solo over four hours. Tightly coiled befitting the vintage. Opened up over time and showed pears, flowers, and depth. Love this.
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Two new ones for me last night
Started with a George Laval Garennes which is a 90% Pinot Meunier topped off with I believe equal parts Chardonnay and PN. Relatively recent and this one was 2022 but a solera method blend so a blend of vintages from 2013-2022. Very low dosage at 1g and part of his entry level
Pretty nice and different. Chalky and mineral, nose is citrusy and some toasted almonds. On the palate full grapefruit attack which softens as it’s open longer. Very refreshing and kickstarts the palate
This was followed by a beauty I have never had before: Pierre Paillard Ambonnay Grand Cru 2020. Blanc de Noirs. 48 months on lees, extra brut with ~2g of dosage. Wish I had taken a picture in the glass but this was very copper color and beautiful to look at.
Nose was forest berries but ever so gentle with some cloves, peach with some grilled element to it. On the palate beautifully vinous with wild forest strawberries mixed ith citrusy notes. Still keeps a mineral note.
Wonderful and something to go back to.
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Just scored a few bottles of 2018 Cristal. Anyone tried it yet? I hear it’s a departure from the norm, but haven’t heard any first-hand experience from non-critics.
How is it a departure from the norm? The only thing I’m aware of is the Envoyer offer where they said it was the best vintage since 2013.
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Expansion of parcels from which grapes were selected for the blend due to need for acid lift, reduced oak ferments, higher usage of chardonnay, earlier bottling, move to bottling with crown cap with liner.
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wait … whuuuuuuttt?!?
