AGRAPART BLANC DE BLANCS "SEPT CRU" 750ML This non-vintage cuvée is produced from wines of two consecutive years (2004 & 2005) and the older of the two is aged in oak barrels for one year before bottling. The wine is then aged on the lees in the bottle for at least 3 years.
AGRAPART BLANC DE BLANCS "TERROIRS" GRAND CRU 750ML 92 Points The Wine Advocate "The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Terroirs is creamy-textured Champagne that shows tons of energy and finesse in its ripe apricots, flowers, smoke and minerals. The aromatics emerge with time, rounding out this compelling effort. The style is more generous than in the Mineral, which follows. The Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Terroirs is 100% 2002 juice from 50-year old vines in the Robarts and Voie d’Epernay vineyards, both of which are in Avize. The wine was fermented and aged in a combination of stainless steel and neutral oak, aged 4 years on its lees and bottled with 5 grams of sugar. I can’t think of too many wines on the market that give readers the opportunity to drink grand cru juice from an important vintage at this price point. Simply put, this Champagne is not to be missed. This bottle was disgorged in August 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018."
ANDRE BEAUFORT BRUT ROSE GRAND CRU 750ML
One of the most spectacular Rosé Champagnes we acquired last year is finally back in stock. This is lot 06R that was just disgorged this past March. It is composed primarily of Ambonnay Pinot Noir from the superb 2002 vintage. Like its predecessor, this is a dense, foodoriented Rosé that is chockablock with aromas and flavors of flambéed cherries, citrus, smoke and wet stones. Truly a Champagne of tremendous depth, it could even get better with another year on the cork to display its true
splendor.
Armand De Brignac Brut Gold "Ace of Spades" Armand de Brignac is the name of a Champagne brand produced by Champagne Cattier, and sold in opaque metallic bottles. The brand's first bottling, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, is identifiable by its distinctive gold bottle with pewter Ace of Spades labels.
The Armand de Brignac Brut Gold composition is 33% each of Champagne's grape varietals (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier). The Champagne's production and wine selection is overseen by Champagne Cattier.
The original de Brignac name was registered by the Cattier family (who produces the Champagne) in "the late 1940s or early 50s", according to Jean-Jacques Cattier. It was chosen at that time by his mother, who had been reading a novel featuring a character named de Brignac. In naming the new Champagne itself, Cattier states those involved "came up with Armand, it sounded kind of noble." Much of the popular discussion surrounding this Champagne was spurred by a high-profile appearance in a music video by American hip hop artist Jay-Z.
AUBRY 00 BRUT "AUBRY DE HUMBBERT" 750ML
Yellow, moderate nose of cream soda, lemon tart, cherry, raspberry and honey. Medium body, high complexity, high acidity with caramel, raspberry, baked apple, vanilla, fig and brioche.
L. Aubry Fils Brut Rose Wine Spectator 89 Points
"Floral, apple and berry notes mingle in this firm, compact bubbly. It turns lean on the finish, yet there are concentrated flavors, so give this the benefit of the doubt and age it a little in the bottle. Best from 2006 through 2009. 440 cases made." –BS
PAUL BARA 2004 BRUT ROSE SPECIAL CLUB 750ML We have long been fans of Bara's Brut Roses and we were very excited to taste this the firm's first ever vintage Rose. We are please say that this '04 more than lived up to our lofty expectations, though it is obvious that an additional year of aging on the cork will pay off handsomely. It is a blend of two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay topped off with the addition of 8% red Pinot Noir from Bouzy. It was aged on lees for 5 years and nicely combines flowery aromatics with a palate that is both authoritative and elegant. Limited.
PAUL BARA 98 BRUT "COMTESSE MARIE DE FRANCE" 750ML 91 Points The Wine Advocate "The 1998 Grand Cru Comtesse Marie de France flows from the glass with notable clarity in its compelling, exotic aromas and flavors. This silky, sensuous Champagne develops beautifully in the glass, showing the many facets of its personality with notable class. Honey, brioche, peaches and apricots are just some of the nuances that emerge over time. This is another big, full-bodied wine from Bara, but here the wine shows extraordinary finesse as well. This is Lot 538033, disgorged February 28, 2008."
ANDRE BEAUFORT 2000 BRUT MILLESIME AMBONNAY GRAND CRU 750ML Wine Advoate 94 Points "Finesse. Beauty. Elegance. It's all there. The wine positively shimmers on the palate with layers of silky-textured, perfumed fruit that come to life in a gorgeous display of class. Deceptively medium in body, the wine reveals superb clarity in a chiseled style, with a mousse that is exceptionally fine. Overtones of mint, licorice, lemons and flowers linger on the sublime finish. This is a reference-point wine for readers who want to know why Ambonnay is a Grand Cru village. The Pinot character remains suppressed today but it will emerge in bottle. The 2000 Brut Millésime Grand Cru is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted from Beaufort. This is Lot 00A, disgorged 10/08. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020. "
ANDRE BEAUFORT 1996 BRUT MILLESIME ABONNAY GRAND CRU 750 Wine Advocate 94 Points "Captures the best qualities of this legendary vintage. Only the wine's volume is a hint as to its age, because the aromas and flavors remain decidedly youthful. With time in the glass mint, licorice, oranges and dried apricots reluctantly make an appearance, but this is a big, structured wine that could still use another few years in bottle. Readers will have a hard time waiting, though, as the 1996 is in a beautiful place today. This is Lot 96A, disgorged 10/08. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020."
BERECHE BRUT RESERVE 750ML
A blend of equal parts Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay that is fermented with native yeasts and no malo-lactic fermentation. The Chardonnay seems to stand out now as this Champagne proffers vibrant notes of honey, apple sauce, and ginger.
It is great to see that in Champagne, as elsewhere, a new generation of environmentally aware and quality conscious producers is emerging. For example, in the Montange de Reims village of Craon de Ludes, 28 yearold Raphael Bereche has been working alongside his father cultivating the family’s 20 acres of vines since 2004. Not coincidentally, 2004 was the year this tiny firm quit using chemical herbicides. In 2007 the slow process of converting the Bereche vineyards to biodynamic
viticulture was begun. To better express their Montagne de Reims terroir all of the Bereche Champagnes are fermented with indigenous yeast and are never filtered. This seamless Brut is mainly (70%) from the 2005 vintage with the balance being reserve wine wines from 2002 through 2004. Roughly equal parts Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay; this is rich, authoritative bubbly with well-melded notes of quince, apples and orange zest. Malolactic fermentation was avoided giving this Brut a raciness that draws out its dry, mineral-laden finish. It is certainly a joy to find such a distinctive, well-made artisan
Champagne priced this low.
HENRI BILLIOT BRUT ROSE 750ML
91 Point Wine Spectator
"This pale rosé offers complex aromas and flavors of dried berry, dried citrus and spice notes, all married to a firm structure and a refined texture. Less fruity than some rosés, yet very harmonious and inviting. Drink now through 2010." 92 Points The Wine Advocate "Billiot’s NV Brut Rose is essentially the same blend as the NV Brut Reserve, 2005 (50%), 2004 (25%) and 2003 (25%), but with the addition of 2002 still Pinot. There is awesome purity and silkiness in a style that artfully balances structure with finesse. A wine of precision and clarity, this Champagne delivers tons of Pinot character with chalky, mineral notes that float on the finish. In a world overrun by oceans of mediocre roses, Billiot’s NV Brut Rose stands apart as a wine of rare pedigree. Simply put, this is compelling juice. This bottle was disgorged on June 24, 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012. "
BOLLINGER 2000 BRUT "LA GRANDE ANNEE" 750ML 95 Points The Wine Spectator "A complex, dynamic Champagne, with flavors that range from flowers and orange citrus to vanilla, roasted hazelnut, leather and woodsy spices. This is intense, but also shows a lot of finesse, with a fine, spicy aftertaste. Drink now through 2030. 2,650 cases imported."
BOLLINGER 99 BLANC DE NOIRS VIELLES VIGNES FRANCAISES 750ML/B> 97 Points Richard Juhlin "Richard Juhlin / 97
"Marvellously creamy and intensively elegant in a modern, polished way despite muscles as great as the Gluteus Maximus on a thoroughbred. Already fantastically long and homogenous with a colossally compact layer of fruit that ranges from pear to fig. Tempting to enjoy it now at once, and that is no crime, but if one is oneself in good shape then one ought to wait until the wine's twentieth birthday before one's next meeting when the complexity of truffles will have developed fully."
BOLLINGER BRUT NV SPECIAL CUVEE 750 ML 93 Points Wine Spectator
"Complex aromas and flavors of rose, grilled nuts, citrus and a gently oxidative note course through this muscular, full-bodied bubbly. Despite its power, there's a gracefulness. The aftertase combines citrus and spice. Drink now through 2008. 10,000 cases imported"
BOLLINGER BRUT ROSE 750ML Just lanched this year, this Brut Rose truly rivals Krug's as the the best multi-vintage Rose Champagne on the market. It is composed of 14% Meunier, 24% Chardonnay and 62% Pinot Noir. Its pale salom color comes from 5% Pinot Noir barrel aged and made as red wine from the firm's Grand Cru, old vine vineyards in Verzenay and Ay. Flavorful yet subtle with a creammy mid-palate and a long tapering, very Brut finish.
PINOT BLANC "LA BOLOREE" 750ML 95 Points The Wine Advocate "The 2005 Blanc de Blancs Roses de Jeanne (La Boloree) is an unusual 100% Pinot Blanc (from 40 year-old vines) made from a tiny parcel measuring less than a quarter of a hectare planted to a dense 8,000 vines per hectare. The wine is quite a bit more focused and energetic than the richer 2005 Haute-Lemblee, most likely owing to the presence of chalk in this particular site. Perfumed and silky throughout, La Boloree sings with tons of varietal detail and impeccable balance yet it remains young (almost painfully so) and in need of at least a few years on the cork. This is an exceptionally pure, vinous Champagne to marvel over. Sadly, there are just 1,000 bottles to go around. The 2005 La Boloree spent 38 months on its lees. Disgorged: April 16, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021."
ROLAND CHAMPION 00 BLANC DE BLANCS GRAND CRU 750 90 Points
Wine & Spirits Magazine "...a concentrated and powerful wine based on nutty richness and leesy minerality. Its not overt, and it needs food to bring out its flavors. Serve with boudin blanc . "Founded in 1951 by Andre Champion in the Grand Cru village of Chouilly. His son Roland expanded his father's to the 27 acres of Grand Cru vineyards. Today Roland's son Francois is the oenologist and he produces about 7,00 cases a year. He harvestes 90% Chardonnay and uses only the free-run juice. Through extended aging on the lees, he builds outstanding cuvee with focus and intensity.
