Shay A
An underrated producer, in my opinion, though my first time with the Heri-Hodie cuvée. 100% Pinot meunièr; perpetual reserve in stainless since 1995; 3g/l dosage; disgorged March 2023 I’ve said it before, but meunièr can really strut its stuff via perpetual reserve/solera style. The natural fruit forward tendency of the grape with the oxidative character of the aging profile marry really well. My benchmarks for this style are Mousse Fils L’Or de Eugene and Delouvin’s Perpetual…both of those show a bit more richness and spiced cider, whereas the stainless steel here provides a brighter lift. Needed a few hours in bottle to open, lots of red apple, yellow citrus and orange zest, and cinnamon aromatically. Trending toward golden apple and pear on the palate, this has a kiss of honeyed richness on the mid-palate before the limestone mineral takes over at the finish. Tasty.
An underrated producer, in my opinion, though my first time with the Heri-Hodie cuvée. 100% Pinot meunièr; perpetual reserve in stainless since 1995; 3g/l dosage; disgorged March 2023 I’ve said it before, but meunièr can really strut its stuff via perpetual reserve/solera style. The natural fruit forward tendency of the grape with the oxidative character of the aging profile marry really well. My benchmarks for this style are Mousse Fils L’Or de Eugene and Delouvin’s Perpetual…both of those show a bit more richness and spiced cider, whereas the stainless steel here provides a brighter lift. Needed a few hours in bottle to open, lots of red apple, yellow citrus and orange zest, and cinnamon aromatically. Trending toward golden apple and pear on the palate, this has a kiss of honeyed richness on the mid-palate before the limestone mineral takes over at the finish. Tasty.
9.2Al Shikoh
creme soda color, excellent mousse; autolytic character, floral notes, ripe, creamy, full bodied, 12% ABV; solera-style blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, and 25% Chardonnay sourced from the premier cru villages of Vrigny, Coulommes, and Pargny; disgorged November 2018, 3 g/L dosage
creme soda color, excellent mousse; autolytic character, floral notes, ripe, creamy, full bodied, 12% ABV; solera-style blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, and 25% Chardonnay sourced from the premier cru villages of Vrigny, Coulommes, and Pargny; disgorged November 2018, 3 g/L dosage
9.2Willie Carter
First off, this color is absolutely killer. A dark golden, cream soda in the glass with very nice perlage. Profuse tiny, rapid bubbles. Ripe apples on the nose along with orange slices and cinnamon. Fruity red berries show with time and air. Just a touch of citrus aromas with freshly baked bread. Slivers of hazelnut and lemon zest. From the Premier Cru village of Vrigny, this is a superstar champagne. Composed of 60% Pinot Meunier from a solera dating back to 1995 with the rest equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Certified organic in 2019. Very zippy acidity with only 3 g/l of dosage and disgorged in March of 2019. Beautifully dry with a ton of character and personality. Medium bodied bordering on the fuller side. This is a most definitely a champagne that you want to sit with for a while before it reveals all of its mysteries. Impressive in the mouth. Undemanding but certainly not simple. Raspberries and baked apple pie. Really nice stone fruit and sharp cheese with mushrooms. A touch of soil and chalk. The finish is long and ends on a sharp note. I can’t say enough about this wine but it’s very hard to think of one that beats it in this category.
First off, this color is absolutely killer. A dark golden, cream soda in the glass with very nice perlage. Profuse tiny, rapid bubbles. Ripe apples on the nose along with orange slices and cinnamon. Fruity red berries show with time and air. Just a touch of citrus aromas with freshly baked bread. Slivers of hazelnut and lemon zest. From the Premier Cru village of Vrigny, this is a superstar champagne. Composed of 60% Pinot Meunier from a solera dating back to 1995 with the rest equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Certified organic in 2019. Very zippy acidity with only 3 g/l of dosage and disgorged in March of 2019. Beautifully dry with a ton of character and personality. Medium bodied bordering on the fuller side. This is a most definitely a champagne that you want to sit with for a while before it reveals all of its mysteries. Impressive in the mouth. Undemanding but certainly not simple. Raspberries and baked apple pie. Really nice stone fruit and sharp cheese with mushrooms. A touch of soil and chalk. The finish is long and ends on a sharp note. I can’t say enough about this wine but it’s very hard to think of one that beats it in this category.
9.0Charlie C
Green apple, pear, lemon. Yeasty, dry. Toasty.
Green apple, pear, lemon. Yeasty, dry. Toasty.
9.2Carter White
Beautiful bouquet for a sparkler. Fresh orchard fruit, Granny Smith, very toasty, long. Fantastic entry level Champagne.
Beautiful bouquet for a sparkler. Fresh orchard fruit, Granny Smith, very toasty, long. Fantastic entry level Champagne.
9.3WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.