Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium light ruby , quite wide light ruby rim . On the nose shows good complexity with sous bois , truffle , cherry and raspberry. On the palate this is again more tertiary in character , with those cherry fruits complementing the earthy sous bois notes . With time this shows a mineral , stony undertow , but stays fresh and vital , with those cherry and raspberry notes . Very fine , ripe but grippy tannins . Fresh acidity and good balance , good velvety mouthfeel . This is great now though improves with time in the glass , so there is absolutely no rush here , from now and over the next 10 years perhaps. An excellent showing for this challenging year . At Auberge de l’ill, Illhaeusen. — 17 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.6

Cena granfinale troigoss — 2 days ago

Bob Rodgers

9.5

A beautiful wine by a brilliant producer. Deep purple color. Bacon fat hints with earthy and truffles on the nose that evolve into dark fruits. Soft tannins on the mouthfeel linger to a grapey finish. Excellent — 2 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

N: closed.

P: lovely cherry fruit. Mineral. Very interesting. Iron.

Source 78 — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale to mid Ruby. A sooty earthy savoury red fruited note with raspberry and new leather. The palate is reserved yet with M+ intensity. Delicate yet assertive. Still very fresh for its age. Elegant with enough palate weight to make it totally enjoyable. Benjamin Leroux was the winemaker who has gone on to more accolades with his own label. Jasper Morris thought that this was the best wine made by Benjamin Leroux during his 14 year tenure at Domaine du Comte Armand. Would go on for several more years if you were lucky enough to be holding some. Pommard is another commune which has no Grand Crus but this must be one of the best Premier Crus. I concur with Jasper Morris MW when he had a bottle of this very wine with friends when he said “we were very sad to finish the bottle “. My son Hugh bought this wine for me from Sotheby’s NY in December 2013 and brought it home in his luggage for Christmas that year and I am so glad he did. This is one of the 1001 Wines. — 4 months ago

Ron Kyle

9.0

Always reliable. — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.7

Quite deep ruby with a relatively thin ruby garnet rim . Really aromatic , with rose , truffle , sweet cherries , blackberries , fresh cut herbs and some earthy undertones . After a while some dry spices. On the palate this is dense but incredibly well poised and balanced with fresh acidity , a mix of summer fruits , herbal tinges . Suave polished but quite noticeable tannins , this very long detailed and precise with wonderful refreshing acidity. Chalky mineral finish . Just gets better and better in the glass , a real crescendo becoming more mineral and precise , but maintaining all those cherry and summer fruits. Lovely now , but surely will improve further over the next 5 -10 years , and will last well a further 10 . The pinnacle of red burgundy in this challenging vintage? In all difficult to imagine a better 2013 , it has pretty much everything , a simply spectacular showing . At Auberge de l’ill in Illhaeusen , paired to perfection with a ‘simple’ roast Bresse chicken and a rich truffle sauce . Quite simply a match made in heaven . — 18 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.5

Omakase lalo — 3 hours ago

Adam

9.0

My review may not be beneficial to all because of my drinking style. I drink the bottle myself over the course of a week. With this Freakshow Cab Sauv, my review changed from the first to last glass. The first glass was strong, thin, and barely enjoyable. With subsequent glasses tasted a developing sweetness and thickness. I realize this is counter intuitive to wines normally being best when being allowed to breathe a bit after opening. Just wasn’t the case for me with this one. Rating was a 6.5 to start and a 9.5 at the end I’m grading with a curve to give it an overall 9. Will buy again based on Freakshow reputation and hope for a better early result. — 2 months ago

Martijn

9.1

Pure Cab S from Lodi.
Nice spicy wine with delicious sweetness. — 4 months ago

Patrick Litle

9.2

Great flavor, spice, smooth — 4 months ago

Anthony Kluska

9.2

This is what new world should be. Pepper fruit oak. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.8

Armand de Brignac “Gold” Brut – NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A prestige multi-vintage Champagne, composed of three distinct vintages sourced exclusively from estate-owned Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels in Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses, and Ludes. Blend composition; 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier.

Handcrafted in small batches, this cuvée exemplifies depth, polish, and harmony, a benchmark luxury Champagne that delivers substance beyond the spectacle. Dosage is kept discreet, allowing purity, texture, and natural vinosity to shine.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, and baked quince lead the nose, followed by brioche, toasted hazelnut, almond cream, and hints of citrus oil. Subtle honeyed notes and chalky minerality add impressive aromatic layering.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet energetic. The mousse is fine and persistent, framing a palate that is both rich and precise. Chardonnay provides lift and elegance, Pinot Noir adds structure and depth, while Pinot Meunier rounds the mid-palate. Long, polished finish, lingering but never heavy or fatiguing.

Food Pairings
Caviar, lobster with beurre blanc, sashimi, truffled poultry, aged Comté, or simply on its own as a statement aperitif.

Verdict
A spectacular Champagne that justifies its prestige. Complex, impeccably balanced, and deeply satisfying, the Gold Brut delivers true luxury through craftsmanship and terroir, not excess.

Did You Know?
Armand de Brignac is produced by the Cattier family, whose Champagne lineage dates back to 1763. Unlike many prestige cuvées, the Gold Brut is crafted from 100% estate fruit, with each bottle riddled, disgorged, and finished by hand , a rarity at this scale.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of the most delicious Champagnes tasted recently, memorable and worth the investment. — 6 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.6

Cena granfinale troigoss — 2 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Primera cena troigoss — 2 days ago

KP

9.4

I would absolutely buy this one again! Especially at the $20-$25 price point.
Delicious blueberry and rhubarb pie on the nose. Silky tannins with low acidity, and a long vanilla finish with mild oak. Well balanced and very enjoyable. — 2 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

N: pink roses. Lovely. Perfumed.

P: lovely slightly sweet fruit. Perfect balance. Long. Elegant. Hint of bitterness.

Source 85 — 4 months ago

Paul Masson

9.1

Developing bruised apple complexity, sufficiently balanced with zingy citrus and minerality. — 4 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

2/2026. Good fruit and finish. Medium boldness. Very good for the price point. — 5 months ago

Mark Osmers

8.9

The 2020 vintage of Michael David Freak Show is a blend for everyday drinking. A blend of Syrah (appx 54%), Petite Sirah (appx 42%) and Souzao (appx 4%), it is a balanced, fruit-forward red wine with notes of dark berries and plum. Although it does not provide the complexity and tannic structure of a Napa or Sonoma Cabernet, neither does it come with the same price tag.

I recommend this wine, but just find the circus-themed bottle label a little freaky. — 6 months ago