Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The color of the 14 looks rich & starting to age Sauternes.

It is very viscous with notes of paraffin. Lots of dried fruits; apricots, juicy, overripe yellow peaches, blood orange with peel, marmalade fruits/jam, citrus blend, bruised Bosc pear, macerated, golden & red apple & dried pineapple, strong presence of gritty chalk & grey volcanic minerals, white spice, sea fossils, limestone marl, dry twig, sun tea with fruit, nuts with skin, some butterscotch & toffee, burnt raw sugar, honeycomb, warm caramel, vanillin, herbal notes, withering yellow lilies, orange Gerber daisies, grand, round acidity, great balance, still nice tension/structure, rich, smartly-elegant-polished finish without end and long sets on volcanics & spice. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Something for the Jasper Hill Farms, “Willoughby.”

I am not much for Brut these days. Prefer Extra Brut. But I had this 375ml left before I shifted gear’s.

Having said that, this is still very sound and consistent. Think I enjoyed it more once upon a time. It seems sweeter now having a steady stream of EB.

Nice mousse. Lemon, lime pulp w/ a bit flesh, Bosc pear, red apple, yellow stone fruits, tropical fruits, quince, ginger, whipped creams, graham cracker, nougat, light & soft volcanic minerals, nice chalk powder, sea fossils, gentle saline, yellow flowers & lilies with hints of jasmine, pleasant, lively acidity, good balance, structure-tension & a smartly polished elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on white spice-ginger.

Excellent pair w/ Key Lime Tart.

@SimplyRedVirtualLiveHamburg — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Tasted from 1/2 bottle. They come in handy for dinner for two in many cases, but especially at a restaurant that allows corkage. Most do in California. It is even harder to find vintage champagne in 375ml’s.

The 2018 vintage was good to very good. You need to taste and or read up for its best offerings.

A note, I tasted at the Billecart-Salmon property in later October 2022 with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. As insightful as that was, he was asked other than Billecart Salmon champagnes, what was one of his favorite champagnes? His reply was surprisingly an older vintage Paul Bara he had recently. That’s a producer question that gets asked often. Normally generates a pause with some minor angst to answer.

The nose shows; lemon chiffon/meringue, bruised apple to slightly cider, bruised pear, yellow & white stone fruits, just ripe pineapple, orange citrus blend, lime pulp, tropical melons, whipped, white cream, white spice-ginger, yeasty bread dough, saline, crushed limestone pulp, crumbled chalk, sea fossils, white spring flowers set in yellow lilies.

The palate is round & soft. The mousse is delicate w/ micro oxidation. Ripe; lemon chiffon/meringue, white & yellow stone fruit, slightly bruised apple & Bosc pear, lime pulp, orange citrus rind, some tropical melons, cream, ginger white spice, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, saline, sea fossils, dry crumbled chalkiness, caramel notes, heather honey, warm perfectly toasted toast, graham cracker, nougat w/ nuts, yellow flowers set in a field of white spring flowers, excellent acidity with a nicely; balanced, structured, tensioned, polished finish that lasts a minute and falls on limestone laced with soft, dry, powdery chalkiness.

Photos of; the house of Paul Bara, chalky caves w/ riddling racks, old wood basket press & a vineyard picking party. — a year ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Blend of Garnacha (49%), Carignan (36%) Syrah (13%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (2%). Medium ruby color with garnet highlights. Aromas of bright red fruit, anise and wet soil. Flavors of ripe strawberry and cherry fruit, black licorice, basil and sweet baking spices. Long and lingering finish. Fine grained tannins. Medium-plus body and a perfect texture. (Not too light…. Not too heavy). Fruit forward, rich and somewhat concentrated, but also full of elegance and finesse. Nice wine. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It has been a while since I’ve opened a Clemence. A favorite of mine & Sofia once upon a time. Still drink it, just not as often as I have moved to mostly Extra Brut. This is a Brut at 8g. Excellent Champagne & value at $44.99.

I believe there are only two resellers you can acquire it, one east coast & one west-K&L. You have to buy it pretty quickly once they get their container. It took several yrs building that relationship as Launois is careful about who they let resell their cuvées. In fact, it is even difficult to get in France. K&L has standing orders from some French citizens they ship back to France once they receive it. Kinda crazy.

The palate has nice mousse with lively acidity and micro oxygenation. Lime/lemon pulp w/ zest, stone fruits-white dominant, grapefruit w/ pith, bruised red/golden apples, Bosc pear, caramel, vanillin, some yeast, baguette crust, white spice, gritty, grey volcanics, chalky bits, limestone marl, oyster shells, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers with a little greens mixed in, very good acidy, well; made/balanced/tensioned with a smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts minutes and land on excellent minerality.

If you get to Champagne, visit. They have a huge museum of champagne/wine artifacts that date back to BC. My two pics do not show its enormity. They are about 35-40 minutes south of Reims.

They are the only producer I know of that places a rubber casket attached to the bottom of their corks. So, next to never do their cuvées have cork taint.

Enjoying it with the Jasper Hill Farms - Willoughby, buttery washed soft white cheese. Try with Rainbow Crisp crackers or warm baguette. Also, on apples with and w/o honey. — 4 months ago

Katie Journeay

8.9

Costco Richmond — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose shows, melange of orange citrus, green/red apple, Bosc pear, slightly, dryish yellow & white peach, Meyer lemon to meringue pie with crus, lime with zest, overripe pineapple/cantalope, cream, soft, white spice, vanillin, graham cracker, brioche, saline, chalk & limestone marl, yellow lilies/flowers & pink roses.

The palate mousse is rich, round and elegant. Melange of orange citrus, green/red apple, Bosc pear, slightly, dryish/candied yellow & white peach, Meyer lemon to meringue pie with crus, lime with zest, overripe pineapple/cantalope, cream, marmalade tones, hints of honeysuckle soft, white spice, vanillin, touch of mint, graham cracker, brioche, saline, grey volcanic, minerals, crisp chalk & limestone marl, yellow lilies/flowers & pink roses with greens. Excellent rainfall acidity, nice structure/tension, well balanced, elegant, smart, polish with a minutes finish that lands on beautiful, softened minerality.

Disgorged 7/25, 1g making it really a Nature. 48 months on lees.

Photos of Egly-Ouriet and Owner and Winemaker Francis Egly. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Been awhile since I’ve had this one. Always consistently good.

Beautiful mousse, bruised red apple & Bosc pear, underripe pineapple flesh, blood orange, quince, nougat, hints of white peach, white spice-ginger, whipped cream, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, speckled chalk bits, grey volcanics, limestone, withering yellow lilies/flowers, crisp acidity, well tensioned-structured, well balanced and elegant finish that last two-minutes.

@BalancesRestaurant - Lucerne. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

A pull from the cellar to toast my son’s (our first) graduation from High School! The 2006 La Grande Dame pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is autolytic and developing with notes of ripe and tart orchard fruits: Bosc pear, green apple, strawberry, raspberry, lemon curd, toasted brioche, marzipan, honeysuckle and chalky, limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. These are in a fabulous spot. Drink now through 2036+. Disgorged October of 2016. — a year ago

Stephanie Wu

9.0

Bosc pear and white flowers. Balanced acidity. Having this on election night — 2 years ago