Jeroen Koenen

9.4

Pale colour, hints of green.
This seems still quite young, fresh and very energetic. Lemon, green apple, white peach and chamomille, dusted with some spice and minerality. Terrific! — 4 months ago

Myles Keyt

9.0

The 2012 Fernand & Laurent Pillot Pommard Les Charmots Premier Cru is a truly captivating wine. With its deep ruby color and medium body, it exudes elegance from the very first glance. The fine lace tannins gracefully caress the palate, adding a touch of sophistication to this exquisite offering.

Upon nosing the wine, one is immediately greeted by a bouquet that is nothing short of enchanting. Plum and blackcurrant aromas intertwine with delicate notes of violet, cedar, and vanilla, creating a symphony of scents. Undertones of toasted coconut further enhance the aromatic profile, inviting the senses on a delightful journey.

On the palate, this wine shines with remarkable freshness and vibrant acidity. The blackcurrant flavors take center stage, accompanied by a subtle hint of white pepper that adds a touch of spice. The wine culminates in a captivating finish that leaves a lasting impression.

Overall, the 2012 Fernand & Laurent Pillot Pommard Les Charmots Premier Cru is a beautiful wine that provides an exceptional drinking experience. It is particularly remarkable as a first introduction to Pommard wines, showcasing the essence of this renowned appellation. With its superb balance and complexity, this wine is truly enjoyable and deserving of a rating of 95. It is undoubtedly a wine that one would gladly revisit time and time again. — 3 years ago

Amy Yan

9.3

Fab Pommard (2016). Goes well with fusilli, bone marrow and octopus. — 5 years ago

Willem Jan Withagen

9.2

Yeah, what a wine. Full ripe tropical fruits, creamy vanilla with a light hint of caramel sweetness. Orange zest bitters. Quite sweet but just enough citrus sour to prevent it from becoming too thick. Mached excellent with the spicy lintal coconut dal for diner. But standalone it is even better. — 6 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

Nasty Women of the East Bay do Alsace. This wine, like so many from the region , overdelivers: jasmine, citrus, chalk with grapefruit pith and white pepper on the finish. Apparently a blend of 95% Auxerrois and 5% Pinot Blanc qualifies as a Pinot Blanc?!? The Alsatians rank up there with the Italians for confusing labeling conventions. Enjoyed. — 7 years ago

with Maura

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is Gaston’s Special Club. What does it mean when a Champagne is labeled as Special Club?

The Special Club, or Club Trésors de Champagne, was originally founded in 1971 by 12 of the oldest families of the Champagne region. Since then, the club has grown to include 29 producers committed to excellence in all aspects of production. This exclusive membership is only open to Recoltant Manipulants (a French designation for a producer of grower Champagne). Champagnes must be produced, bottled and aged at the member’s estate. The Special Club Champagnes represent the tête de cuvée (a premier bottling often carrying a vintage date) selection for each member.

Special Club Champagne designation means they are only made in outstanding vintages from grapes harvested from member’s own vineyards. Each producer must submit his wine to two blind tastings panels of esteemed oenologists and wine professionals. The still wines (vins clairs) are tasted first and if approved may be bottled in the uniquely-shaped Special Club bottle before undergoing secondary fermentation.

After a minimum of three years aging on lees, the wines are tasted again for final approval.

On the nose; green apple, bruised Bosc pear, touch of golden apple, pineapple, cream soda, light citrus, sea shells/spray, brioche, gray volcanic minerals, soft chalk, spring flowers & citrus blossoms.

The palate is soft, delicate, subtly rich with micro oxygenation. Green apple, bruised Bosc pear, bruised golden apple, pineapple, cream soda, light citrus, sea shells/spray, brioche, gray volcanic minerals that have teeth and dig deep into your palate, soft powdery chalk, spring flowers & citrus blossoms.

Photos of; the house of Gaston Chiquet, cellar-hand hand riddling bottles, Owner/Winemaker Nicolas Chiquet inspecting bottles and one of their Grand Cru Vineyard.

Producer notes...Nicolas farms 23 heactares in the Valle de la Marne in the villages of Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay. All of the fruit (including that which is used in the non-vintage cuvee) comes from premier and grand cru grapes. Nicolas does not employ any oak aging at Gaston Chiquet; he believes that concentration, fruit maturity and malolactic fermentation impart enough body and texture to make aging in barrel unnecessary.

The vineyards are planted to equal (forty percent each) parts chardonnay, pinot meunier and twenty percent are planted to pinot noir. Gaston-Chiquet. He also produces a vintage dated chardonnay from 5 parcels on the western side of the grand cru village of Ay. Usually recognized as a grand cru village for pinot noir, these vines of chardonnay were planted in Ay in the 1930s.

In 1919, two brothers, Fernand and Gaston Chiquet winemakers came together to create their house Chiquet Brothers. They were ‘pioneers’ in Champagne, the very first winemakers to take the initiative, bold at the time, to keep their grapes, turn them into Champagne and sell their own wine. Nicolas Chiquet planted his first vines in 1746, and since then eight generations have have managed their house. Gaston Chiquet registered the company in 1935 and expanded the property with land in Aÿ, Cumières and Hautvillers. Gaston Chiquet is best known for making the only blanc de blancs from the Pinot village of Aÿ. Aÿ was the big name in the area long before wines became sparkling, and many were the kings and popes who counted Vin d’Aÿ as their favorite wine. The vineyards slope down steeply to the village by the Marne River, and the best locations are just over the town, sheltered from the wind and with maximum exposure to the sun. — 8 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.1

Another 2 years on from the previous bottle. Slightly hint of matchstick, crisp yet creamy mouthfeel, very very light hint of vanilla. Overall impression is of freshness and lemon. — 9 months ago

with Eli and Barbara

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

8.9

Pleasant and utilitarian — 4 years ago

Kim watt

9.8

2018 green apple, lemon and slight stone. Very nice. — 4 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.1

This is a good sipper and good with food. Enjoyable. WF — 6 years ago

Gian Facchini

9.3

Excellent champagne price for value — 6 years ago

boyd

9.5

Apparently Pommard takes 20 years to open up. Damn good. — 7 years ago

Haakon Hovde

9.4

A welcome solid winter warm Pinot. — 8 years ago

JKT

9.2

Pure pleasure held firmly in place with big backbone — a year ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.6

Very nice. Such a nerve. — 2 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.0

Bees wax, nectarine, pear, jasmine. Medium viscosity, round cleansing finish. WF — 4 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

8.9

Bottled 10/2021. An old favorite not had in years. I remember this being fresher with more citrus, playful. This edition is maltier, not quite as lively. Still delicious and a good match with homemade shawarma. To paraphrase Fernand Point— is it Saison DuPont that has changed, or have I? — 5 years ago

with Alsu

Barbie Bertisch

9.0

Beautifully rich, refreshing, easy and pleasant like a summer breeze. Good enough to drink all day. — 6 years ago

JKT

9.2

At Asheville reunion 10/7/19 opened to try. Wonderful! Earthy complex mature white fruit almost herbaceous nose with great lively yet weighty texture and long finish. What a deal! — 7 years ago

Tooty Frooty

9.2

Pinot Gris? Yes, please!
Sött å gôtt, som förväntat. Dracks på SK mat & människor. — 8 years ago