Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The last of the Jasper Hill Champagne Washed Harbison-limited production. Enjoyed it last week with the 17 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Mountains Chablis, though I’d try with a coravined glass of 22 Domaine De La Galopiere. Good by not quite as good of a wine pairing as JPD.

The palate shows nice, thick viscosity & waxy paraffin. Sour to tart Meyer lemons, apricots, green & golden apples, lime zest, some light, overripe pineapple syrup, yellow peach, yellow melon, marmalade with fruit bits, heather honey, pronounce melted caramel, saline, grainy chalkiness, grey volcanics, sea fossils, hints of flint, notes of mint, mid tone white spice, limestone, dry crushed rock, dry river river stone, some lightly burnt sugar, yellow lilies/flowers, spring flower bouquet with greens, excellent, round acidity, very good; balance, structure, tension & length with an elegant, lush finish that lasts minutes and falls on caramel, honey and beautiful minerality. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Beautiful cuvée with excellent mousse. It shows both reductive & oxidative characteristics. Meyer lemon, lime zest, pineapple juice and some dried pineapple, dry apricots & yellow & white stone fruits, black cherries, Rainer cherries, green apple, caramel notes, very light yeastiness, bread dough, cream, light saline, ginger, beautiful powdery chalkiness, yellow flowers with greens, excellent acidity with a well balanced, well knitted, elegant and smartly polished finish that lands on minerality & soft spice and lasts 90 seconds.

The name Cuvée 72, derives from…36 in bottle +36 stored at the House…72 months minimum of maturation before shipment. Cuvée 72 is a variation on the complexity of time and development of our Première Cuvée.

Good pair with Jasper Hill Farms Harbison & yellow Nectarines.

The blend is 45% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay & 22% Pinot Meunier. Again, while the label states it is an Extra Brut, its dosage is 6g, which makes it a Brut by being 1g over. Puzzling considering French wine laws.

More than 30 wines whose composition is kept secret, Cuvée 72 is comprised of a system of reserve wines dating back to 1985 along with the latest harvest. It is a selection of first pressing of meunier, chardonnay and pinot noir, a proportion of which (20%) have had their first fermentation in oak barrels. — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I am not the biggest fan of a lot of CA Chardonnays but, I have come to fully embrace Arnot-Roberts, this vintage & terrior.

This is not a wine you want well chilled...better just under room temperature. When well chilled, it loses too much of its beauty & sheer elegance. Shows more CA Chardonnay structure/backbone with big green apple. When it is cold it does pair better with the Lattebusche Piave Vecchio...a drier, harder cheese. When it warms, the best choice is the Jasper Hill Farms soft, full cream. white, Harbison.

After it has warmed & had about a half-hour of air, the nose is rounded, lush & ruby. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, lime candy, caramel, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens.

The body is rich, lush and full, a touch gluey with good viscosity. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, tangerine, lime candy, honeysuckle, caramel, cream, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, limestone, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens. The acidity is phat, round and really well done. The rich, well balanced, elegant, long finish is delicious, settling into persistent, delicate white spice.

Just misses 94.

Photos of; Arnot-Roberts vineyard, staff at harvest and Duncan Arnot Meyers (left) and Nathan Roberts in their vineyard in Forestville, where they have Trousseau planted. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Time to open one of these 2017’s.

This very pleasant. Nicely Rounded out with 7 yrs or so in bottle.

The mouthfeel shows nice viscosity. It is round & a little waxy. Shows beautiful honeysuckle notes, golden apple, Meyer lemon, light lime juice, not quite pineapple syrup, green apple is late to the party, pink grapefruit w/ a light sprinkle of sugar, mango, some green melon, marmalade fruits quality-orange peel, yellow peaches, dryish apricots, warm caramel, dry chalk-limestone powder, fine grain, grey volcanic minerals, saline, soft flintiness, hints of white pepper, sea fossils, light saline, warm, well done toast, white flowered, yellow lilies, excellent acidity with a round, lush, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on beautiful minerals.

Really excellent with the Jasper Hill Farms Champagne Washed Harbison. Limited release. Might be the best pair w/ this cheese to date. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 2012 J. Lassalle Special Club is made from 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. The vines average 50 yrs old. Hails from Chigny-Les-Roses. Winemakers Chantal Decelle-Lassalle and Angéline Templier farm using the practice of Lutte Raisonnée, which means they fall just short of organic. Sustainable but use minimal chemicals. Rain during and at the end of the season when Mother Nature doesn’t dry the grape clusters, chemicals are often necessary to prevent mold. This isn’t Sauternes!

Texturally, it is quite nice. Beautiful fine mousse and micro oxygenation. Lively but not aggressive acidity.

Green & golden apples, pear, pineapple, lime/lemon with zest, orange citrus blend, green melon & kiwi. White spice, bread dough, nougat, limestone bits, thick chalky powder, graham cracker crust, melted caramel, vanillin, saline, sea fossils, understated herbaceous notes, fruit blossoms, spring flowers with an elegant, smartly polished, well balanced, nicely structured-crafted finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on volcanics & spice on the long set.

You could make case for 94 here. Perhaps fully with a few more yrs of bottle age.

Pairs well with the Jasper Hill Farms Limited Edition of their Champagne washed Harbison soft white. — 4 months ago

Shawn R

9.6

Last bottle I had gave me the impression that this was on the decline. Not the case at all. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Gimonnet is one of the true quality producers in Champagne with good QPR. You could make a case for rounding up here to 92 but I don’t think it is quite there, yet.

100% Chardonnay. 100% Cuis 1er Cru in the Côte des Blancs. The vintage blending:

6 vintages.
70% 2021.
30% 2014-2020.
Disgorgement 1/25
Dosage 6g

The palate shows nice mousse. Red & golden apple, pear, white peach, lemon but more lime pulp w/ some zest, pineapple hues, bread dough, ginger-ale, gentle white spice, melted caramel, slivered almond, graham crackers, cream, vanillin notes, crumbled limestone bits, grey volcanic minerals, saline, oyster shells, white spring flowers set in greens, gentle but lively acidity, well crafted-balanced, nicely toned with an elegant, smartly polished finish that lasts nearly two-minutes and lands on somewhat punchy minerals.

Excellent finishing up the other 1/2 wheel of the Jasper Hills Limited Edition Champagne Washed Harbison creamy, white cheese. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

My go to White Burgundy Bourgogne producer in good vintages. You get good value in what is today an expensive burgundy market. 22 an outstanding vintage. I buy this without thinking in good vintages and have never been disappointed.

High viscosity, paraffin, tropical, stone fruits, lemon, lime, great chalkiness, limestone, white spice, sea spray, spring flowers, yellow lilies, excellent round acidity and elegant, polish & balance finish for days.

Excellent pair w/ the Jasper Hill Farms Harbison cheese. — 10 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I actually enjoy this more than the technical score I give it...helps the price point is around $35.

Need to save some of the Davies Estates Chardonnay for more Harbison tomorrow night.

The Laurent Perrier La Cuvée with carry us through the rest of the cheese course. Picks up the dry Lattebusche Piave Vecchio white cheese better than the Davis Estate Chardonnay, as it should! Gives the night both side one & side two of our cheese LP.

I will let my previous notes stand.

Photos of; the House of Laurent Perrier, Grand Cru signage & vines, caves with A framed bottles to be hand worked by Riddlers and another Grand Cru Vineyard. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It has been awhile since we’ve had the 2014 and it’s evolving nicely.

My suggestion is you chill down the Davis Chardonnay, take it out of chill mode a half-hour to forty-minutes prior to enjoying. Then, get this soft white cheese from Harbison Cellars - Spruce Bark Wrapped Bloomy Rind and the Firehook crackers and enjoy them all together. They are a Heavenly pairing together.

As for the 2014 Davis Chardonnay, the nose reveals, more honey notes, overripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens.

The body is full, thick, lush and rich. The texture is gorgeous and sexy...beautifully delicious over the palate. Lots of honey notes, over ripe; pineapple flesh, golden apple, sour Meyer lemons. Apricots, peach, lime candy, more green apple, beeswax, honeycomb, tangerine notes, caramel, a touch of toffee, butter, cream, saline, excellent, soft chalkiness, limestone & crushed, grey volcanic minerals, a little white spice with a touch of heat, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, jasmine with a touch of mixed greens. The acidity is excellent, round and phat. The long, rich, lush, gorgeous, sexy, well balanced finish persists nicely for minutes.

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better CA Chardonnay for the money. $36 member price and $48 non-member price.

You want to enjoy this just below room temperature to get all it has to offer.

Photos of, the right side view from their terrace with their signature windmill, the center direct view of the valley floor through to the other side, the Harbison soft white cheese & Firehook crackers to a pair with the Davis Chardonnays.

Their Chardonnays show varying nuisances year to year but, are very consistent in quality year to year. — 7 years ago