Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

For all things there is a first. The cork while twisting it out of the bottle snapped in half. I had to take the rest out with a cork screw.

I really enjoy their work. The quality is really good and for $99 in today’s champagne market if you buy it right, it’s still fairly priced. I’ve had much more expensive champagne with bigger brand names that aren’t this good. I’m enjoying this over some Krug N/V’s I’ve had.

Nice mousse, lively crisp acidity, bruised golden/red apple, bruised Bosc pear, lemon/lime pulp w/zest, some pineapple-mango, blood orange led citrus blend, grapefruit, ginger-ale, some yeastiness, baguette, graham cracker crust, white spice w/palate heat, grainy, grey volcanic minerals, limestone, hints of mint leaves, frothed cream, vanilla, caramel-light brown sugar notes, sea fossils, undertones of saline, withering yellow flowers/lilies, white-spring flowers with greens, jasmine, excellent acidity, well structured-toned-balanced and a fine elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and long sets beautifully on volcanics & spice.

Photos of; Gimonnet and Olivier and Didier Gimonnet. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Delicious. Happy 248th birthday America & all Delectable users.

Nice, soft mousse, slightly rich, gentle co2, green apple, lemon meringue, lime zest, tropical melons, both white stone fruits, kiwi, underripe pineapple juice, vanillin, some minty & dry herbs notes, semi-moist chalk power, alluvial limestone, sea spray, soft white spice, bread dough, light yeastiness, yellow florals & lilies, jasmine with fairly heavy greens, nice, round, soft acidity and a well balanced, structured, tensioned and smartly polished finish that last ninety seconds.

Photos of; Olivier and Didier Gimonnet, great grape squeeze, cellar with riddling racks and one of their sun golden vineyards. — 2 years ago

Brandon Thiessen

9.1

Very light, very Bonhomme take on Pinot. Delicious, if not a bit simple, but amazing nose. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Ruby with aromas of red berry fruit aromas with a touch of spice. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry and blueberry with earthy notes. Medium+ acidity with soft tannins on medium+ finish ending with tobacco and pepper spice character. — 6 years ago

Maciej Kurka

8.9

Up and coming. Not your JP Fichet quality but interesting. Producer located in Ige just north of Macon. My wife really liked it and I didn’t see any flaws in it. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 1989 Cheval Blanc is a vintage that I have not encountered since 2010. One bottle opened was rustic and fatigued, and Pierre-Olivier Clouet opened a second that was much better. It has a gorgeous bouquet of ample red fruit, morels, black truffle, cigar box and hints of brown sugar, all very well defined and charming. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and approaching full maturity; brown spices, bay leaf and clove infuse the red berry fruit. At 30 years of age, I suspect this 1989 will not improve further, but its robustness suggests that any decline will be graceful. Tasted from an ex-cellar bottle at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2019) — 7 years ago

Ami Gokli

10

Absolutely love, great with Vietnamese and Thai food — 6 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Cesar mau sacal carlos ramos — a year ago

Mandar Juvekar

9.3

Very juicy. Easy drinking. — 3 years ago

Mark Schumacher

9.1

From LOU. Very good — 4 years ago

Serge Mismetti

9.2

Domaine Pierre Olivier Bonhomme cuvée la tesnière 100% chenin — 6 years ago

Maciej Kurka

8.9

Lacking depth and did not wow me. Feels like previous ratings were too generous — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

I’d honestly forgotten that Sauvignon Blanc can have personality. This is the second in a week that’s made my brain tingle. Accented by pronounced viscosity and texture are ripe juicy orchard fruits - the softest pears and ripe red delicious thick skinned apples. — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2017 / delicious and true to type sauvignon from Touraine with a good spine, minerality in smell ánd taste. The vintner has one of the most beautiful French names: Pierre-Olivier Bonhomme, which means good man. After tasting this wine on the tongue I can only agree. For sure. / Paired for lunch with a Fishburger — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

⚡️⚡️⚡️I ordered more before starting my notes.

I would normally wait on a PGSC for 5 plus years, but wanted to know if I wanted more.

2019 was a challenging growing year in early & mid season but favorable August-September conditions created a quality vintage that should prove to be cellar worthy.

The Champagne Special Club, initially called Club de Viticulteurs Champenois, was founded in 1971 with 12 members. Three of those founding members, Pierre Gimonnet, Gaston Chiquet, and Paul Bara, are still active within the club of now 24 members today. The number of members changes yr to yr.

Beautiful nose of; green apple, lime zest, Meyer lemons to meringue pie, tropicals, stone fruits, kiwi, some heather honey, white spice-ginger, sea fossils/foam, yeasty bread dough, whipped cream, subtle caramel notes, limestone/volcanic minerals, white spring flowers, yellow lilies and whiffs of jasmine.

The palate is dazzling & has everything one would want. Incredible mousse & mouthfeel. It has a slight creamy texture. Simply beautiful in every way. Ripe & rich; green apple, lime zest, Meyer lemons to meringue pie, tropicals, stone fruits-yellow & white peach-nectarines, apricots & kiwi. Heather honey, nougat, some toffee/butterscotch, white spice-ginger limestone/volcanics burro their way into the center tongue/palate, subtle herbaceous quality, sea fossils/foam, yeasty bread dough, cream to whipped cream, caramel, vanillin, crumbled chalkiness for days, white spring flowers, yellow lilies, jasmine, perfect acidity, well; knitted, balanced, tension, structured, polished finish that lasts minutes starting fruit and landing on mineral-spice. So balanced.

This at $112 for Champagne is a good value today.

Bottle data: 4,020 bottles produced. 100% Chardonnay-90% from Croix-Blanche and 10% from Les Roualles. 4g dosage & my personal sweet spot. Disgorgement 9/2024.

Photos; long view of House of Gimonnet & vines, their very old rootstock, Olivier & Didier Gimmonet and their beautiful Chardonnay grapes. — a year ago

Alanna coby

9.1

Yum! Complex and only the tiniest bit sweet. Doesn’t have any lingering on the tongue, but really nice to sip. — 4 years ago

Michael Walker

9.9

Beautiful light sparkly Burgh, perfect for roast chicken/poultry. Evokes cherries both in color and palate. — 5 years ago

Mark Eastom

8.9

100% Chardonnay. Toast, tart apple, quince, yeasty, nutmeg, chalky minerality and nice acid. — 6 years ago

Shell Griffiths

9.6

What a treat! Crisp, not acidic, fantastically easy drinking. Variety of apple notes, green & gold. Mild floral. Paired with rosemary crackers and aged white cheddar. — 6 years ago

Sam Fuerman

9.3

Delicious and juicy Chardonnay. Unfiltered and full of texture. Stone fruits, balanced acidity. — 7 years ago