Michel Turgy Blanc de Blancs Réserve Grand Cru Brut NV
"Made from fruit grown in Mesnil-sur-Oger. Pale gold. Toasty pear and brioche scents are lifted by chalky mineral and ginger nuances. Spicy, sharply focused citrus and orchard fruit flavors give way to deeper honey and sweet butter qualities with air while maintaining vivacity. Smoothly blends richness with energy, finishing with lingering minerality and excellent persistence. There are reportedly over 30 different vintages represented in this intriguing Champagne's blend."
92 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Michel Turgy Blanc de Blancs Millésime Brut 2008
". . . vibrant, chiseled vintage Champagne. Wonderfully fresh, with the depth and complexity found in grand cru white Burgundy. One to treasure."
North Berkeley Imports
Michel Turgy Grand Cru Rosé Brut NV
"Mostly Chardonnay from Mesnil-sur-Oger, with a bit of Bouzy Pinot Noir; 6 g/l dosage: Bright orange-pink. Spice-accented strawberry and orange pith on the fragrant nose. Shows very good depth and energy to its red berry and orchard fruit flavors, with a smoky element emerging with air. Closes with good breadth and power, leaving a hint of white pepper behind."
90 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Pierre Lancelot-Royer Blanc de Blancs Cuvée des Chevaliers Grand Cru Brut NV
"Lemon peel, crushed rocks and floral notes abound in Lancelot-Royer's NV Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée des Chevaliers. Wonderfully bright and alive, the Cuvée des Chevaliers stands out for its precision, balance and class. This is a terrific showing."
92 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jean Vesselle Réserve Brut NV
"Beautiful character of red berries, vanilla and citrus, with a bright, firm structure."
Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator
Jean Vesselle Œil de Perdrix Brut
"Jean Vesselle's NV Brut Œil de Perdrix is fabulous. Rich and textured to the core, the Œil de Perdrix captures the beauty of Bouzy Pinot to the core. Bright chalky notes give the wine its sense of energy and tension. Red berries, stone fruits, chalk, white pepper and crushed flowers are some of the notes that inform the finish. There is so much to like here."
93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jean Vesselle Grand Cru Rosé Brut NV
"100% Pinot Noir: Bright orange. Black raspberry, cherry, rhubarb and smoky lees on the nose. Chewy, focused, impressively concentrated red and dark berry flavors are given a refreshingly bitter edge by a note of blood orange and pick up a floral nuance with aeration. Expands and gains spiciness on the finish, which leaves smoky mineral and berry skin notes behind. This substantial but graceful Champagne would make a great stand-in for a red wine."
92 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Egly-Ouriet Les Vignes de Vrigny 1er Cru Brut NV
"100% Pinot Meunier; aged for 36 months on its lees . . . . Bright yellow-gold. Smoky, deeply pitched aromas of poached pear, chamomile, honey and truffle, with spice and mineral notes gaining strength in the glass. Offers an array of ripe orchard fruit and spice flavors lifted by gentle acidity. Rich but lively, finishing with excellent clarity and lingering smokiness."
93 Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Egly-Ouriet Tradition Grand Cru Brut NV
"The NV Brut Grand Cru Tradition . . . is terrific. Rich, burnished and beautifully expressive, the Grand Cru Tradition flows across the palate with succulent yellow stone fruits, spices, dried flowers and rosemary. The broad, resonant style is hugely appealing and so typical of the Egly-Ouriet house style. This is a great showing. The Grand Cru Tradition is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, all from sites in Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay. The bottle was disgorged . . . after having spent 52 months on the lees, an exceedingly long time for a straight NV Champagne."
93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Egly-Ouriet V.P. Grand Cru Extra Brut NV
"The NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru V.P. Viellissement Prolongé is Pinot Noir from Grand Cru vineyards in Bouzy, Ambonnay and Verzenay that spent 70 months on its lees. This is the most intense wine in the Egly-Ouriet line-up. White truffles, roasted nuts, honey and candied apricots are layered beautifully in this creamy, expansive Champagne."
94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Egly-Ouriet Millésime Grand Cru Brut 2005
"Hints of marzipan, baking spice, dried apricot and smoked almond enrich this creamy Champagne, while citrus-tinged acidity provides balance and a lingering, well-knit finish."
92 Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator
Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Rosé Brut NV
"The NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru is made from vineyards in Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzy. This is another totally convincing wine from Egly-Ouriet, not to mention one of the strongest wines in the line-up. The Rosé Grand Cru captivates for its gorgeous, fragrant fruit and silky, refined finish. It is a jewel of a wine. Rosé Grand Cru a spent 48 months on its yeasts . . ."
93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
