1 | Wine | Champagne, 86 to 90 | Page 5

"A large-scaled, exuberant wine bursting with ripe apricots, roasted hazelnuts, smoke and sweet baking spices. ...with slightly oxidative overtones that add complexity. Extended lees aging has additional volume and breadth to an already finessed mousse."

"The impression here is elegant overall, but there's a firm backbone of acidity that's finely meshed with the delicate range of flavors, including white raspberry, spiced plum, biscuit, pink grapefruit zest and a base note of smoky minerality."

"A dry, chalky Champagne, with hints of biscuit, lemon curd and white peach. Medium-bodied, with a fresh finish."

"Round and refined, yet with good grip that keeps its peach, apple, ginger and mineral notes focused and long. It's all nicely balanced and bright."

"Light yellow-gold. Poached pear, apricot and honey on the nose, with hints of chalk and ginger adding brightness. Sappy and gently sweet, with a creamy texture and good heft to its ripe pit fruit flavors. A late note of orange marmalade adds cut to the long, juicy finish. As usual, this is one of the best examples of the category, which is sorely under-appreciated these days; it would be a superb Champagne choice to accompany rich double or triple cream, blue or washed rind cheeses."