Tasting Notes 5,000+ found

If there is one thing that inspires our adulation, it’s a
winemaker who proves that an underrated grape, region, or approach can give rise to undeniably beautiful wine. Famille Moussé has proven, time and time again, that pinot meunier is capable of becoming Capital-F Fine champagne that can go head to head with any other chardonnay or pinot noir bottling. Despite the grape’s reputation for being second-tier, Moussé has 80% of their vines planted to meunier, and are the first to produce a Special Club of 100% meunier (which is the bottle you have in your collection). The success starts in the vineyard, where they farm organically and follows a ‘lutte raisonée’ approach. The ethos extends to the operations, where the cellar is solar powered, and an underground spring provides water for irrigation.

Les Fortes Terres is a 100% pinot meunier offering, and in fact the first of it’s kind for Moussé. Rich with red and dark fruits, this expressive champagne is balanced by structure and salinity. The result is a mouthwatering offering, an exceptional wine that is both amplified and refined.

FOOD PAIRING
A fried chicken sandwich: fresh slaw (the vinegar kind, not mayo), toasted bun, spiced honey

SERVICE NOTES
Serve 15 minutes out of the fridge and keep on the counter to enjoy its lovely evolution from first to last glass.

VARIETY
meunier (4 views)

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Stored in the cellar for four years, after it being "gifted" to me buying jewelry for my wife. Medium golden. Pleasant developing nose, with aromas of candied lemon, white stonefruit, cashew nuts, brioche and wet stone. Medium body, med alc, soft elegant mousse, tasting lemon, ripe pears, bread dough, red berries smoke and minerality. Long well balanced finish. (5 views)

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This bottle was all sorts of good. It had the energy and freshness I expect, with the elevated budding complexity and focus I expect from Cristal. This bested a 2015 by a decent margin (which most would say no surprise, but I’ve had some hit/miss encounters with the 2008 over the past couple of years). I had a number of other top big house producers crush a bottle of 2008 Cristal, giving me slight pause at times.

As it goes with all things wine, a very good bottle one day can be a great bottle the next. So is the case here with this bottle of 2008. One of the better showings this time around. For me, I still think the 2013 is stronger overall and will/has/does typically lap the 2008. I know the 2008 is the darling vintage for Champagne, but I have yet to be convinced it is the vintage to end all vintages, as declared by others.

I say start drinking these 2008s now if you value freshness. Obviously it can hold for some time if you are seeking more oxidative features. (208 views)

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This was a much better showing with this bottle than the one I had a few months ago. This was a bit more relaxed, slightly oxidative, but with notable concentration. Blind, I initially thought this was a 2015 Churchill due to their similar profiles and displays of fruit (once revealed). With its delineated linear bead and white/higher-riding yellow fruit, the Cristal was notably fuller than the Churchill. With air, it became more complex, which is where the subtle oxidative notes started to percolate.

I favor the 2013 Cristal (and 2008, though that has been a bit hit/miss for me - though a 2008 we also had during this tasting was very compelling). The 2015 will likely be a very good wine after a few more years in bottle, but I suspect it will never be a top reflection of the brand. (63 views)

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Good on a snowy Friday. (13 views)

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50%PM 30%CH 20%PN Belles bulles virevoltantes,arômes principaux d'amande et de pain d'épices,belle acidité qui soutient énergiquement la cuvée sans être trop intrusive.Longueur classique. (13 views)

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Organic & biodynamic. The grapes for this cuvée came from Les Cognaux and La Fosse on the first day of the 2019 harvest. Vinified and aged in dolia; disgorged in October 2021. The nose is beautifully oxidative and is dominated by aromas of baked orchard fruits (primarily red apples & pears), pastry, sweet spices and preserved lemon. The palate is super vibrant and zesty and is surprisingly more citrusy than expected in light of the nose. Gorgeously long, slightly saline finish. Lovely.

APPEARANCE:
Color & intensity: medium gold

NOSE:
Intensity: pronounced
Aromas: baked red apple, baked pear, pastry, baking spices, toasted almond, sweet tobacco, white flowers, preserved lemon, crushed chalk
Development: developing

PALATE:
Sweetness: dry
Acidity: medium (+)
Alcohol: medium
Body: medium
Mousse: delicate
Intensity: medium (+)
Flavors: green apple, lemon, lemon zest, baking spices, red apple, pastry, toasted almond, crushed stone, hint of salt
Finish: long

CONCLUSIONS:
Quality level: very good
Potential for ageing: can drink now, but has good potential for further ageing (14 views)

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Super nv fizz, this gets better and better (19 views)

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Crazy that this was $230 off their list given lowest retail price on Wine-Searcher is $450! Crisp and taut in the style of the 2016 vintage but it also showed plenty of expressive flavors with notes of dried lemons, yeasty bread and minerals. The finish has a perfect intensity and complexity and is deeply satisfying. I love Collin! (130 views)

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Unremarkable but perfectly serviceable, medium bubbles, nothing standing out. (23 views)

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Mit das beste, was ich bisher im Glas hatte (17 views)

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By the glass courtesy of BA en route LHR > TKY. Freshly opened bottle.
One of many good NVs but that’s pretty much it. Soft floral and soft roast, touch sharp. Ok for the style and level. 88 but in no way poor. (20 views)

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Another new batch for me: 95/5 PN Vertus /C Mesnil-sur-Oger
Tirage 06/2018; disgorged 02/2023; dosage 4g/l

The higher PN component gives a much more intense scarlet hue to the wine than earlier batches. On first opening the wine is a little tart, closed and unapproachable, but it opens up very nicely with ~20 minutes air.

Then, but only then, this batch aligns with my earlier TN: "The nose brings quite rich red fruits overlaid with minerality. The palate is really nicely balanced for my taste. Crisp acidity, red fruit that sits nicely between tart and rich, and a sort of granite minerality that persists with some light tannins into the quite lengthy and more-ish finish."

This will excellent wine will continue to be a repeat buy for me at ~US$47 that I paid. (20 views)

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April 2016 disgorgement. Quite rich and ripe on the palate. I would expect more vibrancy. (92 views)

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What a way to kick-start brother RN's birthday.. my first ever taste of Comtes!

Lively, energetic with such fine and precise needle-like bubbles. What came across immediately to me was unripe young mango notes, and the aromatic bouquet on the nose was in full bloom. Light brioche, lemon and even a sea breeze.. I am in love!

Good level of minerality kept building to a crescendo, I loved each and every of the 3 pours I had. This is spectacular!

Finish.. nothing less then 50 seconds, remarbkable. As I had my last sip from the cutely shaped wide bottle, there was even some late sweetness. Great today, perhaps even better in 5-10 years!

Thanksgiving dinner, we are grateful for health, friends and all blessings.. what an evening at Bref in TTDI, happens to be my first time enjoying DC's other kitchen here too!

Bref TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
25th Apr 2024 (544 views)

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