ear, ginger, rose, honeydew melon, and lime blossom honey. Audrey Frick says Parmesan and I see it, along with toasted coconut flavors. Musty notes when first opened, but this went away after about 60 minutes (and it was way better at that point). You can taste the sweetness. This is pretty good, but it really needed some air and even then, I liked the Vergnon slightly better. Excellent match with strawberries and just ok with smoked salmon and mushrooms.
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quite serious, very appealing, and probably the best demi-sec I've found for those reasons.
dosage presents as richness more than sweetness but is perceptible throughout with a wee hint of Splenda on the finish.
the wine is structured and beyond correct. golden delicious apple, underripe green pear, mirabelle plums, and lightly toasted bread. the dosage just amps the drinking experience into something akin to adding a fluffy spoon of barely sweetened whipped cream
delightful. delicious.
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The Kitchen Table, London 10yr Anniversary Event (The Kitchen Table, London): By the glass as part of the pairing for The Kitchen Table, London 10yr Anniversary Event. We always argue with these champagnes whether one feels more the dosage than the wine. We discussed it a bit and seems as expressed on the label with 70% of the wine get no malolactic fermentation the brightness of the acids keeps a hold of the whopping 32 g/l dosage and keeps the wine in check. Soft mousse, well balanced and indeed a great surprise. Very good 91-92
88% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Noir, 55% based on the 2019 vintage, disgorged March 2022 with 32 g/l dosage.
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Half bottle, disgorged 07/19. Despite the 32g/L dosage, mouthwatering acidity! Tangy unripe melon and something like nectarine, wrapped in a cloud of rice-like sweetness, with a subtle bitterness. Curiously reminds me an off-dry sake, down to the lingering tongue-coating pulverized-rice finish. My first demi-sec.
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Elegant, balanced, tasty! This is a versatile wine that would complement dessert, or many hard to pair main dishes-South Asian, etc. Note of pear, apple, and a hint of toffee. Just really good...
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A perfect NYE selection when your mother, who only likes sweet wine, is visiting for the holidays.
Honestly, this wine is fantastic. The dosage is high, but somehow does not come across that way. It actually comes across as super delicate and refined. Balanced, for sure. Amazing acidity. A perfect contrast to the current zero dosage movement and a window into Champagne's history, when most of the wines had a much higher dosage than is fashionable today.
If you're a low dosage fan, don't be afraid to broaden your horizons and give something like this a try. It's delicious. I could see it pairing exceptionally well with spicy food.
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Man, this stuff is fantastic. A joy of a wine. I know what you are thinking: 32g/l...but it is so balanced and yummy. There's a sweet attack, with sweet white fruits and lemon, but don't worry, it is no way cloying. It shows remarkable balance with tingly beads and brisk acid playing off the sweetness. Toasted breads/crackers in the middle. We pounded the bottle way too quickly. Glad to have more.
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Gosh this is wonderful and unique. A prick of sugar. Crystalline. Delicate white flowers, cantaloupe, and toasted graham cracker. The integration of sugar and bead is haunting. Something you’ll remember.
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Grower Champagnes at Plum Market (Chicago, IL): Fairly creamy and sweet, but sufficient acidity to keep this nicely driven. Not super complex, but there's good balance here. Easy to drink, perhaps a bit too much so?
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Charleston Food & Wine Festival; 3/1/2018-3/3/2018 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Very nice wine and perhaps even helped by the comparison with the Nectar Imperial. This wine is more like a hint of sweet along with some more standard apple and light champagne flavors. It's not overdone. Could prob be paired pretty easily with some spicy Thai or similar and go very well. I quite enjoyed and for the price point would def seek out.
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Possessing a old and expansive presence, while retaining a piercing quality. The texture put my mind to fine quality Loire sparkling wines on Chenin Blanc. Great structure, gritty finish. 90-91.
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Champagne Dinner (Etto - DC): Not usually a big fan of demi sec but this is nice. Sugar cane, almonds, floral perfume, vanilla, iced tea. Nice way to close out the Champagne tasting.
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David White lead Champagne dinner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Clean nose of apple, pear and ice tea with a lot of lemon and honey and almond cookie. Pretty straightforward clean palate with a hint of sweetness. Refreshing and complements the almond pound cake with mascarpone mousse.
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Chicken and Champers and Riesling (Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, NYC.): Took a note on this at the end of the meal, after this had been open for a while: creamy and chalky nose, minerals. Similar on palate - a really nice melange of cream and chalk, like a vanilla-chalk milkshake, a bit nutty with something like sweet marzipan flavors. Doesn't show as sweet - I think the RS just adds a bit to the creaminess. No detailed scores - probably about 15/20.
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Very lovely, on the not-so-terribly sweet side. Would make a great pairing with Chinese dishes with lots of umami and sweet/salty flavors. It is the same wine as the Brut, just a higher dosage. Green pear, lemon zest, white flowers.
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Wow! What a delightful sparkler. Light straw. Fine effervescence. Nose of fresh bread, apple, pear, and vanilla. Ripe juicy palate of crisp apple, pear, peach, and spices. Huge swelling mid palate. Excellent length. Refreshing acidity. Even though this wine is called "Demi-Sec", it really doesn't come across as sweet. Just beautiful and harmonious.
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A fair balance of sugar and fruit to shore up a nice dry finish. I was surprised at the length, which is longer than i suspected it would be. Doesn't really have much sophistication but is a great step up for friends and family that dislike brut or other drier wines.
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Nice balanced Demi-sec that sits on the less-sweet side of Demi's. Initially overpowered by the grapefruit crepe it was served with but showed nicely alone.
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12/31/2023 - jkscully Likes this wine:
ear, ginger, rose, honeydew melon, and lime blossom honey. Audrey Frick says Parmesan and I see it, along with toasted coconut flavors. Musty notes when first opened, but this went away after about 60 minutes (and it was way better at that point). You can taste the sweetness. This is pretty good, but it really needed some air and even then, I liked the Vergnon slightly better. Excellent match with strawberries and just ok with smoked salmon and mushrooms.
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8/28/2023 - Allthistalking Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tremendous aperitif Demi-sec. The sugar is added richness rather than tooth aching sweetness
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12/21/2022 - FiggySmalls Likes this wine:
quite serious, very appealing, and probably the best demi-sec I've found for those reasons.
dosage presents as richness more than sweetness but is perceptible throughout with a wee hint of Splenda on the finish.
the wine is structured and beyond correct. golden delicious apple, underripe green pear, mirabelle plums, and lightly toasted bread. the dosage just amps the drinking experience into something akin to adding a fluffy spoon of barely sweetened whipped cream
delightful. delicious.
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9/30/2022 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
The Kitchen Table, London 10yr Anniversary Event (The Kitchen Table, London): By the glass as part of the pairing for The Kitchen Table, London 10yr Anniversary Event.
We always argue with these champagnes whether one feels more the dosage than the wine. We discussed it a bit and seems as expressed on the label with 70% of the wine get no malolactic fermentation the brightness of the acids keeps a hold of the whopping 32 g/l dosage and keeps the wine in check. Soft mousse, well balanced and indeed a great surprise. Very good 91-92
88% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Noir, 55% based on the 2019 vintage, disgorged March 2022 with 32 g/l dosage.
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6/20/2022 - rhodacantha Likes this wine:
Half bottle, disgorged 07/19. Despite the 32g/L dosage, mouthwatering acidity! Tangy unripe melon and something like nectarine, wrapped in a cloud of rice-like sweetness, with a subtle bitterness. Curiously reminds me an off-dry sake, down to the lingering tongue-coating pulverized-rice finish. My first demi-sec.
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10/29/2021 - MadeiraLev Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant, balanced, tasty! This is a versatile wine that would complement dessert, or many hard to pair main dishes-South Asian, etc. Note of pear, apple, and a hint of toffee. Just really good...
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9/21/2021 - drwine2001 wrote:
Pale and frothy. Light, crisp, mineral, and not terribly sweet. Excellent, very impressive Demi-Sec, a style I often find too heavy and/or sweet.
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9/8/2021 - MadeiraLev Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well, brilliant with custard and berries. complex finish, sweetness complements food rather than overpowers.
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6/20/2021 - Gary Likes this wine: 90 Points
Remarkable at 16 years!
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1/1/2021 - tastark Likes this wine:
A perfect NYE selection when your mother, who only likes sweet wine, is visiting for the holidays.
Honestly, this wine is fantastic. The dosage is high, but somehow does not come across that way. It actually comes across as super delicate and refined. Balanced, for sure. Amazing acidity. A perfect contrast to the current zero dosage movement and a window into Champagne's history, when most of the wines had a much higher dosage than is fashionable today.
If you're a low dosage fan, don't be afraid to broaden your horizons and give something like this a try. It's delicious. I could see it pairing exceptionally well with spicy food.
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12/20/2020 - decaturwinedude wrote: 91 Points
Man, this stuff is fantastic. A joy of a wine. I know what you are thinking: 32g/l...but it is so balanced and yummy. There's a sweet attack, with sweet white fruits and lemon, but don't worry, it is no way cloying. It shows remarkable balance with tingly beads and brisk acid playing off the sweetness. Toasted breads/crackers in the middle. We pounded the bottle way too quickly. Glad to have more.
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8/17/2019 - Elycohn Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gosh this is wonderful and unique. A prick of sugar. Crystalline. Delicate white flowers, cantaloupe, and toasted graham cracker. The integration of sugar and bead is haunting. Something you’ll remember.
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6/10/2019 - Gen NY Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very Nice for a demi-sec. full bodied and not too sweet.
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11/27/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Just fine demi-sec.
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11/11/2018 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Grower Champagnes at Plum Market (Chicago, IL): Fairly creamy and sweet, but sufficient acidity to keep this nicely driven. Not super complex, but there's good balance here. Easy to drink, perhaps a bit too much so?
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3/2/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Charleston Food & Wine Festival; 3/1/2018-3/3/2018 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Very nice wine and perhaps even helped by the comparison with the Nectar Imperial. This wine is more like a hint of sweet along with some more standard apple and light champagne flavors. It's not overdone. Could prob be paired pretty easily with some spicy Thai or similar and go very well. I quite enjoyed and for the price point would def seek out.
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10/31/2017 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
Possessing a old and expansive presence, while retaining a piercing quality. The texture put my mind to fine quality Loire sparkling wines on Chenin Blanc. Great structure, gritty finish. 90-91.
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2/14/2017 - Graniwinkle wrote: 90 Points
Crisp, but full bodied. Nice almonds, citrus zest, bready, with caramelized pear finish. Very tasty.
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1/30/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 Points
Champagne Dinner (Etto - DC): Not usually a big fan of demi sec but this is nice. Sugar cane, almonds, floral perfume, vanilla, iced tea. Nice way to close out the Champagne tasting.
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1/17/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Not crazy sweet and kinda delicious. Don't usually drink demi-sec.
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10/18/2016 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
David White lead Champagne dinner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Clean nose of apple, pear and ice tea with a lot of lemon and honey and almond cookie. Pretty straightforward clean palate with a hint of sweetness. Refreshing and complements the almond pound cake with mascarpone mousse.
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8/15/2016 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Energetic, plentiful bubbles. Sweet bread, apple, pear and even a really interesting herbal note on the back palate. Delicious.
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12/11/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
A bit of a surprise in that this trends toward to less sweet end of the spectrum, nice pear, apple, light yeast, mineral, pleasant.
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11/20/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Chicken and Champers and Riesling (Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, NYC.): Took a note on this at the end of the meal, after this had been open for a while: creamy and chalky nose, minerals. Similar on palate - a really nice melange of cream and chalk, like a vanilla-chalk milkshake, a bit nutty with something like sweet marzipan flavors. Doesn't show as sweet - I think the RS just adds a bit to the creaminess. No detailed scores - probably about 15/20.
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9/7/2014 - Wink Likes this wine: 90 Points
Brought to Diner en Blanc. Nothing to add to my previous note, except to say that everyone loved this as an aperitif. Refreshing and delicious.
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6/13/2014 - quistz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very lovely, on the not-so-terribly sweet side. Would make a great pairing with Chinese dishes with lots of umami and sweet/salty flavors. It is the same wine as the Brut, just a higher dosage. Green pear, lemon zest, white flowers.
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3/10/2014 - Wink Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow! What a delightful sparkler. Light straw. Fine effervescence. Nose of fresh bread, apple, pear, and vanilla. Ripe juicy palate of crisp apple, pear, peach, and spices. Huge swelling mid palate. Excellent length. Refreshing acidity. Even though this wine is called "Demi-Sec", it really doesn't come across as sweet. Just beautiful and harmonious.
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1/1/2014 - JeffE27 wrote: 90 Points
Excellent
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12/25/2013 - gmbdds wrote: 90 Points
Apple, pear and spice notes with a burst of cream and lemon on the long finish.
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12/13/2013 - cristian_m wrote: 85 Points
A fair balance of sugar and fruit to shore up a nice dry finish. I was surprised at the length, which is longer than i suspected it would be. Doesn't really have much sophistication but is a great step up for friends and family that dislike brut or other drier wines.
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1/6/2012 - jsioris Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice balanced Demi-sec that sits on the less-sweet side of Demi's. Initially overpowered by the grapefruit crepe it was served with but showed nicely alone.
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11/24/2011 - chcook wrote: 89 Points
Quick note. Apples and yeast. RS not apparent until it warms, but even then balanced.. Easy drinker
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