L.0801. Another fantastic bottle of this. Exotic, dessert-like tarte tatin flavors with candied ginger and just a hint of richness. Finishes bone dry with firm but balanced acidity and a lovely saline savor that whets the appetite. This shows a trace of development compared to earlier bottles but really hasn't budged much in several years. A friend who joined me for dinner and doesn't like Champagne absolutely adored this. Update - the last glass is still brilliant on day 2. I suppose Belluard sparkling gringet could be a 20+ year wine. Sadly I probably won't find out as I have just 2 btls left of this vintage. Side note - I paid $19.56 for this which makes it the best value in the world of sparkling wine, for my palate.
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I originally wrote (in 2012) how this wine "was not intended for bottle age" and had resin-like qualities that were not to my liking. Wow, how time changes wine! Opened my last of 3 bottles, and drank it straight out of the fridge over a few days. Best on the 3rd day, this wine was the complete non-Champagne alternative for my palate...tense citrus, a hint of red apple skin, gentle toastiness, and a long, dry and satisfying finish. This is the complete $20 sparkler, I will buy by the case in the future. Adored it tonite. Will continue to drink well through 2020.
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Just PnP out of the fridge. Fine and constant stream of tiny bubbles that just keep going. A bit shy at first on the nose, slowly opening up to reveal pear, slate, pine resin, and minerals galore. Med bodied and dry on the palate, showing a resiny spice note on top of red apple skin and dried stone fruit. The finish is med+ and quite elegant, rounding out nicely in the mouth to reveal savory and saline qualities, then at once drawn back with the med+ acidity. The wine is fresh, lively, interesting, complex, and yummy. My first bottle did not impress me like this one did. Delicious and great QPR. Buy this by the case for a mid week sparkler, for sure.
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Nice body - enough zip to be bright, enough depth to avoid being austere. Candied apple spices offer a different flavor profile than a typical Champagne.
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Zuli visit; 11/28/2012-12/2/2012: I've never had this varietal or wine before. Was looking forward to trying it based on Garagiste recommendations. This sparkler throws out quite a thick mousse on pouring, which dissipates rather quickly. The wine is clear, with a med lemon color, and a gentle stream of bubbles. The nose is clean, developing, med intensity, showing yeasty/toasty notes, oxidized apples and pears, along with a funky resinous Rhone-like quality. On the palate, this is a dry wine, med in body and alcohol (12% abv), with med(+) intensity flavors of red apple skin, over-ripened apples and pears, and pine resin. This is a good quality wine, drinking fine now and over the next few years, but isn't intended for bottle age.
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(B) Crisp bubbles with a tad more sweetness than expected. Nutmeg/allspice character in the back. Slightly syrupy fruit. Wish there was a bit more acidity to make it really pop. Nice sipping sparkler.
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I have so much love for this wine. So interesting and unique. Nutmeg/ginger and spice notes (more about spice than fruit) with a touch of yellow plum maybe. I think that the average rating here is way too low, I'd say 91.78 if I rated such things. Buy this.
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Interesting stuff. Fresh nose and palate of subtle white and yellow fruits, green apples, nuts, clove, fresh grated nutmeg, and some other baking spices. A melting pot of flavors. Atypical in its flavor profile, but that's what makes it such a fun drink. A tough nut for champagne purists, but real cool bubbles that expands the champagne palate. Better as a bubbly than as a still wine. Six bottles consumed, each tasted over a few days. Wish I had more.
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Works pretty darn well in the 90 degree heat. Very crisp on the first night with bright freshly cut apple fruit. Gained some nuttiness with air and got perhaps more complex but for me really at its best in the first couple of hours. Very good, but no fireworks here. Ok for the price.
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Wines drunk in Hobart; 6/27/2012-7/4/2012 (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia): Very fine Savoie sparkler that relies on the freshness and directness of the fruit to convince. Plenty of complexity with lovely herbal elements. This would be a great options wine. At Sidecar in Hobart with B and L.
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Mmmm. I think that gringet is delicious, and makes a wonderful bubbly. Not as intricate and balanced and pure as the Brut Zero, but still a raging value. The same floral, spice, and nuttiness in the aroma, and a nice medium to full body. Ripe yellow fruits, but this is more about the floral, spice, mineral and funky/nuttiness. I loved it. So unique.
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Interesting stuff! Very different style than the Mont Blanc, this is rich and flavorful and almost-honeyed seeming, though not really sweet, to the point of being a little overwhelming but it maintains a particular sort of bitterness to the edge that keeps me going back for more.
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Everything it was cracked up to be. Fruity, floral, mineraley, and with a secondary but still-present yeasty, rich body. Really does open up over the course of a few days. Brilliant even flat. Tastes like it should be syrupy but isn't.
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Lovely wine with a luscious but subtle fruitiness amongst the profusion of bubbles. Very interesting hint of spice on the finish and something else that I still can’t put my finger on…nuttiness?
Definitely a good bubbly for a special occasion.
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Not nearly as good as I hoped, after having had the excellent brut zero bottlings. Maybe it needs time to integrate? Dry apple, lemon, and yeast, but clumsy, with rough bubbles.
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1/1/2021 - ekessler wrote:
NYE. fun with French 75 but nice on its own.
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3/10/2018 - 5laton wrote:
L.0801. Another fantastic bottle of this. Exotic, dessert-like tarte tatin flavors with candied ginger and just a hint of richness. Finishes bone dry with firm but balanced acidity and a lovely saline savor that whets the appetite. This shows a trace of development compared to earlier bottles but really hasn't budged much in several years. A friend who joined me for dinner and doesn't like Champagne absolutely adored this.
Update - the last glass is still brilliant on day 2. I suppose Belluard sparkling gringet could be a 20+ year wine. Sadly I probably won't find out as I have just 2 btls left of this vintage.
Side note - I paid $19.56 for this which makes it the best value in the world of sparkling wine, for my palate.
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8/22/2016 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
I originally wrote (in 2012) how this wine "was not intended for bottle age" and had resin-like qualities that were not to my liking.
Wow, how time changes wine! Opened my last of 3 bottles, and drank it straight out of the fridge over a few days. Best on the 3rd day, this wine was the complete non-Champagne alternative for my palate...tense citrus, a hint of red apple skin, gentle toastiness, and a long, dry and satisfying finish. This is the complete $20 sparkler, I will buy by the case in the future. Adored it tonite.
Will continue to drink well through 2020.
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1/4/2015 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
Just PnP out of the fridge. Fine and constant stream of tiny bubbles that just keep going.
A bit shy at first on the nose, slowly opening up to reveal pear, slate, pine resin, and minerals galore.
Med bodied and dry on the palate, showing a resiny spice note on top of red apple skin and dried stone fruit. The finish is med+ and quite elegant, rounding out nicely in the mouth to reveal savory and saline qualities, then at once drawn back with the med+ acidity. The wine is fresh, lively, interesting, complex, and yummy. My first bottle did not impress me like this one did. Delicious and great QPR. Buy this by the case for a mid week sparkler, for sure.
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9/20/2014 - 5laton wrote:
Excellent bottle of this. Lovely spicy, gingery ripe yellow fruit. Hard to imagine a better wine match with jiaozi and dark soy-vinegar sauce.
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2/4/2014 - mattsix wrote:
Always good. A steal for the price.
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1/21/2014 - vanpe003 wrote:
Nice body - enough zip to be bright, enough depth to avoid being austere. Candied apple spices offer a different flavor profile than a typical Champagne.
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5/11/2013 - burr wrote: 88 Points
Interesting wine; rich, yeast/doughy, toasted brioche with baked apple. One-note wine, though, a bit lacking in finesse.
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3/31/2013 - Joegish Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice bottle of bubbly. Exceeded expectations. Fine balance of yeast versus fruit. Would buy this again.
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1/18/2013 - K is for Kate wrote:
Consistent with my previous note, still loved the hint of bitterness. It improved throughout the evening as it warmed and opened up a bit.
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1/5/2013 - vanpe003 wrote:
Initially quite tight and not really pleasurable. Drinks much, much better....more rich and expressive, after an hour of air.
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12/25/2012 - vanpe003 wrote:
No detailed notes, but the Gringet flavor profile provides an interesting nuance to Xmas morning mimosas.
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11/29/2012 - drrobvino wrote: 87 Points
Zuli visit; 11/28/2012-12/2/2012: I've never had this varietal or wine before. Was looking forward to trying it based on Garagiste recommendations.
This sparkler throws out quite a thick mousse on pouring, which dissipates rather quickly. The wine is clear, with a med lemon color, and a gentle stream of bubbles.
The nose is clean, developing, med intensity, showing yeasty/toasty notes, oxidized apples and pears, along with a funky resinous Rhone-like quality.
On the palate, this is a dry wine, med in body and alcohol (12% abv), with med(+) intensity flavors of red apple skin, over-ripened apples and pears, and pine resin.
This is a good quality wine, drinking fine now and over the next few years, but isn't intended for bottle age.
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11/10/2012 - Wicker Parker Likes this wine:
Clean, quiet, relatively neutral - a tasty wine, safe for a broad crowd, but Belluard's Mont Blanc Brut Zero is much more expressive and exciting.
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9/26/2012 - marc d wrote:
Liked it. Chalky minerals, baked apple fruit. Great with steamed Dungeness crab.
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9/22/2012 - mattsix wrote:
Another good bottle. White flowers, and minerals. Enjoyable.
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9/10/2012 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 86 Points
(B) Crisp bubbles with a tad more sweetness than expected. Nutmeg/allspice character in the back. Slightly syrupy fruit. Wish there was a bit more acidity to make it really pop. Nice sipping sparkler.
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9/2/2012 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
I have so much love for this wine. So interesting and unique. Nutmeg/ginger and spice notes (more about spice than fruit) with a touch of yellow plum maybe. I think that the average rating here is way too low, I'd say 91.78 if I rated such things. Buy this.
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8/4/2012 - BurgAndy wrote:
Interesting stuff. Fresh nose and palate of subtle white and yellow fruits, green apples, nuts, clove, fresh grated nutmeg, and some other baking spices. A melting pot of flavors. Atypical in its flavor profile, but that's what makes it such a fun drink. A tough nut for champagne purists, but real cool bubbles that expands the champagne palate. Better as a bubbly than as a still wine. Six bottles consumed, each tasted over a few days. Wish I had more.
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7/11/2012 - mattsix wrote:
Beautiful floral nose. Medium body- refreshing.
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7/9/2012 - pifcho wrote: 88 Points
Works pretty darn well in the 90 degree heat. Very crisp on the first night with bright freshly cut apple fruit. Gained some nuttiness with air and got perhaps more complex but for me really at its best in the first couple of hours. Very good, but no fireworks here. Ok for the price.
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7/7/2012 - sadofsky wrote:
Yeasty, nutty, clean and very enjoyable.
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7/3/2012 - Marc wrote: 87 Points
Wines drunk in Hobart; 6/27/2012-7/4/2012 (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia): Very fine Savoie sparkler that relies on the freshness and directness of the fruit to convince. Plenty of complexity with lovely herbal elements. This would be a great options wine. At Sidecar in Hobart with B and L.
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6/16/2012 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
Mmmm. I think that gringet is delicious, and makes a wonderful bubbly. Not as intricate and balanced and pure as the Brut Zero, but still a raging value. The same floral, spice, and nuttiness in the aroma, and a nice medium to full body. Ripe yellow fruits, but this is more about the floral, spice, mineral and funky/nuttiness. I loved it. So unique.
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6/15/2012 - K is for Kate wrote:
Interesting stuff! Very different style than the Mont Blanc, this is rich and flavorful and almost-honeyed seeming, though not really sweet, to the point of being a little overwhelming but it maintains a particular sort of bitterness to the edge that keeps me going back for more.
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5/26/2012 - spidersva Likes this wine: 87 Points
Sort of simplistic grape flavors, but there is definitely more there. Gonna hold my other bottles for a while...
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5/15/2012 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 87 Points
Much simpler than the Mont-Blanc, it is similar to me to Jura sparkling, although a tad sweet for me.
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5/13/2012 - 14frimaire wrote:
Fine, a little rustic.
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5/5/2012 - ojiikun Likes this wine: 93 Points
Everything it was cracked up to be. Fruity, floral, mineraley, and with a secondary but still-present yeasty, rich body. Really does open up over the course of a few days. Brilliant even flat. Tastes like it should be syrupy but isn't.
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4/17/2012 - Frabjous Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brought to Tara Thai for b’day dinner.
Lovely wine with a luscious but subtle fruitiness amongst the profusion of bubbles. Very interesting hint of spice on the finish and something else that I still can’t put my finger on…nuttiness?
Definitely a good bubbly for a special occasion.
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4/10/2012 - danibus wrote: 86 Points
Not nearly as good as I hoped, after having had the excellent brut zero bottlings. Maybe it needs time to integrate? Dry apple, lemon, and yeast, but clumsy, with rough bubbles.
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3/20/2012 - prettydeceextrap wrote: 84 Points
(B) Nose of tart tropical fruit, apple, and a bit of caramel. All tart apples up front, fair amount of sweetness in back. Plenty of bubbles.
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