Better than expected... Excellent bubbles and foam structure. Has certainly softened significantly and taken on a more mellow, toasty character... In the end, the wine is well balanced and shows decent if not outstanding length. Not likely to improve
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No disgorgement info to my eye. Compact cork Nose - sherry/ oxidative nose Mouth - very crisp with hints of sherry. I suspect this has quite some age on it. Somewhat the opposite of a crisp refreshing citrusy champagne, though I can see the elegance. Good minerality. An interesting drink in spite of the fact that it's not my preferred style of champagne.
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Older bottle. This was in its prime. As stated, it was an older bottle, at least based upon the cork and the taste.
Rich brioche, autolytics, apple, pear, and brown sugar nose. Nicely mature, full bodied, strong crisp acidy, but with strong yeastiness, brown apple, creamy and sweet fruit finish. This was really a marvelous bottle.
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Normal yellow-green lemon color, slightly deeper yellow than the regular D-L Brut. Somewhat restrained, but positively nuanced and quite complex nose with less emphasis on the fruit department (ripe red apples, some citrus fruit character) and more on the developed and autolytic notes (earthiness, toasted bread crust, some yeasty French bread, a hint of butter). On the palate the wine is dry and rather light with somewhat aggressive and a bit short-lived mousse. The flavors are rather complex, albeit lacking a bit intensity. There are flavors of fresh green apples, surprisingly pronounced red-fruited Pinosity, some aromatic herbal character, a little honey, a hint of toasty autolysis and a touch of peppery spice. Bright, racy acidity gives the wine good structure. Great sophistication here. The finish is quite citrus-fruit dominant with the dosage (10 g/l) making it feel almost lemon marmaladey. There are also notes of green herbs, pronounced minerality, some delicate spice and hints of creamy autolysis in the quite long aftertaste.
A tasty, sophisticated and balanced effort that is a bit more expensive than the basic D-L Brut, but rightly so: this is a characterful high-quality Champ with good balance and nice structure. Although not a wine that would demand cellaring, I can imagine this wine could benefit from a year or two in a cellar. Solid value at 41€.
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Toujours agréable en bouche, mais tellement trop cher. J'ai pu faire la comparaison avec un mousseux californien servi immédiatement après le champagne: les bulles du champagne sont plus fines, mais en bouche, le californien est tout autant délectable.
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From mag. I didn't have high hopes for this as I bought it 5 years back, or so. Well, it was very good, with green apple and acidity to carry thru. Nice stuff at a good price. With cheese and salad. K
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very light and almost no fruit at all. bubbles and some minerality. tasted like a slightly flavored seltzer. disappointing and not as i remember it at all. so much for the hidden gem in the package store in small town usa
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Last bottle of a bunch I had picked u a couple of years back. None of the tell-tale green apple that I find in DL, and while this is still nice, it is not as good as most bottles we've had. Not sure if this was a somewhat off bottle, or if 2 years holding these NVs is the limit. Still have a mag, and will drink that soon.
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Dinner with friends: I believe someone said this was bottled in 2006. Light golden in color. Lots of smaller bubbles. Toasty, yeasty on the nose and very pleasant. On the palate, this is balanced. On pouring it is quite crisp with nice green apples. With air, it rounds off a bit and fresh baked bread notes emerge. Quite delicious.
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Thought this was excellent for the price. Walking the middle of the road in a good way. It is not an extreme Champagne in any way, but it is creamy and bright and utterly enjoyable as an aperitif. Worked fine with an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. A good start to a very fine meal.
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Champagne frais digeste, sans grand éclat ni grand défaut. Bulles assez fines, une pointe de rancio agréable au nez et en bouche qui accompagne des notes de pommes Granny Smith et de brioche. Un peu plus quelconque en bouche.
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This bottle was purchased a couple years ago. Not a bad wine, but it did seem a little tired and lacking in intensity, and it did not generate a lot of excitement. Apple sauce, pear chutney, bread dough, and candle wax. A bit muddled on the palate.
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Oeil : paille soutenu, bulles persistantes et presque fines, cordon soutenu Nez : projection d'intensité moyenne à forte, à la fois frais et vineux, très belle palette d'arômes de type juste-assez-mais-sans-trop, légèrement rancio, brioché,un peu de noix, pointe de carambole, pointe minérale, fruits à chair blanche, très élégant. Bouche : belle attaque rafraîchissante à vive, explosion d'effervescence, rétro minérale, de fruits blancs et légèrement rancio, faible amertume, persistence moyenne. Conclusion : un Champagne frais, locasse, très versatile et qui donne envie d'y revenir NOte perso : 89-90
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Duval Leroy Dinner (AL Forno): Bright acidity. This is brighter and cleaner then the regular bottling. It's like walking on a tightrope instead of a balance beam. 90-92
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A nice but not great Champagne. Light straw color with fine moderate mouse. Nose of hay, toast, a little yeast. Taste of apple and hint of citrus. The bottle was beautiful.
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Couleur paille légère. Les bulles sont fines et abondantes. Au nez, pomme verte, gâteau au citron, brioche et une certaine minéralité. En bouche, les arômes perçues au nez y sont, le tout sur une belle longueur. Très bien.
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Very interesting. Light with a touch of apple then a lemony citrus followed by a strong minerality, almost like a club soda but with delicate bubbles. finished with a toasty yeastiness. great as a before dinner drink.
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Beautiful bottle design. Unfortunately, the wine itself falls a bit short. Light golden color. Great effervescence, tiny bubbles. Hardly any nose – no distinct flavors discernable. Very restrained palate: apple, yeast, minerals and a slight nuttiness. Altogether somewhat hallow. Medium-long finish. Pleasant overall, but slightly disappointing – I definitely prefer their regular non-vintage Brut.
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Golden straw color, with a fairly restrained nose. The palate maintains this reserved theme, showing juicy apple and quince, with light citrus and hazelnut flavors. Tight, dry, and zippy, with a sparse bead and moderate sized bubbles.
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From magnum Nose: creamy vanilla spice. Very inviting. Palate: not quite as voluptuous as the nose suggests, the palate is emptily lemon-saline with flattish fruit. Fruit is kind of peachy-strawberry, but not too vivacious. Acidity is middle-of-the-road. The disturbingly empty mid-palate bothers me the most - the finish is of dry toast and lemon, and actually lasts quite a while. All in all, OK, but not something I’ll miss out on if I don’t finish the magnum.85-86.
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Changed a lot as it got some air. Perhaps a bit better on the second day? Fairly light, slightly sweet nose with an odd sour milk note at times. Apples and some minerality on palate, as well as a bit of funk. Slightly bitter on the finish. Almost cava-like. Not enough yeasty/biscuity notes to my taste - I prefer a heavier, more full-bodied sparkler.
We tasted this in a blind tasting of five sparkling wines and it tied for second place on my ballot, although it was by far the most expensive wine. It was beat by Dom. Ste Michelle Brut and tied by Freixenet Extra Dry.
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Good for the price. Simple but tasty with yeast, sour apple, and a hint of nuts. Not thought provoking but very enjoyable. And you've got to love the bottle.
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TN's: Binny's Champagne Tasting (22 notes) (Glen Ellyn, Illinois): Retailer tasting. 3rd time I have had this sparkler with the last 2 times being in 2005. I was told that Duval Leroy is going to be discontinuing this line. This is a brut. I have always scored it 89 points. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Simpler than the regular Brut which I also had. 89 points.
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Wouw what a nose - to many impressions... but so nice, think the freshness and green apples and pears was the picture i got in the end ... :o) Very nice taste, but did not live up to the very fine nose!, aftertaste not long enough, hence 90 rating - which i still think is cracking @ this price (aprox 45 USD) ! Fine mousse, drank it "fairly quick" bye the looks of it - would doubt it (the mousse) to stay consistency over longer time ...
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Appley fruit, brioche, mushrooms and slight nutty toastiness on the nose. Dry and quite light-bodied with crisp acidity and good moussé. Green apples, hazelnuts, some spiciness and minerality. Lengthy. Definitely good but not outstanding.
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light gold, small bubbles that form an aggressive mousse in the mouth. Intensive hazelnut, honey, brioche with pear on the nose. It feels both young and evolving. The palate is fairly light bodied with not much age. Fruity and simple with some minerality to it. Elegant acids. this bottle needs to mature. not the 40euros worth i accidentally bought it for
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I'm not sure if I have a new batch, or what. This was amazing! This was second to NV Krug in a tasting featuring 2000 Dom, 2002 Cristal and a few others. Easily the best bottle of bubbly I've had under $50.
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Medium golden color with fine beads. Bread dough and ginger on the nose. As it warmed the bread dough became sweeter, and a wonderful fresh-baked pie scent evolved. The palate was chalky with firm acidity and pleasant minerality. The finish was medium-long with ample citrus notes and more chalk. A perfect pairing with oysters.
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Straw in the glass. Mild nose of lightly toasted biscuit and lemon zest. Dark cherry, lemon, mineral, and sweet toasted biscuit bounce off each other in the mouth, quite tasty. Balance is almost perfect, with the acidity, fruit, and weight of the wine playing off of each other. Long finish.
A very nice wine, and good value for a prestige cuvee.
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multisized and speed bubbles. almost golden straw in color. first impression of a touch of honey and a bit of charchol. grainy in the mouth. fruit is ripe pear. some hazelnut. less floral, more like nectar on nose. earthy pinot quality. interesting for it's contrasts. husband disagrees with me and says the fruity, complex, creamy style deseves a higher rating. not to mention the penetrating bubbles. there, happy?
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Really delicious. Fine bead that didn't last as long as hoped, and nose was amost too-clean and light, but the flavor was crisp, clean, focused, yeasty, and lightly citrus in all the right ways.
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Bourgogne tasting (Henriks appartment): Light yellow color. Aromas of yeast, ripe red apples, some robustness on the nose. Very different on the palate, driven by a lively acidity, notes of citrus and green apples. A bit more full-bodied on the finish. The mousse disappears too quickly.
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N.V. - using the same bottle for several years. No way to tell which year you are actually getting. Designer bottle by Leroy Neiman. 40% Chard / 60% Pinot Noir. Aroma of white flowers, honeysuckle and hazelnut. Long silky finish.
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pale yellow-good mousse and bubbles-doughy yeast, citrus, and green apple nostrils-acidic, jolly rancher green stonefruit and apples, minerals, and mild dough. tight finish. refined and focused.
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Drank from a magnum on my grandmother's 100th birthday. I wouldn't so much say I was disappointed, since I did read the reviews here ahead of time, but this wasn't very interesting, and was entirely dwarfed by the amazing André Clouet Champagne Brut Rosé we had before it. The Paris is very light on flavor and complexity, showing some spritzy green apple and some light minerality. This is very light and unoffensive. Some of the non-wine drinkers preferred it for that. It's a reasonable quaffer and there is absolutely nothing off-putting about it. Aside from the bottle (which is really why I bought it), there's plenty of better champagne for the price.
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Served with starters on T-day. Besides the beautiful bottle, this is a wonderful wine. I could drink this all day...flavor of green apple dominated, and the finish lingered just like you want it to. Refreshing and fun.
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Tasted December 13, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Reidel Vinum Cuvee Prestige glass. Light straw color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Unusual nose of mixed nuts, cherries and what I sensed was a light smokiness. Flavors were equally unusual center on cherry fizz and pineapple with perhaps some mixed berry notes. Light to medium acidity, medium bodied. Drink now.
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Mediocre champagne. Quaffable, but nothing special. A bit bitter, citrus, ginger, and coffee. For approximately the same price, I prefer Duval-Leroy's 1996 Blanc de Chardonnay ( Yellow Label ) Lots of bubbles, somewhat weak finish. Drink em if ya got 'em. Not ageworthy, but reasonable for an everyday bubbly.
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The nose is fresh and yeasty with crisp sliced apple. Tastes of green apple, on the sour side, with honeydew melon and mild saltiness. Dry, finishing crisp, tingly & tangy.
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Brought to CWM Thai Christmas offline. Pale gold color. Very toasty/yeasty, large bead. Fun to compare side by side against the '96 Duval-Leroy Blanc de Chardonnay, which had a nice acidity and minerality, citrus, and a fine bead (92 pts).
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Bottle fill was slightly suspect as it was mid-neck. Wine has been appropriately stored in cellar since acquisition. That being said, an excellent wine. Some apple with quite a bit of toast. Very enjoyable. I'll buy it again, and again.
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Perfect aperitif wine. Light gold color with a fresh, yeasty, creamy nose of green apple and toast. Very crisp and dry in the mouth, with some nice toasty flavors. Quite tight still, this might unwind with 1-2 more bottle age. Good structure. A very nice modest N.V. Champagne.
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Not as good as the 1996 Blanc de Chardonnay from this producer (which sells for a better price by the way). Good bead. Dry with notes of almond and some strawberry. 89 points.
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Very crisp, light, clean sparkler. Elegant, almost austere. It was perhaps a mistake to serve it with a dish with a rich cream sauce. It actually showed much better the next day with cheese and crackers. It will be interesting to see how the remaining 5 bottles show over the next two years.
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enjoyed this bottle at christmas dinner at home with pat, laura, ellen, franco and benedetta. served with appetizer of lobster tail, shrimp, avocado, sour cream and caviar. this bottle impressed as carefully made champagne which offered clean, crisp, palate cleansing qualities. plenty of bubbles to innaugurate the excitement of the holidays. i consider this champagne to be elegant as well as tantalizing but not voluptuous. when tasted without food, it had plenty of structure. as an accompaniment to the food it was complementary rather than enhancing. would look for this again.
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9/19/2020 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy and tasty.
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5/17/2017 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 89 Points
Better than expected...
Excellent bubbles and foam structure. Has certainly softened significantly and taken on a more mellow, toasty character... In the end, the wine is well balanced and shows decent if not outstanding length. Not likely to improve
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12/29/2015 - ericindc Likes this wine:
similar to last note in May 2015. fantastic.
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8/11/2015 - soyhead wrote:
No disgorgement info to my eye. Compact cork
Nose - sherry/ oxidative nose
Mouth - very crisp with hints of sherry. I suspect this has quite some age on it. Somewhat the opposite of a crisp refreshing citrusy champagne, though I can see the elegance. Good minerality. An interesting drink in spite of the fact that it's not my preferred style of champagne.
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5/23/2015 - ericindc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Older bottle. This was in its prime. As stated, it was an older bottle, at least based upon the cork and the taste.
Rich brioche, autolytics, apple, pear, and brown sugar nose. Nicely mature, full bodied, strong crisp acidy, but with strong yeastiness, brown apple, creamy and sweet fruit finish. This was really a marvelous bottle.
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9/17/2013 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points
PN 60%, C 40%.
Normal yellow-green lemon color, slightly deeper yellow than the regular D-L Brut. Somewhat restrained, but positively nuanced and quite complex nose with less emphasis on the fruit department (ripe red apples, some citrus fruit character) and more on the developed and autolytic notes (earthiness, toasted bread crust, some yeasty French bread, a hint of butter). On the palate the wine is dry and rather light with somewhat aggressive and a bit short-lived mousse. The flavors are rather complex, albeit lacking a bit intensity. There are flavors of fresh green apples, surprisingly pronounced red-fruited Pinosity, some aromatic herbal character, a little honey, a hint of toasty autolysis and a touch of peppery spice. Bright, racy acidity gives the wine good structure. Great sophistication here. The finish is quite citrus-fruit dominant with the dosage (10 g/l) making it feel almost lemon marmaladey. There are also notes of green herbs, pronounced minerality, some delicate spice and hints of creamy autolysis in the quite long aftertaste.
A tasty, sophisticated and balanced effort that is a bit more expensive than the basic D-L Brut, but rightly so: this is a characterful high-quality Champ with good balance and nice structure. Although not a wine that would demand cellaring, I can imagine this wine could benefit from a year or two in a cellar. Solid value at 41€.
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12/8/2012 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
Big bubbles, a bit clumsy, earthy and lacing freshness. 88?
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10/22/2012 - Spyder14 wrote:
DSB and Ana R
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9/28/2012 - scyrene wrote: 85 Points
From magnum. Pale lemon. Pretty nondescript; nothing wrong, but no fireworks. Still, very drinkable. [Cork + cage, 12% abv; £60, Cellarviewines.com]
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9/3/2012 - mn47 wrote: 89 Points
Toujours agréable en bouche, mais tellement trop cher. J'ai pu faire la comparaison avec un mousseux californien servi immédiatement après le champagne: les bulles du champagne sont plus fines, mais en bouche, le californien est tout autant délectable.
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8/31/2012 - Colima74 wrote: 92 Points
From mag. I didn't have high hopes for this as I bought it 5 years back, or so. Well, it was very good, with green apple and acidity to carry thru. Nice stuff at a good price. With cheese and salad. K
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8/20/2012 - mn47 wrote: 88 Points
En apéro, belle bulles fines au goût de pomme, mais beaucoup trop cher pour mon plaisir.
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6/29/2012 - poptart_nyc wrote: 83 Points
very light and almost no fruit at all. bubbles and some minerality. tasted like a slightly flavored seltzer. disappointing and not as i remember it at all. so much for the hidden gem in the package store in small town usa
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4/9/2012 - yipen wrote: 90 Points
loved it, Toasting teasty.
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2/2/2012 - mn47 wrote: 92 Points
Très bon, mais je préfère les mousseux américains des maisons françaises, c'est une question de rapport qualité-prix.
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8/19/2011 - Colima74 wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle of a bunch I had picked u a couple of years back. None of the tell-tale green apple that I find in DL, and while this is still nice, it is not as good as most bottles we've had. Not sure if this was a somewhat off bottle, or if 2 years holding these NVs is the limit. Still have a mag, and will drink that soon.
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4/9/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with friends: I believe someone said this was bottled in 2006. Light golden in color. Lots of smaller bubbles. Toasty, yeasty on the nose and very pleasant. On the palate, this is balanced. On pouring it is quite crisp with nice green apples. With air, it rounds off a bit and fresh baked bread notes emerge. Quite delicious.
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2/27/2011 - bhouk wrote:
Thought this was excellent for the price. Walking the middle of the road in a good way. It is not an extreme Champagne in any way, but it is creamy and bright and utterly enjoyable as an aperitif. Worked fine with an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms. A good start to a very fine meal.
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1/31/2011 - ggb wrote: 87 Points
Impressions similaires avec la première bouteille!
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1/31/2011 - ggb wrote: 87 Points
Champagne frais digeste, sans grand éclat ni grand défaut. Bulles assez fines, une pointe de rancio agréable au nez et en bouche qui accompagne des notes de pommes Granny Smith et de brioche. Un peu plus quelconque en bouche.
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1/23/2011 - Paul Lin wrote: 85 Points
This bottle was purchased a couple years ago. Not a bad wine, but it did seem a little tired and lacking in intensity, and it did not generate a lot of excitement. Apple sauce, pear chutney, bread dough, and candle wax. A bit muddled on the palate.
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1/1/2011 - Kevdog wrote: 89 Points
1.5 L, Nice new years bubbles
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10/31/2010 - kosmik wrote: 89 Points
Oeil : paille soutenu, bulles persistantes et presque fines, cordon soutenu
Nez : projection d'intensité moyenne à forte, à la fois frais et vineux, très belle palette d'arômes de type juste-assez-mais-sans-trop, légèrement rancio, brioché,un peu de noix, pointe de carambole, pointe minérale, fruits à chair blanche, très élégant.
Bouche : belle attaque rafraîchissante à vive, explosion d'effervescence, rétro minérale, de fruits blancs et légèrement rancio, faible amertume, persistence moyenne.
Conclusion : un Champagne frais, locasse, très versatile et qui donne envie d'y revenir
NOte perso : 89-90
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10/13/2010 - hutch wrote: 91 Points
Duval Leroy Dinner (AL Forno): Bright acidity. This is brighter and cleaner then the regular bottling. It's like walking on a tightrope instead of a balance beam. 90-92
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10/8/2010 - gharbour Likes this wine: 89 Points
A nice but not great Champagne. Light straw color with fine moderate mouse. Nose of hay, toast, a little yeast. Taste of apple and hint of citrus. The bottle was beautiful.
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8/21/2010 - dzitt wrote: 90 Points
Couleur paille légère. Les bulles sont fines et abondantes. Au nez, pomme verte, gâteau au citron, brioche et une certaine minéralité. En bouche, les arômes perçues au nez y sont, le tout sur une belle longueur. Très bien.
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7/19/2010 - jbrater wrote: 87 Points
Very interesting. Light with a touch of apple then a lemony citrus followed by a strong minerality, almost like a club soda but with delicate bubbles. finished with a toasty yeastiness. great as a before dinner drink.
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6/13/2010 - Juha wrote:
Good value for money.
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4/10/2010 - BrandrB wrote: 85 Points
Beautiful bottle design. Unfortunately, the wine itself falls a bit short. Light golden color. Great effervescence, tiny bubbles. Hardly any nose – no distinct flavors discernable. Very restrained palate: apple, yeast, minerals and a slight nuttiness. Altogether somewhat hallow. Medium-long finish. Pleasant overall, but slightly disappointing – I definitely prefer their regular non-vintage Brut.
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3/13/2010 - Esteban wrote: 85 Points
Un champagne bien sec et équilibré. Léger goût de pomme. Bouche d'amplitude et de longueur décevantes. Rien de mémorable.
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2/27/2010 - scott davis Likes this wine: 89 Points
Golden straw color, with a fairly restrained nose. The palate maintains this reserved theme, showing juicy apple and quince, with light citrus and hazelnut flavors. Tight, dry, and zippy, with a sparse bead and moderate sized bubbles.
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2/11/2010 - Ssharp3425@aol.com wrote: 81 Points
Dry w/ smooth finish. Good by itself or w/ food
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1/8/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 85 Points
From magnum
Nose: creamy vanilla spice. Very inviting.
Palate: not quite as voluptuous as the nose suggests, the palate is emptily lemon-saline with flattish fruit. Fruit is kind of peachy-strawberry, but not too vivacious. Acidity is middle-of-the-road. The disturbingly empty mid-palate bothers me the most - the finish is of dry toast and lemon, and actually lasts quite a while. All in all, OK, but not something I’ll miss out on if I don’t finish the magnum.85-86.
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12/28/2009 - Sijan wrote: 88 Points
Changed a lot as it got some air. Perhaps a bit better on the second day? Fairly light, slightly sweet nose with an odd sour milk note at times. Apples and some minerality on palate, as well as a bit of funk. Slightly bitter on the finish. Almost cava-like. Not enough yeasty/biscuity notes to my taste - I prefer a heavier, more full-bodied sparkler.
We tasted this in a blind tasting of five sparkling wines and it tied for second place on my ballot, although it was by far the most expensive wine. It was beat by Dom. Ste Michelle Brut and tied by Freixenet Extra Dry.
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12/27/2009 - Texas Pete wrote: 88 Points
Sour apples, medium finish very fine mousse. Ok wine, but my wife loves the bottle.
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12/26/2009 - stubbie999 wrote:
This is pretty great at this price. Citrus and minerals, linear with just a touch of yeastyness. Yum!
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12/21/2009 - mreinitz wrote: 89 Points
Good for the price. Simple but tasty with yeast, sour apple, and a hint of nuts. Not thought provoking but very enjoyable. And you've got to love the bottle.
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12/15/2009 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
TN's: Binny's Champagne Tasting (22 notes) (Glen Ellyn, Illinois): Retailer tasting. 3rd time I have had this sparkler with the last 2 times being in 2005. I was told that Duval Leroy is going to be discontinuing this line. This is a brut. I have always scored it 89 points. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Simpler than the regular Brut which I also had. 89 points.
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12/12/2009 - BECKMANN wrote: 90 Points
Wouw what a nose - to many impressions... but so nice, think the freshness and green apples and pears was the picture i got in the end ... :o)
Very nice taste, but did not live up to the very fine nose!, aftertaste not long enough, hence 90 rating - which i still think is cracking @ this price (aprox 45 USD) !
Fine mousse, drank it "fairly quick" bye the looks of it - would doubt it (the mousse) to stay consistency over longer time ...
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12/6/2009 - winelovr2001 wrote: 91 Points
A finely balanced bubbly, very nice.
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11/16/2009 - avp wrote:
Appley fruit, brioche, mushrooms and slight nutty toastiness on the nose.
Dry and quite light-bodied with crisp acidity and good moussé. Green apples, hazelnuts, some spiciness and minerality. Lengthy.
Definitely good but not outstanding.
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11/15/2009 - bodulations wrote:
light gold, small bubbles that form an aggressive mousse in the mouth. Intensive hazelnut, honey, brioche with pear on the nose. It feels both young and evolving. The palate is fairly light bodied with not much age. Fruity and simple with some minerality to it. Elegant acids. this bottle needs to mature. not the 40euros worth i accidentally bought it for
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10/3/2009 - fandj wrote: 90 Points
A really delicious bubbly.good
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7/24/2009 - khmark7 wrote: 87 Points
Have had this bottle for almost two years now and it seemed to have faded a bit. Subtle but nice.
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3/10/2009 - Berno wrote: 94 Points
I'm not sure if I have a new batch, or what. This was amazing! This was second to NV Krug in a tasting featuring 2000 Dom, 2002 Cristal and a few others. Easily the best bottle of bubbly I've had under $50.
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2/8/2009 - gigabit wrote: 91 Points
Medium golden color with fine beads. Bread dough and ginger on the nose. As it warmed the bread dough became sweeter, and a wonderful fresh-baked pie scent evolved. The palate was chalky with firm acidity and pleasant minerality. The finish was medium-long with ample citrus notes and more chalk. A perfect pairing with oysters.
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1/31/2009 - Matt T wrote: flawed
This was pretty heavily oxidized and barely drinkable. I bought it from a wine shop and it must have been sitting in their fridge for a long time.
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1/23/2009 - THaas wrote: 88 Points
Straw in the glass. Mild nose of lightly toasted biscuit and lemon zest. Dark cherry, lemon, mineral, and sweet toasted biscuit bounce off each other in the mouth, quite tasty. Balance is almost perfect, with the acidity, fruit, and weight of the wine playing off of each other. Long finish.
A very nice wine, and good value for a prestige cuvee.
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12/31/2008 - poptart_nyc wrote: 87 Points
multisized and speed bubbles. almost golden straw in color. first impression of a touch of honey and a bit of charchol. grainy in the mouth. fruit is ripe pear. some hazelnut. less floral, more like nectar on nose. earthy pinot quality. interesting for it's contrasts. husband disagrees with me and says the fruity, complex, creamy style deseves a higher rating. not to mention the penetrating bubbles. there, happy?
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10/10/2008 - Cal Bear wrote: 90 Points
Really delicious. Fine bead that didn't last as long as hoped, and nose was amost too-clean and light, but the flavor was crisp, clean, focused, yeasty, and lightly citrus in all the right ways.
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10/5/2008 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Bright, light, full of apples and citrus. Not complex, but very enjoyable as an aperitif.
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9/27/2008 - Terkel wrote: 88 Points
Bourgogne tasting (Henriks appartment): Light yellow color. Aromas of yeast, ripe red apples, some robustness on the nose. Very different on the palate, driven by a lively acidity, notes of citrus and green apples. A bit more full-bodied on the finish. The mousse disappears too quickly.
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9/21/2008 - RonB wrote: 92 Points
N.V. - using the same bottle for several years. No way to tell which year you are actually getting. Designer bottle by Leroy Neiman. 40% Chard / 60% Pinot Noir. Aroma of white flowers, honeysuckle and hazelnut. Long silky finish.
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7/11/2008 - bhardie wrote: 88 Points
Nice but rather simple. Delicate apple and cream. Good balance.
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7/5/2008 - CUTig1 wrote: 90 Points
Excellent - Wells family reunion 90
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7/3/2008 - woodofnor wrote: 92 Points
향기로운 샴페인이다.
흰 꽃향까지 감기는데,,,,,,,,
아주 괜찮다. 버블도 시원스럽고.
완소 샴페인.
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5/19/2008 - GreatLibations wrote: 90 Points
pale yellow-good mousse and bubbles-doughy yeast, citrus, and green apple nostrils-acidic, jolly rancher green stonefruit and apples, minerals, and mild dough. tight finish. refined and focused.
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3/23/2008 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 88 Points
Drank from a magnum on my grandmother's 100th birthday. I wouldn't so much say I was disappointed, since I did read the reviews here ahead of time, but this wasn't very interesting, and was entirely dwarfed by the amazing André Clouet Champagne Brut Rosé we had before it. The Paris is very light on flavor and complexity, showing some spritzy green apple and some light minerality. This is very light and unoffensive. Some of the non-wine drinkers preferred it for that. It's a reasonable quaffer and there is absolutely nothing off-putting about it. Aside from the bottle (which is really why I bought it), there's plenty of better champagne for the price.
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1/1/2008 - Colima74 wrote: 90 Points
Green apple, green apple, green apple... really fun and tasty.
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12/26/2007 - David J Cooper wrote:
Light yellow. Persistent mousse. Light nose of apples, bread dough and lemon. Fantastic flavours and mouth feel. Great NV Brut Champagne.
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11/23/2007 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
Served with starters on T-day. Besides the beautiful bottle, this is a wonderful wine. I could drink this all day...flavor of green apple dominated, and the finish lingered just like you want it to. Refreshing and fun.
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10/18/2007 - CamWheeler wrote: 87 Points
CIVC Champagne Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Pine nuts, spice and earth with some cherry as well. Good balance to the palate. Enjoyable.
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8/10/2007 - SuitePhoto wrote: 89 Points
Intresting - lots of Pinot fruit, but not as dry as I'd like.
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6/12/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous notes.
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5/29/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as before. Very enjoyable.
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5/12/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as before.
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12/31/2006 - Sakas wrote: 92 Points
I haven't had many true champagnes to compare this to, but this bottle is awesome!
It has a fairly fruity nose and a fine strong bead. On the palate the fruit continues with a but of chalkiness and some lemony acidity.
This wine is very crisp and clean. I am enjoying it immensely!!!!
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12/13/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
Dallas Offline - Champagne & White Burgundy Tasting (Amici's in Carrollton, TX): WIML88-89,NOWA,~WS88-91
Tasted December 13, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Reidel Vinum Cuvee Prestige glass. Light straw color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Unusual nose of mixed nuts, cherries and what I sensed was a light smokiness. Flavors were equally unusual center on cherry fizz and pineapple with perhaps some mixed berry notes. Light to medium acidity, medium bodied. Drink now.
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12/11/2006 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Drank for Dennis's birthday. Light and creamy with notes of crisp green apple, red berries, and citrus. Everyone loved it. Beautiful bottle too.
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11/3/2006 - Old_Winyards wrote: 88 Points
Crisp dry and light with lively bubbles and green apple and citrus flavors. Simple, but fairly enjoyable with Sushi.
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7/9/2006 - Jester wrote: 86 Points
Mediocre champagne. Quaffable, but nothing special. A bit bitter, citrus, ginger, and coffee. For approximately the same price, I prefer Duval-Leroy's 1996 Blanc de Chardonnay ( Yellow Label ) Lots of bubbles, somewhat weak finish. Drink em if ya got 'em. Not ageworthy, but reasonable for an everyday bubbly.
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5/17/2006 - RonB wrote: 90 Points
Candied berries with creamy texture. Excellent
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1/6/2006 - VegasTony wrote: 88 Points
The nose is fresh and yeasty with crisp sliced apple. Tastes of green apple, on the sour side, with honeydew melon and mild saltiness. Dry, finishing crisp, tingly & tangy.
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12/7/2005 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
Tasted again with similar notes. Allred brought this to the CWM Christmas party.
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12/3/2005 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Brought to CWM Thai Christmas offline. Pale gold color. Very toasty/yeasty, large bead. Fun to compare side by side against the '96 Duval-Leroy Blanc de Chardonnay, which had a nice acidity and minerality, citrus, and a fine bead (92 pts).
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10/15/2005 - Wine Apostle wrote: 90 Points
Bottle fill was slightly suspect as it was mid-neck. Wine has been appropriately stored in cellar since acquisition. That being said, an excellent wine. Some apple with quite a bit of toast. Very enjoyable. I'll buy it again, and again.
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9/4/2005 - mdstenner wrote: 89 Points
Perfect aperitif wine. Light gold color with a fresh, yeasty, creamy nose of green apple and toast. Very crisp and dry in the mouth, with some nice toasty flavors. Quite tight still, this might unwind with 1-2 more bottle age. Good structure. A very nice modest N.V. Champagne.
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4/21/2005 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
Not as good as the 1996 Blanc de Chardonnay from this producer (which sells for a better price by the way). Good bead. Dry with notes of almond and some strawberry. 89 points.
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1/8/2005 - rkorchid wrote:
Very crisp, light, clean sparkler. Elegant, almost austere. It was perhaps a mistake to serve it with a dish with a rich cream sauce. It actually showed much better the next day with cheese and crackers. It will be interesting to see how the remaining 5 bottles show over the next two years.
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12/30/2004 - timbuk2 wrote: 90 Points
fresh, fruity, yeasty, quite similar to 1996 DL, maybe not as yeasty, but a good wine
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12/25/2004 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
enjoyed this bottle at christmas dinner at home with pat, laura, ellen, franco and benedetta. served with appetizer of lobster tail, shrimp, avocado, sour cream and caviar. this bottle impressed as carefully made champagne which offered clean, crisp, palate cleansing qualities. plenty of bubbles to innaugurate the excitement of the holidays. i consider this champagne to be elegant as well as tantalizing but not voluptuous. when tasted without food, it had plenty of structure. as an accompaniment to the food it was complementary rather than enhancing. would look for this again.
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