Very good, although a bit more in the riper fat fruit moid then crisp taunt style I was in the mode fire. Well made and solid, perhaps lacking a bit in nuance.
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German, Alsace & Loire in St Paul MN ( pot hole capital of the US & apparently where snow removal is not high on Mayor Carter's list ) last night. 12 of us gathered for an admirable assortment of Reisling & decent Thai. My BdB as always with Jose Michel did not suck and drank more like $50+ bubbly. Superbly balanced, refreshing with a delicious bead of minerality, citrus and stone fruit augmented by light bread dough notes. Perhaps the 08 vintage helped too? 91+ Last of 4 acquired in Spring '18. Still going strong. Completely fresh w/ no signs mox.
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Mixed bag (The Kenwood): This champagne has changed significantly in the last 3 years. This bottle was more true to a BdB style. Refreshing, crisp and light with lemon, apple and a little toast.
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Luis rides again @ The Kenwood: PnP - This Champagne came across as very young and very lively. Light straw color, with nose showing lots of tart apple some pear and some minerality. Just a tad too acidic at this point (but still drinking well). I would wait another couple years before opening. 91 now, should improve.
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Mixed WTDS at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. I was surprised to see how many times I've had this Champagne, but it's been awhile. Sweet, ripe apple, clean and fresh, this was a more elegant presentation, with finer minerality, lively palate, apple panna cotta. Nice, 91+pts.
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Solid showing, if a bit more mild that I recalled from the first bottle. Still a great QPR for vintage dated champagne. Lighter apple notes, pale in the glass. Mousse on the softer side. This is elegant and understated.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Old Reds 2008 and Earlier (Tilia, Mpls): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. Lots of green apple, subtle vanilla panna cotta, and yeast on the nose. The palate follows with tart green apple, apple peel, mineral, vanilla. 90+ to 91pts.
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This seems to have mellowed considerably from the last bottle. Much less acid and citrus, more yeast and brioche than I recall. Quite nice, perhaps a touch far in the opposite direction. Perhaps bottle variation, setting or different glassware.
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A Whiter Shade of Pale: Featuring Killer Chablis (Martina, Mpls): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. I agree with Chablis28, and I think that age has clearly improved this. Very good, nice green orchard fruits; medium weight, the brightness of the fruit really handles the chalk and limestone minerality well.
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This has grown on me over time and the 3 blts I've had. Great balance, minerality and energy tonight. No off putting ox like another wine we had tonight.
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Same bottle as RocknRoller. I'll be a little more kind than Kevin as it was the top sparkler at our table (we sat at different tables). Young and zippy this showed lots of lemon, green apple with hints of toast. IMO needs a little time to settle down. At $30 seems like a good buy.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Blind Pinots Worldwide (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): This seemed a bit flat by comparison to our other Champagnes, I don;t know - I liked it, but it seemed lacking in energy, still had some nice qualities, but didn't zip on the palate, yeast, strong citrus, some brine.
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This needed some time to open up. Even when it did, it was a surprising heavy hitter for a BdB. Burly, unrefined, with plenty of spice/yeast along with non-creamy slightly abrasive bubbles. This was enjoyable now and I hope it calms down in a few years.
Note to self - wait at least 3 years before opening another. But be careful, this producer does not age so long. This needs time, but don't push it too much. Respect the curve.
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This showed very well. Bright, focused. Good QPR from Envoyer. If this is what the '08s will be like, I'm excited. Good intensity, pale coloring, assertive mousse. Fresh BdB profile, really enjoyed it.
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5/9/2024 - KenK Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good, although a bit more in the riper fat fruit moid then crisp taunt style I was in the mode fire. Well made and solid, perhaps lacking a bit in nuance.
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3/19/2023 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
German, Alsace & Loire in St Paul MN ( pot hole capital of the US & apparently where snow removal is not high on Mayor Carter's list ) last night. 12 of us gathered for an admirable assortment of Reisling & decent Thai. My BdB as always with Jose Michel did not suck and drank more like $50+ bubbly. Superbly balanced, refreshing with a delicious bead of minerality, citrus and stone fruit augmented by light bread dough notes. Perhaps the 08 vintage helped too? 91+ Last of 4 acquired in Spring '18. Still going strong. Completely fresh w/ no signs mox.
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11/27/2022 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Refreshing, crisp and light with lemon, apple and a little toast. This is a very energetic and lively champagne.
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11/13/2021 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Fresh baked bread on the nose. Some lemon/lime zippiness on the palate, with pleasant tartness. I liked this quite a bit.
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11/11/2021 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Mixed bag (The Kenwood): This champagne has changed significantly in the last 3 years. This bottle was more true to a BdB style. Refreshing, crisp and light with lemon, apple and a little toast.
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11/11/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Luis rides again @ The Kenwood: PnP - This Champagne came across as very young and very lively. Light straw color, with nose showing lots of tart apple some pear and some minerality. Just a tad too acidic at this point (but still drinking well). I would wait another couple years before opening. 91 now, should improve.
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11/11/2021 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Mixed WTDS at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. I was surprised to see how many times I've had this Champagne, but it's been awhile. Sweet, ripe apple, clean and fresh, this was a more elegant presentation, with finer minerality, lively palate, apple panna cotta. Nice, 91+pts.
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12/31/2020 - hbay Likes this wine: 92 Points
Kammusling cervice m. rødbedehumus
Røget laks m. peberods creame
Østers
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12/22/2020 - hbay Likes this wine: 88 Points
Sushi
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3/29/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote:
This bottle didn't show quite as well as I had hoped. A bit on the tart side, but still a solid value. 89-90
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1/4/2020 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine:
Apple, melon, minerals. Very good and went way too fast.
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1/1/2020 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Solid showing, if a bit more mild that I recalled from the first bottle. Still a great QPR for vintage dated champagne. Lighter apple notes, pale in the glass. Mousse on the softer side. This is elegant and understated.
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1/1/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Fourth Annual Edition (Brad & Marcia's Place, St. Paul, MN): Small glass. Apple, chalk, somewhat bitter, apple peel, sour citrus.
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7/10/2019 - mercurius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just entering its drinking window. Nice biscuity notes and a long finish. Might still improve but great now.
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2/18/2019 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Similar to last note. This was a big hit with my family at a recent dinner. Really great value.
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1/1/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Third Annual Edition: Small glass. Consistent with recent note form 11/18/18. This shows green apple, yeast, chalk, apple peel, citrus with some weight.
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1/1/2019 - Bellissimo wrote:
Brought to a large gathering, shared with no formal notes taken. Zippy acids, lemon, green apple, chalk, and toast in a medium+ body. Excellent QPR.
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12/31/2018 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Melon and stone, nice medium weight, crisp, quite enjoyable now but it should age well in at least the medium term.
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11/18/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Old Reds 2008 and Earlier (Tilia, Mpls): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. Lots of green apple, subtle vanilla panna cotta, and yeast on the nose. The palate follows with tart green apple, apple peel, mineral, vanilla. 90+ to 91pts.
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10/5/2018 - JCGuthrie wrote:
This seems to have mellowed considerably from the last bottle. Much less acid and citrus, more yeast and brioche than I recall. Quite nice, perhaps a touch far in the opposite direction. Perhaps bottle variation, setting or different glassware.
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10/4/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
A Whiter Shade of Pale: Featuring Killer Chablis (Martina, Mpls): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 30 minutes. I agree with Chablis28, and I think that age has clearly improved this. Very good, nice green orchard fruits; medium weight, the brightness of the fruit really handles the chalk and limestone minerality well.
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10/4/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
This has grown on me over time and the 3 blts I've had. Great balance, minerality and energy tonight. No off putting ox like another wine we had tonight.
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8/17/2018 - cmueller Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still love these wines, great daily drinkers.
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7/8/2018 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
A little more interesting tonight and decent for $30 I paid. That said I definitely prefer the Vilmart Brut Reserve for $5-$10 more.
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5/13/2018 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Tart, zippy. Probably best served with food with some fat.
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4/30/2018 - JCGuthrie wrote: 90 Points
Previous couple of notes nailed it...a bit lean. Still, I enjoyed this.
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4/22/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux 2004 and Older (Meritage, St. Paul): Pale gold color. Drank 1 gass over 20 minutes. This was a bit on the lean side, citrus, lemon, mineral, it checks the basic boxes, but I think I prefer the Special Club myself. 89+ to 90pts.
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3/11/2018 - Bellissimo wrote:
Same bottle as RocknRoller. I'll be a little more kind than Kevin as it was the top sparkler at our table (we sat at different tables). Young and zippy this showed lots of lemon, green apple with hints of toast. IMO needs a little time to settle down. At $30 seems like a good buy.
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3/11/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Blind Pinots Worldwide (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): This seemed a bit flat by comparison to our other Champagnes, I don;t know - I liked it, but it seemed lacking in energy, still had some nice qualities, but didn't zip on the palate, yeast, strong citrus, some brine.
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3/4/2018 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
This needed some time to open up. Even when it did, it was a surprising heavy hitter for a BdB. Burly, unrefined, with plenty of spice/yeast along with non-creamy slightly abrasive bubbles. This was enjoyable now and I hope it calms down in a few years.
Note to self - wait at least 3 years before opening another. But be careful, this producer does not age so long. This needs time, but don't push it too much. Respect the curve.
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1/19/2018 - cmueller Likes this wine: 91 Points
Best QPR in a champagne that I've found. Fresh but not too much, just enough bread/yeast on the nose and palate. Buying more.
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12/28/2017 - btock Likes this wine: 93 Points
This showed very well. Bright, focused. Good QPR from Envoyer. If this is what the '08s will be like, I'm excited. Good intensity, pale coloring, assertive mousse. Fresh BdB profile, really enjoyed it.
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12/4/2017 - cmueller Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent champagne for $30, no formal notes but I am buying more.
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7/14/2017 - mikkelmarius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderfully creamy. Unfortunately I don't have any more bottles. Think this one will develop just beautifully.
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