1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Omaha, NE): Popped and poured; no formal notes. Just old enough to drink itself, this Special Club from Goutorbe is vinous and firing on all cylinders right now. There is such a compelling mix of primary and secondary characteristics with structure and fruit in perfect balance. A lovely opening glass of bubbles for what was certain to be a memorable night. Drink now through 2032.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showing a richness, broad and expansive palate which was fresh but almost too weighty for the sushi meal it accompanied. In comparison with the many Rieslings on the table, this was dense and not as enjoyable to drink.. probably better with rich fatty (bread/meat) foods in butter based sauces. I don't think this would even pair that well with oysters unless they were very rich and fatty/salty themselves. On a long plateau of maturity today, drink within the next decade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a wine dinner, no extensive notes but this bottle showed beautifully tonight and only improved over 90 minutes open while coming up to temp. Certainly mature but holding nicely, and well-stored bottles should hold for a decade easily. My wine of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Goodbye old friend. Drinking mature and lovely. My notes from 5 years ago still hold, though a bit more apple component coming through. Still a tropical-driven bdb with wonderful character.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Expressive effervescence. Yellow Delicious apple, ripe pear fruit. Lots of yeasty/toasty/honey notes. Made in an oxidative style. Still crisp, and fresh- terrific now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very vinous and delightfully funky mature pinot. Unfortunately a bit of cork taint funk as well which, had the wine been without, might have been a 90+ wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Har høy modning, stor Ay-kropp med flott moden frukt. Liten utvikling siden sist flaske for 4 år siden. Sublim match til røkt hval med en mild pepperrot krem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Toasty and luxurious. Palate of berries and moderate acidity, with notable softness to the mouthfeel. More expansive and welcoming than focused and lithe. I suspect this is at peak and should plateau for at least a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened in celebration last night and it was well worth it. In a good place - tropical notes (wife said guava, i thought papaya+ mango) importantly, not sweet-tropical, just tropical. Nice acid. High but not unreasonable. At room temp, started to get a slight sherry edge, so I think this is probably in the right spot / not going to be a long-term improver.
Lovely wine, a house favorite
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The golden apple and ripe pear elements of this Champagne were once again showing well. This bottle was fun to drink, along with others in the past. This is in a great place and I don't really see this as a wine that will benefit from more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really enjoyed the Pinot flavours and the fair amount of maturity. My bottle needed to breathe a little before serving. I agree that this wine is drinking very good at the moment and might be peaking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine was showing wonderfully. Golden apple notes along with ripe pear, excellent acidity and fine mousse reminded me of why I love the 2002 special club from Goutorbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich yellow color, delectable nose of marzipan and brioche.
Really quite a lot of purity on the palate - rich and broad without being heavy - even shows some fine delicacyin the mid-palate, surprising for a wine of such broad richness.
Well done. In a good place now but will be fine for years yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Super rich with perceived sweetness of brioche up front and baking spices in the finish. This wine was so complex and big that I don't even have the words to describe the taste. I did find acid still present through the finish and while I think this is drinking great, I disagree with others who feel that it won't develop further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Disgorged August 3, 2009. The elements I like in this Champagne were present in this bottle. It was a little softer than previous bottles, and the 'sweet spot' of temperature was a little more narrow. Still, this was outstanding Champagne. Golden apple and ripe d'anjou pear flavors were mixed with a hint of bread, some minerality and a fine beaded mousse. I have been advised to drink the remaining bottle soon and I tend to agree. I don't see this improving with age and will finish the remainder sooner rather than later. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tiltalende duft av gule epler, lys honning, et lite hint av sherry med litt tid i glasset. Flott konsentrasjon med en lekker rik munnfølelse. Fin syre som matcher den rike frukten. Mineraler i lang finish.
Denne synes jeg var veldig bra, men også her litt usikker på om videre liv i kjelleren vil gi positive utslag. Den oksidative tonen øker ørlite med tid i glasset.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature nose of baking spices, apples, and a slight oxidative note. Very rich, full palate -- but also nicely balanced. Concentrated and deep. Somewhat toasty. Makes an impact. I'm not sure there is a ton of benefit to cellar any further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Dinner (Thai Cottage, SF): Light golden color; lovely mature notes with apple, brioche, lime, fresh nose; great acidity, fresh palate, slightly rounded fruit, crisp apple; medium length finish. Overall an excellent champagne that has freshness, complexity, balance, and early mature notes and lacking only an over-the-top acidity that I love. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Oct 18, 2010 disgorgement. Drank this at BYOB sushi. Golden delicious apple notes on this ring true and acidity was very good. After drinking this over time (bottle variation aside) I am convinced the key is drinking this at the right temperature. Very well chilled but not ice cold worked best. Too warm and that very slight bitter note on the finish starts to show through. It needs a good 15 plus minutes to start to open up. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Oct 18, 2010 disgorgement. This bottle was singing very well. This bottle did not have a (very) slight bitter note on the finish that the previous bottle had. I think this has hit it's stride and am skeptical about long term agability of this Champagne. Still, all the great elements of the prevoius bottles were present here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Oct, 2010 disgorgement. Drank with friends at a good BYOB Chinese restaurant. Flavors of golden delicious apples were nice and round but balanced with good acidity. The initial attack and mid-palate were excellent but there is a slight bitter note on the finish. Overall this bottle 91+
I had heard that the 2002 bottlings were near decline. Based on this bottle I would agree. For the style that is Gourtorbe special club I don't see the 2002 getting any better with time. I plan on drinking most (if not all) these bottles in the next year. Still, I need to confirm with the 2009 disgorgement bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2002 Henri Goutorbe Special Club is drinking very well right now and seems to have already developed some nice secondary characteristics that come with several years of bottle age. While this may continue to improve with additional time, I am not sure how much better it will get, so I would recommend starting to drink these now.
On the nose this shows honey and ripe fruit. On the palate this has flavors of blueberries, blackberries, apples, peaches, pears, honey, caramel, buttered biscuits, and chalky minerality. The 02 Goutorbe Special Club screams pinot and is extremely rich with a very silky texture that seems to lift the flavors to an even higher level. In a way, this is similar to the Krug Grande Cuvee in its personality, but with a little less complexity. A very nice effort from Goutorbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good w/ a nice purity of fresh green apple fruit contrasted by a slightly pungent minerality. Good acid and nice perlage. Not particularly rich or biscuity/yeasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is still one of my favorite pinot centric Special Club offerings and was a very good bottle, but not quite as good as the other bottles that I have consumed lately. This was a bit strange since they all came from the same source. The bottle seemed just a bit more hollow and tired with less of the vibrancy that this champagne can show at its best. Despite this, it was still very silky and rich with pears, apples, biscuits with honey, oranges, and peaches on the palate. Hopefully the next bottle will be back up to its usual standards.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As mentioned in my last note, the 2002 Henri Goutorbe Special Club seems to have moved up a notch over the past year as it enters its middle age. It has started to gain some secondary characteristics and is still wonderfully rich and shows off the high quality of Ay pinot very well. It is smooth and silky in texture with flavors of bread, honey, caramel, red apples, poached pears, and peaches. If you can still find this at retail it is highly recommended - especially if you like richer pinot centric champagne's (Krug like) that are still fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, this champagne has really opened up and entered its prime since the last bottle I consumed around 9 months ago. On the nose this just has a wonderful wild flower perfume smell that jumps out of the glass. On the palate the 2002 Goutorbe Special Club is as open as I have ever tasted and it is clear that this sports some of the highest quality pinot noir grapes in Ay. The flavors include ripe blackberries, blueberries, wild flowers, a touch of mint, walnuts, toast, honey, caramel, and fresh pastries. These flavors are all held in check by medium/high acidity, chalk, minerals, and wonderful depth/complexity. This will likely continue performing at a very high level for many years to come, but there is no reason not to drink this Goutorbe today as it is firing on all cylinders. A top notch pinot centric Special Club.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost exactly a year since last bottle, this continues to be one of the earlier drinking Special Clubs from 2002. No official TN's but Fresh and easy going.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From the 2009 Disgorgement. More aged notes on this bottle than the April, 2011 disgorgement, but that is to be expected. The fruit was a little more muted and pastry bread notes were more evident. Acid was cleanly integrated but present. I am really impressed with the quality of 2002 champagnes ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From an April 2011 disgorgement. This wine will continue to evolve. Another outstanding bottle of this vintage Club Champagne. The fruit flavors were ripe, with even a few tropical notes but the acidity is very good so they are well balanced. It was tight at first so I threw it in the decanter and that really helped open things up. This is really wonderful Champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Friday Afternoon at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage): Another great showing. The palate seems to have increased its toastiness over the 18 months since I last tried this. It also has a denser nuttiness to the palate that wasn't as expressive last time. Drinking beautifully well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
still a great wine. minerality more noticeable now but the freshness of the lemon curd and the richness of the almond paste is still there. wish i had a lot more in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elegant but strong aroma of fig newton (fig roll for our UK friends) on the nose. Lush and balanced on the palate. THIS is what they are talking about when they mention the blueberry that Ay champagne is famous for.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2002 Goutorbe Special Club seems to be opening up more and more with each bottle I consume. The first bottle of this that I had about five months ago seemed much more tight and didn't have very much going on. Now this seems to be more open and has develped more secondary nuances and depth. The 2002 Goutorbe Special Club is a very rich champagne with wonderful fresh pinot flavors of honey, bread, spices, and blueberry. Although drinking well right now, I still believe this champagne needs more time to really show its best. I would guess that it will be at its peak in another two years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have been drinking a lot of the 2002 Goutorbe Special Club recently and having had several bottles has given me a broader perspective on this champagne. Several of the earlier bottles seemed to be a little bit tight and ungiving. However, the last couple of bottles seemed much more ready to go. Shows that there still can be a relatively wide range of experiences when drinking the same champagne in a similar time period and that each bottle is unique. This bottle was still young (as was the case with the others), but it had a wonderful perfumed nose and very silky flavors on the palate. Flavors included honey, red apple, spices, bread, blueberries, and creamy citrus. This was also well balanced and was relatively light for a pinot based champagne. I expect this to gain some weight and complexity over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the best bottle of 2002 Goutorbe Special Club that I have had so far. For whatever reason this bottle seemed to be much more open and have more depth and complexity than the previous bottles. It has a nice deep pinot perfume and resonance on the palate, but still remained light at the same time. This was a very nice champagne. Hopefully my last couple of bottles will be like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle of the 02 Goutorbe Special Club was a little bit more open than the last one, however, I still got the sense that it is holding something back. This is still a nice champagne with rich flavors of red apples, bread, honey, and some spices. Overall I expect this will improve with further time, but it is still relatively tight today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This started out with a very nice nose of pear and apple. It initially tasted a bit tight on the palate, but had a wonderful after taste of honey, apples and pear. However, after about 10-15 minutes it seemed to close up and get even tighter, losing some of the initial richness and flavor. My thinking is that maybe we served this a little bit too cold and did not give it enough time to open up, but it was not showing that much. Next time I am going to serve this warmer and give it at least an hour after opening before drinking. It is also clear that this is still very young and could use another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clos Vougeot Dinner (Acquitaine - Lincoln Park, Chicago): A nicely balanced champagne with lots of energy, moderate toast notes and expressive citrus tones. Palate has bracing minerality and layers of citrus and floral notes. Nice start to the evening!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clos Vougeot Dinner (Aquitane, Chicago IL): nose: very good depth with a layered nose of green apples, tart citrus tones, white fruits, and crushed stones. This is a real delight to smell right now as it just shows a lot of class
taste: lovely medium/full feel with medium+ acidity that is still noticeable. There is a fatness to the feel and tones of tart citrus tones, green apples, pears, crushed rocks and some bits of white fruits
overall: a lovely champagne right now. This certainly could use some further age, but one wouldn't be faulted for opening one up right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with Third Thursday Wine Group and very enjoyed by all. Tasted along side several other noteworthy bubbles, including a Krug nv with a couple years age. Many likened this to a baby Krug noting the intense yeasty, brule, brioche of the Goutorbe similarity, but with more crisp yellow fruits: lemon, citrus, touch of a pineapple, red apple with a hint of red berry fruit and a nice minerality. Very complex with many layers and beautifully crafted. #2 for WOTN behind the Krug for the event.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was my first bottle of any Goutorbe champagne. I had heard very good things about the 02 Special Club, so I figured that would be a good place to start. While I can certainly tell that this wine was made from very high quality fruit, it was a bit bland and basic for me. Certainly not at all bad, but just didn't have the depth of flavor or complexity that I was expecting. This almost seemed to be of a similar style to the 02 Bollinger Grande Annee, but without the Bollinger's depth and complexity. Maybe this just needs more time and we will see as I still have several bottles of this that I plan on opening no sooner than a couple of years from now. The most dominant flavors were red apple with a little bit of yeast. The jury is still out on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
rich and indulgent. on the nose there is lemon curd, almond paste, and the most interesting combination of scents that reminds me of fresh baked macaroons. the flavors are equally rich and round while remaining taught with bright citrus and acidity at the same time. the wine really reaches to all corners of the palate and there is a lingering note of sweet cream. it seems quite balanced and full in all the right places with no discernible sharp edges. great champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somewhat similar in feel to the Chiquet - a touch oxidative on the nose, and even moreso on the palate. Still fresh though, if not quite as pleasing as the Chiquet Special Club for my palate. Still, a very nice wine, 91-92 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe rich exotic fruit flavors. A nice nutty component on finish. Already a sense of age in this- probably not a long term ager, but drinking really well at present.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grower Champagnes (Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Costa Mesa, CA): This wine has put on some weight since I last had it. Notes of Asian pears, yellow apples, ripe nectarines, and brioche. Rich and intense on the palate. Comes across a tad sweet on the finish , but the fruit quality and density is there. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grower Champagnes with the Growers (Hi-Times, Costa Mesa, CA): 75%/25% - Pinot/Chard. Ripe, powerful red fruits are the main expression. Powerful yet very clean on the finish. A fine example of a grower achieving great heights in a good vintage. A terrific wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exotic, zesty acid spiciness with depth of flavors that won't quit! Varied fruits from pineapple mango, to apple, pear, stone, hint of yeast and a berry lingering on the length. Complex, layered, thought provoking wine. A wine you enjoy immensely but makes you think as the flavors burst then evolve on the palate. You seek clues on the haunting aromatics and it just takes you all the way to Ay!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2011 Masters of Wine Champagne Tasting (San Francisco, CA): 2008 disgorgement. Light golden color. Fully yeasty, citrus nose. Medium-full bodied palate shows lemon citrus, biscuit, and mineral flavors with just a hint of red berries lurking in the background throughout. Dense but balanced. Medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful accompaniment to birthday sushi dinner. Nice golden color and good bead. Nose of bread with a little lemon cream peaking through. Palate is really nice with good flavors of ripe golden apple, bread, creamy lemon, some red notes (cranberry & raspberry). Excellent acidity and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has a rather imposing cheese rind nose with orange peel and spice. The full bodied palate shows more orange and spice cake, with nice yeastiness and large, coarse-grained perlage. A bit too much initially, but grew more attractive with time in the glass. Still, I merely liked and did not love.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
an outstanding bottle. Fresh peach, stone fruits, and a lovely buttered toast element that shied away from oaky and yeasty and into a more exciting, savory territory. Yummilicious. 92-93 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious, full-throttle Champagne. This is more about the bold spice-cake and malt flavors and aromas, which show just an attractive hint of oxidation, than the fruit, which tends more toward apricots than citrus. This is very muscular and has the structure to improve, even though it's pretty impressive right now. My only nit is the fact that because this is so densely coiled and intense, the texture is almost harsh. This only means that I expect this to mellow and improve with a few years in the cellar. Just as good if not better on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Interestingly malty in smell so that it could be mistaken for a sweet Belgian ale. The flavor is mainly nutty, with some apricot essence to it as well. I like this wine, but it seems rough around the edges at this point. I'm hoping it smooths out in time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Special Club Champagnes (Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Costa Mesa, CA): Wonderful zingy freshness on the nose with aromas of nutty bread, herbs, and minerals. The palate has a stoney nuttiness to the flavors of citrus and white fruits that build through the finish. The texture is supple but quickly builds due to the structure from the radiant fruit, acidity, and minerality. This wine is one of the most promising of the tasting due to the effortless balance and coiled density. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Special Club Champagnes at Hi-Times (Hi-Times, Costa Mesa, CA): Smells like lemon pastries and crusty bread in a very expressive way. Strong lemon characters on the palate leaning on the sweet with a tart finish. This is a terrific wine in a bigger style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A few champagnes (My Home): Rich and powerful nose. I thought this was a blancs de noir. Honeyed, some red berry fruits and white chocolate on the palate, it needs time for the acidity to finally show up. A nice light saltiness refresh the finish. Definitely from a warm vintage but given some time in the bottle, this should show really well. I'd love to try again in 10 years. The 2002 is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and malolactic fermentation was blocked. Fruit is coming exclusively from Ay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Other Great French Blancs: Champagne and Sauternes (Wink Restaurant, Austin, Texas): “Yeasty, delicious, and long finish, with an incredibly intense nose.” Pale lemon color with very fine bubbles, the nose had pronounced yeast and baking spice notes, and after 15 minutes developed into old green apple and toast. With light-medium acidity, this was a well-balanced, fruit extracted, sticky drink. It had strong pineapple and tropical fruit flavors, along with ginger, caramel, apple tart, golden raisin, and green apple notes. A few tasters detected some oxidation, and one thought it off, but its intensity led it to narrowly beat out the Gaston-Chiquet as second favorite oin a special club flight. Sounds like a dessert in itself, but I imagine it would have been great with our cream puffs and triple cream cheeses.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Startling in its richness and quality. Voluptous, exotic spicies, chalk mineral, various flowers. Awesome and built for aging. $78.99 OH Retail www.austinbeeman.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
CH9 1998 Horisontal (MG work): Nose: Stewed apples with a hint of yeast and baguette. Palate: Packed with stewed apples and some sweetness and the acidity is a bit weak. But, plenty of red apple fruit flavor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly oxidative notes of ripe nectarines, baking spices, peach, pomelo, and chalky limestone. Rich on the palate (due to the Pinot) balanced out by terrific acidity. An outstanding Champagne!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This reminded me of my very best experiences with Bollinger Special Cuvee with slight spice under the rich expressive fruit and notes of toasty bread. The palate really opened on the second night showing some creme brulee type richness. This was tart but I think it could use a bit more acidity to be a long term wine. Great over the short to medium term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grower Champagnes (Cohen residence - Irvine, CA): This wine is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Opulent yet refined with juicy notes of nectarines, pears, honey, crushed shells, and ocean spray. Rich on the palate, but with enough cut and definition to keep you returning for more. My WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/18/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 93 Points
1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Omaha, NE): Popped and poured; no formal notes. Just old enough to drink itself, this Special Club from Goutorbe is vinous and firing on all cylinders right now. There is such a compelling mix of primary and secondary characteristics with structure and fruit in perfect balance. A lovely opening glass of bubbles for what was certain to be a memorable night. Drink now through 2032.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2023 - SoundinBetween wrote:
Showing a richness, broad and expansive palate which was fresh but almost too weighty for the sushi meal it accompanied. In comparison with the many Rieslings on the table, this was dense and not as enjoyable to drink.. probably better with rich fatty (bread/meat) foods in butter based sauces. I don't think this would even pair that well with oysters unless they were very rich and fatty/salty themselves. On a long plateau of maturity today, drink within the next decade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2022 - SoundinBetween wrote:
From a wine dinner, no extensive notes but this bottle showed beautifully tonight and only improved over 90 minutes open while coming up to temp. Certainly mature but holding nicely, and well-stored bottles should hold for a decade easily. My wine of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2020 - Jahull03 wrote:
Goodbye old friend. Drinking mature and lovely. My notes from 5 years ago still hold, though a bit more apple component coming through. Still a tropical-driven bdb with wonderful character.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2019 - ovenmitt wrote: 93 Points
Excellent drinking now. Nice oxidative style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2017 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Expressive effervescence. Yellow Delicious apple, ripe pear fruit. Lots of yeasty/toasty/honey notes. Made in an oxidative style. Still crisp, and fresh- terrific now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2017 - RolfT wrote: flawed
Very vinous and delightfully funky mature pinot. Unfortunately a bit of cork taint funk as well which, had the wine been without, might have been a 90+ wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2017 - hajoha wrote: 91 Points
Har høy modning, stor Ay-kropp med flott moden frukt.
Liten utvikling siden sist flaske for 4 år siden.
Sublim match til røkt hval med en mild pepperrot krem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2016 - bpj87 wrote: 91 Points
Toasty and luxurious. Palate of berries and moderate acidity, with notable softness to the mouthfeel. More expansive and welcoming than focused and lithe. I suspect this is at peak and should plateau for at least a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2015 - loloFR wrote: 91 Points
excellent champagne. very pinot noir with nice minerality. good mouthfeel. stunning balance and finesse.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2015 - Jahull03 wrote:
Opened in celebration last night and it was well worth it. In a good place - tropical notes (wife said guava, i thought papaya+ mango) importantly, not sweet-tropical, just tropical. Nice acid. High but not unreasonable. At room temp, started to get a slight sherry edge, so I think this is probably in the right spot / not going to be a long-term improver.
Lovely wine, a house favorite
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2015 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 92 Points
this needed all but 7 min to blow off some stuff. It really had a great balance and was wonderful with sushi et al. Drink now and enjoy on 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2014 - habrun Likes this wine:
Delicious! I thought it was a runner up to the 2002 Lasalle Special Club.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2014 - gfish Likes this wine: 92 Points
The golden apple and ripe pear elements of this Champagne were once again showing well. This bottle was fun to drink, along with others in the past. This is in a great place and I don't really see this as a wine that will benefit from more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2014 - RolfT Likes this wine: 89 Points
I really enjoyed the Pinot flavours and the fair amount of maturity. My bottle needed to breathe a little before serving. I agree that this wine is drinking very good at the moment and might be peaking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2014 - gfish Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine was showing wonderfully. Golden apple notes along with ripe pear, excellent acidity and fine mousse reminded me of why I love the 2002 special club from Goutorbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2014 - kkazaks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich yellow color, delectable nose of marzipan and brioche.
Really quite a lot of purity on the palate - rich and broad without being heavy - even shows some fine delicacyin the mid-palate, surprising for a wine of such broad richness.
Well done. In a good place now but will be fine for years yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2014 - Gparker Likes this wine:
Super rich with perceived sweetness of brioche up front and baking spices in the finish. This wine was so complex and big that I don't even have the words to describe the taste. I did find acid still present through the finish and while I think this is drinking great, I disagree with others who feel that it won't develop further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2013 - Vinomark wrote: 93 Points
absolutely beautiful Grower Special Club. see prior notes & this was singing the alleluia chorus tonight!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2013 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged August 3, 2009.
The elements I like in this Champagne were present in this bottle. It was a little softer than previous bottles, and the 'sweet spot' of temperature was a little more narrow. Still, this was outstanding Champagne. Golden apple and ripe d'anjou pear flavors were mixed with a hint of bread, some minerality and a fine beaded mousse. I have been advised to drink the remaining bottle soon and I tend to agree. I don't see this improving with age and will finish the remainder sooner rather than later. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2013 - hajoha wrote: 91 Points
Tiltalende duft av gule epler, lys honning, et lite hint av sherry med litt tid i glasset. Flott konsentrasjon med en lekker rik munnfølelse.
Fin syre som matcher den rike frukten.
Mineraler i lang finish.
Denne synes jeg var veldig bra, men også her litt usikker på om videre liv i kjelleren vil gi positive utslag.
Den oksidative tonen øker ørlite med tid i glasset.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2013 - rc@ughey wrote: 90 Points
Mature nose of baking spices, apples, and a slight oxidative note. Very rich, full palate -- but also nicely balanced. Concentrated and deep. Somewhat toasty. Makes an impact. I'm not sure there is a ton of benefit to cellar any further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2013 - gfish wrote: 93 Points
Took to a BYOB sushi place.
This bottle was singing tonight. It was wonderfully expressive and delicious while being well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Wine Dinner (Thai Cottage, SF): Light golden color; lovely mature notes with apple, brioche, lime, fresh nose; great acidity, fresh palate, slightly rounded fruit, crisp apple; medium length finish. Overall an excellent champagne that has freshness, complexity, balance, and early mature notes and lacking only an over-the-top acidity that I love. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2013 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
From Oct 18, 2010 disgorgement. Drank this with friend at BYOB sushi place.
Consistent with 5/4/2013 tasting note. Another outstanding bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2013 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
From Oct 18, 2010 disgorgement. Drank this at BYOB sushi.
Golden delicious apple notes on this ring true and acidity was very good. After drinking this over time (bottle variation aside) I am convinced the key is drinking this at the right temperature. Very well chilled but not ice cold worked best. Too warm and that very slight bitter note on the finish starts to show through. It needs a good 15 plus minutes to start to open up.
92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2013 - lewrose@gmail.com wrote:
Drinking beautifully
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
From Oct 18, 2010 disgorgement.
This bottle was singing very well. This bottle did not have a (very) slight bitter note on the finish that the previous bottle had. I think this has hit it's stride and am skeptical about long term agability of this Champagne. Still, all the great elements of the prevoius bottles were present here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2013 - gfish wrote: 91 Points
From Oct, 2010 disgorgement. Drank with friends at a good BYOB Chinese restaurant.
Flavors of golden delicious apples were nice and round but balanced with good acidity. The initial attack and mid-palate were excellent but there is a slight bitter note on the finish.
Overall this bottle 91+
I had heard that the 2002 bottlings were near decline. Based on this bottle I would agree. For the style that is Gourtorbe special club I don't see the 2002 getting any better with time. I plan on drinking most (if not all) these bottles in the next year. Still, I need to confirm with the 2009 disgorgement bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2013 - Krugman wrote: 92 Points
The 2002 Henri Goutorbe Special Club is drinking very well right now and seems to have already developed some nice secondary characteristics that come with several years of bottle age. While this may continue to improve with additional time, I am not sure how much better it will get, so I would recommend starting to drink these now.
On the nose this shows honey and ripe fruit. On the palate this has flavors of blueberries, blackberries, apples, peaches, pears, honey, caramel, buttered biscuits, and chalky minerality. The 02 Goutorbe Special Club screams pinot and is extremely rich with a very silky texture that seems to lift the flavors to an even higher level. In a way, this is similar to the Krug Grande Cuvee in its personality, but with a little less complexity. A very nice effort from Goutorbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2012 - Sijan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good w/ a nice purity of fresh green apple fruit contrasted by a slightly pungent minerality. Good acid and nice perlage. Not particularly rich or biscuity/yeasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2012 - Krugman wrote: 90 Points
This is still one of my favorite pinot centric Special Club offerings and was a very good bottle, but not quite as good as the other bottles that I have consumed lately. This was a bit strange since they all came from the same source. The bottle seemed just a bit more hollow and tired with less of the vibrancy that this champagne can show at its best. Despite this, it was still very silky and rich with pears, apples, biscuits with honey, oranges, and peaches on the palate. Hopefully the next bottle will be back up to its usual standards.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2012 - Krugman wrote: 93 Points
As mentioned in my last note, the 2002 Henri Goutorbe Special Club seems to have moved up a notch over the past year as it enters its middle age. It has started to gain some secondary characteristics and is still wonderfully rich and shows off the high quality of Ay pinot very well. It is smooth and silky in texture with flavors of bread, honey, caramel, red apples, poached pears, and peaches. If you can still find this at retail it is highly recommended - especially if you like richer pinot centric champagne's (Krug like) that are still fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - lewrose@gmail.com wrote:
Fabulous.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2012 - Krugman wrote: 93 Points
Wow, this champagne has really opened up and entered its prime since the last bottle I consumed around 9 months ago. On the nose this just has a wonderful wild flower perfume smell that jumps out of the glass. On the palate the 2002 Goutorbe Special Club is as open as I have ever tasted and it is clear that this sports some of the highest quality pinot noir grapes in Ay. The flavors include ripe blackberries, blueberries, wild flowers, a touch of mint, walnuts, toast, honey, caramel, and fresh pastries. These flavors are all held in check by medium/high acidity, chalk, minerals, and wonderful depth/complexity. This will likely continue performing at a very high level for many years to come, but there is no reason not to drink this Goutorbe today as it is firing on all cylinders. A top notch pinot centric Special Club.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2012 - bon vivant wrote:
Almost exactly a year since last bottle, this continues to be one of the earlier drinking Special Clubs from 2002. No official TN's but Fresh and easy going.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2012 - donjulio wrote: 93 Points
Yeasty and floral nose, nice mouthfeel with wonderful minerality and depth. Very good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2012 - giopie wrote: 92 Points
Honey, malty, almond, flowers. Perfect perlage.
Round and full. Persistent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2012 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
From the 2009 Disgorgement.
More aged notes on this bottle than the April, 2011 disgorgement, but that is to be expected. The fruit was a little more muted and pastry bread notes were more evident. Acid was cleanly integrated but present. I am really impressed with the quality of 2002 champagnes ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - gfish wrote: 93 Points
From an April 2011 disgorgement. This wine will continue to evolve.
Another outstanding bottle of this vintage Club Champagne. The fruit flavors were ripe, with even a few tropical notes but the acidity is very good so they are well balanced. It was tight at first so I threw it in the decanter and that really helped open things up. This is really wonderful Champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - DuaneT wrote: 92 Points
Yeasty, nutty flavors that are showing very well now. The malty bitterness I noticed 16 months ago has subsided.
Drank with friends in celebration of the recent births of our children.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2012 - tooch wrote: 92 Points
Friday Afternoon at Domaine (Domaine Wine Storage): Another great showing. The palate seems to have increased its toastiness over the 18 months since I last tried this. It also has a denser nuttiness to the palate that wasn't as expressive last time. Drinking beautifully well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2012 - kthornton78 wrote: 93 Points
still a great wine. minerality more noticeable now but the freshness of the lemon curd and the richness of the almond paste is still there. wish i had a lot more in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - WetRock wrote:
Ripe and broad but expressive and a bit spicy. Enough acid to keep it tasty. Still loving this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Massive and brioche. Almost over powerful for me. Probably will keep for years longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2012 - bigpapasquid wrote: 92 Points
Elegant but strong aroma of fig newton (fig roll for our UK friends) on the nose. Lush and balanced on the palate. THIS is what they are talking about when they mention the blueberry that Ay champagne is famous for.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2012 - Krugman wrote: 92 Points
The 2002 Goutorbe Special Club seems to be opening up more and more with each bottle I consume. The first bottle of this that I had about five months ago seemed much more tight and didn't have very much going on. Now this seems to be more open and has develped more secondary nuances and depth. The 2002 Goutorbe Special Club is a very rich champagne with wonderful fresh pinot flavors of honey, bread, spices, and blueberry. Although drinking well right now, I still believe this champagne needs more time to really show its best. I would guess that it will be at its peak in another two years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2012 - Krugman wrote: 91 Points
I have been drinking a lot of the 2002 Goutorbe Special Club recently and having had several bottles has given me a broader perspective on this champagne. Several of the earlier bottles seemed to be a little bit tight and ungiving. However, the last couple of bottles seemed much more ready to go. Shows that there still can be a relatively wide range of experiences when drinking the same champagne in a similar time period and that each bottle is unique. This bottle was still young (as was the case with the others), but it had a wonderful perfumed nose and very silky flavors on the palate. Flavors included honey, red apple, spices, bread, blueberries, and creamy citrus. This was also well balanced and was relatively light for a pinot based champagne. I expect this to gain some weight and complexity over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2012 - Krugman wrote: 91 Points
This was the best bottle of 2002 Goutorbe Special Club that I have had so far. For whatever reason this bottle seemed to be much more open and have more depth and complexity than the previous bottles. It has a nice deep pinot perfume and resonance on the palate, but still remained light at the same time. This was a very nice champagne. Hopefully my last couple of bottles will be like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2012 - Krugman wrote: 90 Points
This bottle of the 02 Goutorbe Special Club was a little bit more open than the last one, however, I still got the sense that it is holding something back. This is still a nice champagne with rich flavors of red apples, bread, honey, and some spices. Overall I expect this will improve with further time, but it is still relatively tight today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2012 - Krugman wrote: 89 Points
This started out with a very nice nose of pear and apple. It initially tasted a bit tight on the palate, but had a wonderful after taste of honey, apples and pear. However, after about 10-15 minutes it seemed to close up and get even tighter, losing some of the initial richness and flavor. My thinking is that maybe we served this a little bit too cold and did not give it enough time to open up, but it was not showing that much. Next time I am going to serve this warmer and give it at least an hour after opening before drinking. It is also clear that this is still very young and could use another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2012 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Clos Vougeot Dinner (Acquitaine - Lincoln Park, Chicago): A nicely balanced champagne with lots of energy, moderate toast notes and expressive citrus tones. Palate has bracing minerality and layers of citrus and floral notes. Nice start to the evening!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2012 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Clos Vougeot Dinner (Aquitane, Chicago IL): nose: very good depth with a layered nose of green apples, tart citrus tones, white fruits, and crushed stones. This is a real delight to smell right now as it just shows a lot of class
taste: lovely medium/full feel with medium+ acidity that is still noticeable. There is a fatness to the feel and tones of tart citrus tones, green apples, pears, crushed rocks and some bits of white fruits
overall: a lovely champagne right now. This certainly could use some further age, but one wouldn't be faulted for opening one up right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2012 - KC Bloodlines wrote:
Very good. Rounded and rich, showing brioche, cardamom, apples and cinnamon. This had good weight, acidity and aromatics.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Clos and Clos: The OC Does Les Clos and Clos St Jacques (Marche Moderne, Costa Mesa CA): i got a couple tastes of this and it seemed nicely balanced and leesy to me. Didn't take any formal notes, however.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - Vinomark wrote: 92 Points
Drank with Third Thursday Wine Group and very enjoyed by all. Tasted along side several other noteworthy bubbles, including a Krug nv with a couple years age. Many likened this to a baby Krug noting the intense yeasty, brule, brioche of the Goutorbe similarity, but with more crisp yellow fruits: lemon, citrus, touch of a pineapple, red apple with a hint of red berry fruit and a nice minerality. Very complex with many layers and beautifully crafted. #2 for WOTN behind the Krug for the event.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2012 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
I always like this wine...Nice toast,, but not too much..Rich. Balanced...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2011 - Krugman wrote: 88 Points
This was my first bottle of any Goutorbe champagne. I had heard very good things about the 02 Special Club, so I figured that would be a good place to start. While I can certainly tell that this wine was made from very high quality fruit, it was a bit bland and basic for me. Certainly not at all bad, but just didn't have the depth of flavor or complexity that I was expecting. This almost seemed to be of a similar style to the 02 Bollinger Grande Annee, but without the Bollinger's depth and complexity. Maybe this just needs more time and we will see as I still have several bottles of this that I plan on opening no sooner than a couple of years from now. The most dominant flavors were red apple with a little bit of yeast. The jury is still out on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2011 - kthornton78 wrote: 93 Points
rich and indulgent. on the nose there is lemon curd, almond paste, and the most interesting combination of scents that reminds me of fresh baked macaroons. the flavors are equally rich and round while remaining taught with bright citrus and acidity at the same time. the wine really reaches to all corners of the palate and there is a lingering note of sweet cream. it seems quite balanced and full in all the right places with no discernible sharp edges. great champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2011 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
This really shines with a chill as opposed to being cold. I am curious to see what a little time will do with this, but it's wonderful now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - amateurwino wrote: 91 Points
Somewhat similar in feel to the Chiquet - a touch oxidative on the nose, and even moreso on the palate. Still fresh though, if not quite as pleasing as the Chiquet Special Club for my palate. Still, a very nice wine, 91-92 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2011 - Tree512 wrote: 87 Points
Big tart white fruit, little to back it up. A little leaner than I would like, without enough balance or linearity. Not my cup of tea.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2011 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Ripe rich exotic fruit flavors. A nice nutty component on finish. Already a sense of age in this- probably not a long term ager, but drinking really well at present.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2011 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
Another wonderful bottle. It went great with sushi at a BYOB restaurant I took it too. Consistent with previous notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2011 - Paul Lin wrote: 91 Points
Grower Champagnes (Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Costa Mesa, CA): This wine has put on some weight since I last had it. Notes of Asian pears, yellow apples, ripe nectarines, and brioche. Rich and intense on the palate. Comes across a tad sweet on the finish , but the fruit quality and density is there. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2011 - WetRock wrote:
Grower Champagnes with the Growers (Hi-Times, Costa Mesa, CA): 75%/25% - Pinot/Chard. Ripe, powerful red fruits are the main expression. Powerful yet very clean on the finish. A fine example of a grower achieving great heights in a good vintage. A terrific wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2011 - Vinomark wrote: 93 Points
Exotic, zesty acid spiciness with depth of flavors that won't quit! Varied fruits from pineapple mango, to apple, pear, stone, hint of yeast and a berry lingering on the length. Complex, layered, thought provoking wine. A wine you enjoy immensely but makes you think as the flavors burst then evolve on the palate. You seek clues on the haunting aromatics and it just takes you all the way to Ay!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2011 - BrandrB wrote: 91 Points
2011 Masters of Wine Champagne Tasting (San Francisco, CA): 2008 disgorgement. Light golden color. Fully yeasty, citrus nose. Medium-full bodied palate shows lemon citrus, biscuit, and mineral flavors with just a hint of red berries lurking in the background throughout. Dense but balanced. Medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2011 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful accompaniment to birthday sushi dinner.
Nice golden color and good bead.
Nose of bread with a little lemon cream peaking through.
Palate is really nice with good flavors of ripe golden apple, bread, creamy lemon, some red notes (cranberry & raspberry). Excellent acidity and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2011 - 5laton wrote:
This has a rather imposing cheese rind nose with orange peel and spice. The full bodied palate shows more orange and spice cake, with nice yeastiness and large, coarse-grained perlage. A bit too much initially, but grew more attractive with time in the glass. Still, I merely liked and did not love.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 93 Points
an outstanding bottle. Fresh peach, stone fruits, and a lovely buttered toast element that shied away from oaky and yeasty and into a more exciting, savory territory. Yummilicious. 92-93 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2011 - rc@ughey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious, full-throttle Champagne. This is more about the bold spice-cake and malt flavors and aromas, which show just an attractive hint of oxidation, than the fruit, which tends more toward apricots than citrus. This is very muscular and has the structure to improve, even though it's pretty impressive right now. My only nit is the fact that because this is so densely coiled and intense, the texture is almost harsh. This only means that I expect this to mellow and improve with a few years in the cellar. Just as good if not better on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2011 - DuaneT wrote: 89 Points
Interestingly malty in smell so that it could be mistaken for a sweet Belgian ale. The flavor is mainly nutty, with some apricot essence to it as well. I like this wine, but it seems rough around the edges at this point. I'm hoping it smooths out in time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2011 - Badfish wrote: 93 Points
Special Club Champagnes (Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Costa Mesa, CA): Wonderful zingy freshness on the nose with aromas of nutty bread, herbs, and minerals. The palate has a stoney nuttiness to the flavors of citrus and white fruits that build through the finish. The texture is supple but quickly builds due to the structure from the radiant fruit, acidity, and minerality. This wine is one of the most promising of the tasting due to the effortless balance and coiled density. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2011 - WetRock wrote:
Special Club Champagnes at Hi-Times (Hi-Times, Costa Mesa, CA): Smells like lemon pastries and crusty bread in a very expressive way. Strong lemon characters on the palate leaning on the sweet with a tart finish. This is a terrific wine in a bigger style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2010 - french16 wrote:
A few champagnes (My Home): Rich and powerful nose. I thought this was a blancs de noir.
Honeyed, some red berry fruits and white chocolate on the palate, it needs time for the acidity to finally show up. A nice light saltiness refresh the finish.
Definitely from a warm vintage but given some time in the bottle, this should show really well.
I'd love to try again in 10 years.
The 2002 is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and malolactic fermentation was blocked. Fruit is coming exclusively from Ay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - austinwinesalon wrote:
The Other Great French Blancs: Champagne and Sauternes (Wink Restaurant, Austin, Texas): “Yeasty, delicious, and long finish, with an incredibly intense nose.” Pale lemon color with very fine bubbles, the nose had pronounced yeast and baking spice notes, and after 15 minutes developed into old green apple and toast. With light-medium acidity, this was a well-balanced, fruit extracted, sticky drink. It had strong pineapple and tropical fruit flavors, along with ginger, caramel, apple tart, golden raisin, and green apple notes. A few tasters detected some oxidation, and one thought it off, but its intensity led it to narrowly beat out the Gaston-Chiquet as second favorite oin a special club flight. Sounds like a dessert in itself, but I imagine it would have been great with our cream puffs and triple cream cheeses.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - austinbeeman- austinbeeman.com wrote: 95 Points
Startling in its richness and quality. Voluptous, exotic spicies, chalk mineral, various flowers. Awesome and built for aging.
$78.99 OH Retail
www.austinbeeman.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2010 - larsth wrote: 92 Points
Very good full bodied and well balanced champagne. Toast, malt, citrus. Still on the young side and will improve over the next couple of years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2010 - canan wrote: 93 Points
CH9 1998 Horisontal (MG work): Nose: Stewed apples with a hint of yeast and baguette.
Palate: Packed with stewed apples and some sweetness and the acidity is a bit weak. But, plenty of red apple fruit flavor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2010 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
I loved the yeast/biscuit aromas and the balance of the wine was beautiful...full bodied, rich, pears, with lingering finish with touch of sweetness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 91 Points
Even more oxidative than the Chiquet tasted just before; similarly tasty champagne with solid structural components. 91-92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2010 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Slightly oxidative notes of ripe nectarines, baking spices, peach, pomelo, and chalky limestone. Rich on the palate (due to the Pinot) balanced out by terrific acidity. An outstanding Champagne!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2010 - WetRock wrote:
This reminded me of my very best experiences with Bollinger Special Cuvee with slight spice under the rich expressive fruit and notes of toasty bread. The palate really opened on the second night showing some creme brulee type richness. This was tart but I think it could use a bit more acidity to be a long term wine. Great over the short to medium term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2010 - Wineflight wrote: 96 Points
World class! Freshly baked bread, citrus and a little honey on the nose. Taste: A palette of flavors in a long parade in a beautiful harmony!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2010 - Paul Lin wrote: 93 Points
Grower Champagnes (Cohen residence - Irvine, CA): This wine is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Opulent yet refined with juicy notes of nectarines, pears, honey, crushed shells, and ocean spray. Rich on the palate, but with enough cut and definition to keep you returning for more. My WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2009 - christopher wish wrote: 95 Points
amazing! young, but amazing!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment