NV Benoît Lahaye Champagne Violaine

Community Tasting Notes (15) Avg Score: 89.9 points

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  3/28/2024 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Dosage 0 g/l, 50:50 2015 base Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and no sulphur. Disgorged September 2020 and happily still in good condition, even fresh. This is really interesting, with real tension between the intensity of the developed flavour profile, and the lack of dosage leading to a sort of underlying sharp nothingness. Mushroom and sharp citrus, incisive and intriguing: I can't get a handle on it, but I want to keep trying to.

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  3/6/2024 - brigcampbell wrote:

  Yeast note appreciated. Apple, light oxidation, medium acidity, oak and nutty flavor.

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  4/29/2023 - atbarbar Likes this wine: 90 Points

  I like it but I do not love it. Frankly, I found the brut nature from Lahaye more intriguing. Quite a bit of acidity and oxidation, bruised apple. Some spices from the wood program bitter orange and tangerine, minerality. Very nice but not sure I would go for this one relative to the cheaper brut nature.

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  3/10/2023 - mtowle182 Likes this wine:

  Drinks great

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  12/31/2021 - Kim Gerner wrote: 93 Points

  New years eve dinner (At home): Tasted Marguet 2006 (disgorged autumn 2011) against Comtes de Champagne 2006 and Benoit Lahaye Violaine NV (disgorged 09/2016)
  Both Marguet and Benoit Lahaye are typical Grower style: Bone dry and oxidative style.
  Benoit Lahaye NV: Very complex but dominated by Extremely overripe apple and tons of hazelnut. Also toffee and coffee. Autolysis aromas are very subdued (almost no yeast aromas). The finish is extremely long and is highly dominated by the hazelnut. Delicate mousse. Fully developed. Drink now, nut suitable for further ageing I believe. 93+
  Marguet 2006: Same style as Lahaye but less mature and still developing. Less oxidative notes at the moment. Slightly overripe apple, a little nutty (but not near Lahaye) and a little coffee. Creamy mousse. Can drink now but I would keep it another couple of years. 93+
  Comtes de Champagne 2006: Completely different style. Usually Comtes is one of my favourites but as the 3. wine after Lahaye and Marguet Comtes was not a good experience. It seems like they work against each other in the same way as a wrong food/wine match. What a shame, Comtes de Champagne felt too rich, not complex and dominated by coffee. A lot more intense both in nose and palate. Creamy mousse. Can drink now but has further ageing potential. 91+

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