Champagnes of Montagne de Reims
Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Costa Mesa, CA
Tasted Saturday, September 5, 2015 by Paul Lin with 543 views
Introduction
The wines here were presented roughly in order of light to heavy, although given the dominance of Pinot Noir in this region, none of lightest wines could ever be mistaken as a Blanc de Blanc. Generally speaking, you won't find any lemon notes in these wines, and only one, the Vesselle, had any citrus. Moreover, only the Coutier showed green apple, as most of the wines displayed pear and red apple notes. Many of the wines, however, showed terrific minerality, with helped to balance out their richness and weight. My two favorite wines were the 2008 Andre Clouet and 2007 Henri Billiot, but for different reasons. The Clouet had purity and finesse while the Billiot had power. But both are terrific examples of what the region offers.
NV René-Henri Coutier Champagne Grand Cru Tradition Brut 84 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Green apple and bread dough on the nose. Soft, round, and ripe on the palate. Herbal notes of of nectarine and pear on the palate. Decent but not very exciting.
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NV Maurice Vesselle Champagne Brut Cuvée Réservée 87 Points
France, Champagne
Crushed rocks, candied ginger, soft cheese, and asian pear on the nose. Soft, supple, and creamy palate. Tangy notes of apple pie, asian pear, nectarine, and Sweetarts. Good wine but kind of a muddled finished.
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2008 André Clouet Champagne Brut Millésimé 91 Points
France, Champagne
Clean, pure, and refined. Subtle nose of Asian pear, ginger, white flowers, chalk, and, with air, nougat. Racy, steely, and focused on the palate. Notes of crushed minerals, asian pear, and jicama. A touch of salinity on the finish. Terrific wine.
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2008 Camille Savès Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 89 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
White strawberries, fresh apricot, mint, and with air, bread dough, on the nose. Opulent and expressive, this fruity wine hits all the corners of your mouth. Long, expansive finish, with a touch of unnecessary sweetness.
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2008 Jean Lallement Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 85 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Red apples, pears, and brioche on the nose. Creamy but simple notes of asian pear, crushed minerals, and saline on the palate. A touch of red berries on the finish. Well made, but a little boring.
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NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Tradition Brut 88 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
This is what you want in a NV Champagne. Brioche and white flowers on the nose. Peach, almonds, custard, and straw on the palate. Focused and precise. Good energy. Terrific finish.
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2005 Jean Vesselle Champagne Grand Cru Brut Prestige 87 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Pungent nose of funky soft cheese, dried herbs, and bread dough. The palate is better with full and ripe grapefruit and nectarines notes. Finishes crisp. An interesting wine.
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2009 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or 88 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Gobs of white flowers and bread dough on the nose. Expansive notes of asian pear, jicama, nectarines, crushed minerals on the palate. Clean and crisp. Saline-edged finish.
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2007 H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Pear, red apple, crushed minerals, and brioche on the nose. Intense and concentrated, this is a big, powerful wine. Yet as big and burly as it is, it has great energy and does not overwhelm the palate. In fact, I couldn't stop drinking it. Great wine, and probably my WOTN (although the more refined Clouet was a close second). 91-92 points.
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NV Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée des Grands Vintages 75 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
I really did not really care for this wine. Too oxidized and sour for me. Tasted more like a sour beer than a wine.
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