Light gold color. Drank a glass plus over an hour. We drank these on a sunny New Year's Day outside in 23F temps. Refreshing...yes; ideal...not exactly; delicious...absolutely. Gathered around the fire pit with the freshly shucked oysters ready to go, this was the Champagne that kicked everything off. Toasty, orchard fruits, sea air, apple peel, roasted nuts, stone and lighter chalk mineraity. This seemd more medium bodied and lifted in the cold air in comparison to some previous bottles. Delightful with the oysters.

Light gold color. Drank a glass plus over an hour. We drank these on a sunny New Year's Day outside in 23F temps. Refreshing...yes; ideal...not exactly; delicious...absolutely. Gathered around the fire pit with the freshly shucked oysters ready to go, this was next in line after the '02 Rare. I've had this wine a number of times over the years, and it has varied from outstanding to very good. It seems like more recdent bottles seem to be back on that upward trajectory. This was the best bottle I've had since one back on NY day 2017. This was outstanding, and I'm struck by the seductive toffee and butterscotch notes that are wafting off the nose through the crisp cool air. The toast is there, impressive depth and definition, lemon, crisp acid, creamy and lively, toffee, almond, cool limestone minerality. Excellent length and poise. This was great today - really nice with the oysters and gougeres. Glad I've got a few of these still tucked away. I'm not in any hurry.

Lighter medium gold color. Drank a glass plus over an hour plus. We drank these on a sunny New Year's Day outside in 23F temps gathered around the fire pit . Refreshing...yes; ideal...not exactly; delicious...absolutely. This was my first bottle of the '04 Sir Winston and it did not disappoint. There is a ton of compelxity wrapped up in a powerful and dense Champagne. Plenty toasted off the bat, a very fine and creamy mousse with persistent speedy bubbles in the light crisp outside air, sea breezes, earth, apple, apricot, brioche, red fruits, smoked hazelnuts, full bodied, robust chalk notes with quince, spice and citrus that backs up the long intense finish. This paired well with some of our Asian foods from Hai Hai along with the salmon crudo. Bold and beautiful and it feels like it has further to go. 95(+)pts.

Translucent medium strawberry color. Drank a glass plus over two hours plus. 70%PN, 30%C. We drank these on a sunny New Year's Day outside in 23F temps gathered around the fire pit . Refreshing...yes; ideal...not exactly; delicious...absolutely. This bottle was sandwiched into the middle so we had it for pairing with the salmon and heartier tidbits. Immense and expressive, fresh, bright red fruits, strawberry, spiced raspberry preserves, tangerine and blood orange, toast, ultra fine chalk, strawberry panna cotta texture, almonds, ultra fine bubbles, dried cherries, profound depth and yet retains the grace elegance as you would expect. Great now, better yet to come.

Light plus gold color. Drank a glass plus over an hour plus. We drank these on a sunny New Year's Day outside in 23F temps gathered around the fire pit . Refreshing...yes; ideal...not exactly; delicious...absolutely. This was the last in line of the big guns and a good 3 hours into the tasting. So....this went back inside for a short stint to bring it up closer to drinking temp. No worries about too warm Champagne today! The Dom, was it's ever present and wonderful self. The '04's have danced around a bit, but they really seem to be taking off now. Recent bottles have truly impressed. Autolytic, golden fruits, apple, quince, brioche, sea air, stone, pear, and there's a great texture here, elegant and detailed across the palate.

Because when you just don't want it to end, a half bottle of Billecart-Salmon Rose to the rescue. This was the perfect ending to a great afternoon and evening as the temps slip down into the upper teens on the deck and just as the fire gathered a little steam. Always a lovely bottle, so elegant and clean with lovely red berries and a soft caressing texture. Always a treat.