8/26/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

This review is based on a very fresh bottle of Special Cuvee - only two months after it was released to the market. I loved this champagne - such an improvement on the previous bottle I had. There is so much going on at once. The first thing I notice is its freshness, richness and liveliness of the palate. It's so mouth-watering and delicious, making me salivate for more! Dry with medium-high acidity, the cuvée is full-bodied but not in a heavy way. The fresh fruit flavours of lemon sorbet, white fruit and something green (not sure what) is very lifting. Notes of toasted almonds, brioche and young oak give it complexity and a lovely emerging creaminess. There is also a very slight saltiness to it but perhaps this is related to minerality. It leaves a wonderful silky lining to my mouth and a very long finish. Absolutely wonderful. See more of my review at www.fortheloveofhchampagne.blogspot.com

8/20/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

The palate is led by a more savoury than sweet strawberry and clear lines of acidity from citrus, yet there is a wonderful softness to it. Minerality comes through beautifully, softened and restrained by lively fruitiness and slight creaminess - delicious. The cuvée is quite rich with good concentration of flavours leading to a medium-dry and long finish. I love the finish on this champagne. The medium-dryness allows the character of the strawberries to surface nicely. What is clear about this champagne is its sense of balance. Like the R de Ruinart, no one element dominates another. All of this makes it clever, delicious, fresh and expressive - a true delight. More tasting notes are available on my blog www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

8/20/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

The palate is led by citrus and stonefruits - like peach - with some spiciness. Flavours of fruit are very fresh and lively but also make me salivate with drizzled notes of honey, yeast and slight toastiness - indicative of the right amount of ageing. There is also good length on the finish. This is an elegant and fine champagne with good balance and precise flavours. Just lovely. More tasting notes are available on my blog www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

8/20/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Dry with good acidity, it opens out very quickly with lively and elegant flavours of lime, pear and a hint of white flowers. It manifests in a hollow middle palate but then fleshy, soft Pinot Noir characteristics emerge toward the middle-back palate, making for a medium body with soft tannins and roundness of flavours. Finishes with a strong line of acidity thanks to the Chardonnay. Waiting a little longer, there is an aftertaste of ripe stone fruits. Overall it's a good quality champagne. I really enjoyed the plump fleshiness of its fruit flavours and overall roundness of the palate - unlike any other champagne I've tried. More tasting notes on my blog www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

7/21/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Berry-driven with hints of honey, floral notes emerge. Every part of the palate is engaged with these highly aromatic and expressive flavours. It opens out half way with crisp yellow apple acidity and draws the flavour down the back of the palate for a long finish. It is medium to full-bodied, rich, fresh and vibrant. As the acidity subsides, flavours of baked bread and toasted brioche emerge. As I wait longer I notice soft fleshy pear. It's rich through every element of the tasting and mouth-filling, leaving a light silky texture. Sensual and so delicious. See more of my notes at http://www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com.au/

7/7/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

There’s a lot going on in this champagne; but blink and you’ll miss it. You need to be really attentive to pick up all of its nuances as they weave their way in and out of the tasting journey. It is quite a big champagne really; so full-flavoured, so tasty. But it terms of body, it’s medium-full. Red cherries that are on the cusp of ripeness hit the front of the palate before opening up mid-palate into some good berry-charged acidity and firm minerality (it's almost as if I were sucking on the cherry skins). A berry jam taste then follows but it manifests more in tartness than sweetness. A lifting red grapefruit style acidity then emerges on the back of the tongue, leaving the rest of the palate with a dry taste.Subtle smokey, yeasty flavours drift up once the acidity subsides. Expect a long, tasty finish - delicious! See my full tasting notes at www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

6/30/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

The first thing I notice is how incredibly delicious this champagne is. My mouth salivates, indicating a good amount of acidity. Delivered with good finesse and liveliness, it makes for a medium-full body experience that is also quite dry. This is quite surprising because the cuvee has 10.4% sugar dosage added – more than I’m used to in a brut these days.The gorgeous classic characteristics of the Chardonnay emerge. It manifests as dried fruits and stewed pear rounding out with yeasty creaminess before morphing into flakes of toasted nuts with cloves.The texture is smooth as silk and crystal clear; a very light mouth-coating prevails, ending with the cleansing aftertaste of lemon sorbet and a very long finish. Just like Sir Winston Churchill, the 2000 vintage most definitely displays ‘robustness, structure and maturity’. A classic and truly delicious champagne that I look forward to having again and again.See my blog: www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

6/30/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Upon sipping you realise that whilst this is comparatively a lighter style of wine (being a blanc de blancs and all), there are several mouthfilling qualities about it that make it a more medium body wine. At first, the acidic, green apple flavours are the most forward, cleansing the palate and leaving a slight tingling feeling. As I sip further, I notice lemon and white fruit (like pear) softened by florals – honeysuckle comes to mind. Notes of toasted brioche emerge subtly over the top and soften the overall impression. There is slight creaminess but not much. The combination of flavours and the staged way in which they emerge make this more a medium style cuvee than ‘light’. It’s a pure tasting and tightly concentrated champagne that’s beautifully balanced. Just when you think there is too much acidity upon the first taste, subsequent sips say otherwise.True to Louis Roederer's style, the entire experience is overlaid by chalky minerality that manifests in a fine 'grittiness'. Very nice indeed.See my blog: www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

6/30/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

The first thing I notice is how dry it is on the palate. Notes of pot pourri mixed with dried fruits emerge. As I continue to sip, flavours of red berries build and are especially noticeable on the back and sides of my palate. It is truly refreshing, manifesting in crisp acidity. The acidity rounds out nicely, with decent amounts of creaminess aiding this. The dryness is complemented by Louis Roederer's trademark minerality or 'chalkiness'. It makes for a kind of tangible 'grittiness'.This is a complex and exciting rose as a result of the many, many layers of taste and texture. Yet it is all still lively, zesty and fun - a real joy.See my blog: www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

6/7/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Led by restrained versions of lemon, grapefruit and pear, flower undertones emerge. It makes for a sweet, rather than a typically sour experience from the citrus. As the flavours travel down my tongue, I notice that it is quite a rich champagne with good yeasty characteristics. However there is a complementary marriage between the sweet and richn flavours. It is sublimely smooth, leaving me with long-lasting flavours and a creamy finish. Overall, I very much like the champagne although I wonder if it would benefit from slightly less sugar. I tend to err on the side of dry than sweet and although I wouldn’t class this as ‘sweet’ champagne, it is a tad sweeter than I would normally drink. www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

6/7/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Immediately cleansing with soft, rounded notes of lemon butter, the flavours transform into brioche drizzled oh-so lightly with honey. Subtle ‘green’ notes emerge – such as the flavour of crushed grape stems. As I take additional sips, the flavour profile builds upon the previous tasting, creating a rich and lasting experience. The result is pure with a soft chalky-minerality texture. It's perfectly executed and a really delightful experience. In the wee hours of the morning, I feel immediately revitalised! www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

5/25/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Rich and creamy, red berries cut through making way for freshness and crispness. The flavours mingle beautifully with the creaminess of the Chardonnay; tantalising and delighting my taste buds-oh what joy! I sense a lovely warming on the mid palate with doughy / bready notes emerging from somewhere below before it moves quickly into a dry, chalky, mineral finish. A key trait of this champagne is its amazing concentration of flavours. Yet there is. A restrained intensity to this well balanced Pinot-Chardonnay love affair. What a wonderful experience. Find more notes on my blog www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com

5/11/2012 - ForTheLoveOfChampagne wrote:

Led by strawberries, powerful and full-flavoured. Rounds out nicely to a dry, fresh finish. The creaminess of the chardonnay emerges very slightly after the strawberries disappear. Really enjoyable and decent. www.fortheloveofchampagne.blogspot.com