December 13, 2023 - Wow! Honestly had very low expectations, but this wine was still very much alive. Rigorous bubbles, decent acid. Not very oxidative at all, very lemon and lemon pith driven. Some yeast, brioche, pineapple poking through but couldn't really detect any real signs of age. I think this could last much longer. Not my personal favorite, but surely a very well-made bubbly.
December 10, 2022 - Really nice. Drank from magnum.
February 22, 2022 - Spring Celebration-2006 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage, 1988 Pichon Baron and Pichon Lalande (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): 97 points Wine Enthusiast, small bubbles formed a medium size mousse in the glass, nose like a spring bouquet, sliced apple, lemon, slate, shale, cinnamon, spices, Ginger Ale, and freshly baked cherry pie, same on the palate, big body, mouth filling, very tasty, the best sparkling wine from California since the days of S. Anderson many years ago, elegant, complexity and flavors were renewed with each new pour from the bottle, good acid held everything together, at peak, easily last if properly cellared for another 5 years, wonderful, lingering, long finish, and subtle aftertaste, photo uploaded.
June 7, 2021 - - Small pearls. It's in total harmony - Big hit of green apple and minerals. Dry and tart with wonderful bubbles still flowing! Great balance and finish.
February 12, 2021 - Nice! Not too fizzy. Not super memorable either. Maybe a little too tart and sour.
August 1, 2020 - Terrific stuff. Drank from magnum.
December 29, 2019 - Yeasty nose with apples and spice. Nutty flavor with citrus and minerals. Well balanced, nice complexity, and a long finish.
December 25, 2019 - Still "young" with lots of effervescence. Not really comparable to our favorite French champagnes....this has lots of citrus, some grass and crisp sauvignon blanc tones. Little or no yeast or bread notes.
July 21, 2019 - 2004 tête de cuvées blind (Chicago, IL): Served double blind. A touch reductive on the nose here, and that flintiness had me going straight to Dom Perignon. Had good complexity and weight on the palate as well. Not showing much fruit; this is more of a structural wine. The acidity is fresh and bright here as well.
July 12, 2019 - Never drank a bottle of champagne by myself before. Friday evening, in the backyard, Gin Blossoms playing, still kind of warm out. Full bodied and sticky and gritty, then hit with a bite of lemongrass and citrus. Just took a bite of mushy ripe cantaloupe and prosciutto with toast. Now pizza dough and lemon rind. Shit the wife has joined me, bottle gone. Experience 95 pts.