December 25, 2023 - Just delicious. Oxidative, red apple, juicy. For food. (93)
March 13, 2020 - Good bottle. Very oxidative per the style, but plenty of salty plum fruit and a nice core of richness to contrast the dry style.
Leftovers had lost some magic on day 2.
November 7, 2019 - Another tasty bottle, this was better than the one we drank last weekend in LA.
August 9, 2019 - In a weekend of many disappointing (and pricey) bottles, this was the surprising star. Tasty upon opening, but the remainder two nights later was stellar with yellow mirabelle plum, dried apricot, salty mineral, and some exotic ginger notes reminiscent of gringet. My last bottle of this 16 months ago was lean and shrill, curious whether the difference is down to variability or aging curves. In any event it doesn't appear these natty styled RL Champagnes are going to fall off a cliff as some feared, this seems like it will continue to improve for at least a few years. The last glass on day 4 is still lovely if starting to show some fino/manzanilla notes.
January 13, 2019 - oxidative nuttiness on the palate. Is this normal or do I have a faulty bottle?
April 14, 2018 - An intriguing nose but very lean, shrill palate that sadly showed the masochistic side of brut nature on this evening. I loved the generosity and balance of the 2013s from Ruppert-Leroy on release but recent bottles of this and the Cognaux have been tough.
February 13, 2017 - Good, but not as fascinating as the Cognaux at this point in time. Palate seemed a touch closed compared to last bottle of this.
December 13, 2016 - 50% PN, 50% CH, very harmonic and balanced, citrus, toast and some red berries, very refreshing but with a good structure
October 27, 2016 - Medium tangerine in color. Ripe, brassy and exotic pinot noir driven nose with intense notes of copper penny and grated ginger / galangal. Reminds me of a cross between V+S Fidele and a sparkling gringet from Belluard. Bone dry palate with fine but well-integrated acidity and a slender core of richness. This is really thrilling to drink and helps cement that Ruppert-Leroy is one of my favorite discoveries in Champagne this year.
On day 2, it's lost a few notches of intensity. So while this style is lovely and early-drinking, it may not be an ager.