January 29, 2024 - More aggressive mousse on opening and leaned more into citrus before air, but really came into its own in the glass. More rich apple and orchard fruit, some minerality, but benefited from the dosage. I remember not being so impressed with some of the newer entry-level NV bottlings from Moussé, but this was clearly a step up and I'll be on the lookout for more.
October 3, 2023 - The last of my 6 bottles. Still fresh and lithe. Pale straw color. Very solid acidity with notes of stone fruit and citrus. 91 points.
March 30, 2022 - Last bottle and the best one. Oopened rigth after dinner... rich, vinous, tammed acidity. Just wonderful Meunier, this time without food.
January 10, 2022 - 10/17 disgorgement. A bit surprised this is 95% P Meunier. Maybe that is just me wrapping my head around someone labeling this Blanc de Noirs. Technically true of course but its almost always been P Noir traditionally. Tart leaning apple nose with some stone fruit notes. Pure fruit expression without the ort of yeast or autolytic notes you might expect. Very clean and lean feeling. Strong sweet-tart note. Strong apple flavors in some deceptively dense fruit. A tasty drink if something outside of what most would think of as Champagne. The freshness of the fruit is notable. The dosage is well integrated up until the finish. This is a wine that might be better served as a still wine. At least its something to think about. The bubbles did fade some overnight which doesn't happen much in young Champagne. There is some distance from disgorgement here to complicate that but I found the character of this wine wasn't necessarily better with bubbles than without.
July 10, 2021 - Blind by FMIII (Maison - Dana Point): Blind: couldn't really get a handle on this one wasn't sure so I went with some blend.
The fruit is ripe and it has a round feel to the mouth. The back end is citrus and is strong pineapple flavor. Finishes with a tart chalky note.
July 8, 2021 - Blind Tasting with the guys (Maison Cafe in Dana Point, CA): Disgorged October 2017. Dosage 5 g/l, with 95% PM and 5% PN. Aroma of mint. This bottle has the same richness as the bottle back in 2019, composed pf golden apple, pear/apple tart and a vivid pineapple. The core of the wine remains zesty but moreso juicy. My buddy sitting next to me called the wine 'layered', which I thought was a great comment. There is a decadence here but the wine remains in balance. To me, this is drinking very well right now and given the richness and flavors, I'd rather consume these short-term then age them further.
June 27, 2021 - More on the vinous side of champagne, lots of bruised apple, some yeasty notes and rich texture. Although on the friendlier side, this was not flabby, it still had good acidity, just not piercing, enamel erasing acidity. You can really tell the pinot fruit characteristics as the wine had a richness typical of pinot based champagne.
June 26, 2021 - Dinner with the wine group (Millbrae, CA): 100% Pinot Meunier. Light golden; aromatic, slight brioche and yeast; medium bodied, nice and tart lemon-lime, excellent mousse, slight apple and pear; medium finish. Lovely champagne. 91
On retaste over the next few hours, largely unchanged but definitely shows that bit of apple that likely comes from Pinot Meunier.
November 7, 2020 - Opened with a Vilmart Grand Reserve and Cédric Bouchard Champagne Millésimé Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules and this was the wine of the night. Just an ever lasting finish. Better when warm. One of my favorites!
April 25, 2020 - Drank this during a virtual Zoom tasting with Cedric host by Wine Berserkers. The wine is really firing on all cylinders; crushed apple, a hint of brioche on the nose, some chalk as well. On the palate, more of the same as well as some super bright acidity. The finish is long a pleasant. Disgorged 5.30.2016. 5g/l Dosage. Drink or hold.