Light gold color. Drank 2 glasses over 90 minutes with the family at dinner. Last bottle and going out on a high note. Nice lemon nose, with sour dough, citrus, mineral. The palate is medium bodied with lemon, lemon zest, a slight oxidative note, citrus, sour dough bread an moest chalk on a medium plus finish. Very good and really performs at the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fast Times at the Frey's: Medium gold color. 2.5oz pour over 30 minutes. This wasn't quite as attractive as it has been, but having said that it was still very good. It just didn't have the finesse and overall appeal previous bottles. I'm not sure if this was bottle variation or we're starting to see a decline. This bottle was a bit oxidative in style, that I don;t really recall from past bottles; sour apple, a bit of almond meal, yeast and some depth shows.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux with Some Real Honeys (Victory 44, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. I loved this tonight. Showing such lovely balance and and wonderful elegance. Certainly more refined than the N/V, as good as that is. Lovely apple and pear notes on the nose with a significant floral component, light honey, and a touch of citrus along with the requisite yeast. The palate really shows that elegance, nice acid, but good fruit without being heavy, pear, apple, and a bit of yeast, a touch of honey comes through with the white melon. Medium body and medium plus finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
New Years 2013 at Kevin's (Minneapolis, MN): Excellent showing and the best of the 3 bottles of this wine. Minerals, lemon, chalk and pear. Clean and good acidity. Really good value and much better quality/price than the rest of the Champagnes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I enjoyed this a good bit more than my last bottle. It paired well with fondue. It did seem a bit sweet compared to the non-dosage Champagne that preceded it, but hit a reasonable balance. More on the rich end of the spectrum than the precise, but light on its feet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
New Years Eve Celebration Offline (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Pale gold color. Drank 1+ glass over 30 minutes. This was quite similar to my previous note. The nose is bright with apple, hints of quince, pear, nice yeast and mineral. The palate is lively, fine and precise with apple pie, citrus, mineral, and light yeast on the lengthy finish. Nicely balanced with great fruit. Killer QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Bruised apple and pear skin, chalky, and a hint of musty cellar. Also slightly phenolic. Smells pretty mature for a 2002.
Mouthfeel: Rather tame mousse---not sure if that's the wine or just this bottle. The bead is neither creamy smooth nor fizzy coarse.
Palate: More lively here, with a strong acidic cut of citrus on the attack. The chalky mineral comes through very nicely afterward, as well as more rounded orchard fruit. The finish has just a touch of sweetness, then dries out to leave the stony taste behind. Good drinkability.
This was better than my other bottle and grew on me the more I had. At first it was a bit unusual and hard to pin down, but it had very nice balance and progress from nose to palate to finish. I wish it had a few more bubbles, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took about 30 minutes to really shine. Red apple, some cider, yeast, dough, clean and with purpose. Seemed advanced for its age, but great drinking g now. Had good definition. Would be a champagne I would purchase again at its price. Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grillin' and Chillin' Offline: Champagne and Whites (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Pale gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. 80% PN & 20%Chard. The nose is fresh and bright with fresh dough, distinct apple, hints of quince, yeast and mineral. The palate is light and precise with apple pie flavors followed by citrus and light yeast on the finish. Well balanced and quite clean with nice minerality. I found this to be lighter bodied and a bit more elegant than the 1999 Cuvee Love Flowers. Outstanding! Group #3 WOTN. 91+pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good and precise, with citric and raw bread dough notes. The bubbles are fine and the mouthfeel refined. A bit short, but good QPR here. Showing a bit better than my last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice bottle. First experience with vintage champers, seemed clean and straight forward. Know very little about sparklers, everyone seemed to enjoy though. Can't give score
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At 10 years of age, I thought this would have more of an aged quality to it that the non-vintage brut, but it showed less of the yeasty, doughy and oxidative qualities of the regular brut. Decent sparkling wine, but not the depth of a true vintage Champagne. Given the discount price, I can't complain too much. Fresh, crisp but simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Friends (Shin's Underground): Opened by DanTheRhoneFan. Pale color with notes of chalk, limestone and Granny Smith apple. Medium bead, with apple, chalk and almond flavors. Crisp, clean finish with racy acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with xhoser (billhike's): Equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Notes of chalk, limestone, citrus and white flowers. Fine bead, with mineral, citrus and limestone flavors. Developed a rich nutty quality in the bouquet and on the palate by the end of the evening. Lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
No formal notes. This was good but simple, centered around apple, pear, and a hint of mineral. Good acid on the palate, but a short finish. Disappointing considering the age and pedigree. Maybe my other bottle will be better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was very mellow and pleasant but not exciting. I bought on a wine discount site, so it's possible that storage conditions could have played a part in the lackluster showing. I also opened it only a week or so after it was shipped to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hard to please me with champagne but this one delivers an excellent nose of pear and yeast. Crisp palate with more apple notes that turns into a long, lingering spice laden finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
DC Wine Bloggers Tasting (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): This Champagne was a great way to start off the evening. The lemon and wheat bread aromas were just explosive. The palate has a ton of acid and intense yeast. It's a powerful wine, with laser-like lime, pear and biscuit flavors. A long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/27/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Light gold color. Drank 2 glasses over 90 minutes with the family at dinner. Last bottle and going out on a high note. Nice lemon nose, with sour dough, citrus, mineral. The palate is medium bodied with lemon, lemon zest, a slight oxidative note, citrus, sour dough bread an moest chalk on a medium plus finish. Very good and really performs at the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2016 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Monthly goup Holiday Tasting 2016 (I Nonni): Drank a small glass over 30 minutes. Mostly energetic with acid and citrus. There was a bit of yeast in it to give body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2016 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Fast Times at the Frey's: Quite interesting and toasty. This was bigger than I remember, a little less elegant, and more straightforward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Fast Times at the Frey's: Medium gold color. 2.5oz pour over 30 minutes. This wasn't quite as attractive as it has been, but having said that it was still very good. It just didn't have the finesse and overall appeal previous bottles. I'm not sure if this was bottle variation or we're starting to see a decline. This bottle was a bit oxidative in style, that I don;t really recall from past bottles; sour apple, a bit of almond meal, yeast and some depth shows.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux with Some Real Honeys (Victory 44, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. I loved this tonight. Showing such lovely balance and and wonderful elegance. Certainly more refined than the N/V, as good as that is. Lovely apple and pear notes on the nose with a significant floral component, light honey, and a touch of citrus along with the requisite yeast. The palate really shows that elegance, nice acid, but good fruit without being heavy, pear, apple, and a bit of yeast, a touch of honey comes through with the white melon. Medium body and medium plus finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2015 - SonomaCoaster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Happy 2015! Really enjoyed this bottle. Lemon, orange zest, and green fig. Rich, complex, long finish. I only see this getting better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2014 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Really nice, especially considering the pice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
New Years 2013 at Kevin's (Minneapolis, MN): Excellent showing and the best of the 3 bottles of this wine. Minerals, lemon, chalk and pear. Clean and good acidity. Really good value and much better quality/price than the rest of the Champagnes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - K is for Kate wrote:
I enjoyed this a good bit more than my last bottle. It paired well with fondue. It did seem a bit sweet compared to the non-dosage Champagne that preceded it, but hit a reasonable balance. More on the rich end of the spectrum than the precise, but light on its feet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
New Years Eve Celebration Offline (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Pale gold color. Drank 1+ glass over 30 minutes. This was quite similar to my previous note. The nose is bright with apple, hints of quince, pear, nice yeast and mineral. The palate is lively, fine and precise with apple pie, citrus, mineral, and light yeast on the lengthy finish. Nicely balanced with great fruit. Killer QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - SCosgrove wrote: 93 Points
Excellent, crisp, citrus forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2013 - JVG wrote: 89 Points
Color: Medium gold.
Nose: Bruised apple and pear skin, chalky, and a hint of musty cellar. Also slightly phenolic. Smells pretty mature for a 2002.
Mouthfeel: Rather tame mousse---not sure if that's the wine or just this bottle. The bead is neither creamy smooth nor fizzy coarse.
Palate: More lively here, with a strong acidic cut of citrus on the attack. The chalky mineral comes through very nicely afterward, as well as more rounded orchard fruit. The finish has just a touch of sweetness, then dries out to leave the stony taste behind. Good drinkability.
This was better than my other bottle and grew on me the more I had. At first it was a bit unusual and hard to pin down, but it had very nice balance and progress from nose to palate to finish. I wish it had a few more bubbles, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - pilot360 wrote:
Took about 30 minutes to really shine. Red apple, some cider, yeast, dough, clean and with purpose. Seemed advanced for its age, but great drinking g now. Had good definition. Would be a champagne I would purchase again at its price.
Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Grillin' and Chillin' Offline: Champagne and Whites (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Pale gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. 80% PN & 20%Chard. The nose is fresh and bright with fresh dough, distinct apple, hints of quince, yeast and mineral. The palate is light and precise with apple pie flavors followed by citrus and light yeast on the finish. Well balanced and quite clean with nice minerality. I found this to be lighter bodied and a bit more elegant than the 1999 Cuvee Love Flowers. Outstanding! Group #3 WOTN. 91+pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2013 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fine mousse. Citrus and toast. Crisp.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
Very good and precise, with citric and raw bread dough notes. The bubbles are fine and the mouthfeel refined. A bit short, but good QPR here. Showing a bit better than my last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2013 - SCosgrove wrote: 92 Points
Excellent citrus, nice and dry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2013 - midtownmac wrote:
Nice bottle. First experience with vintage champers, seemed clean and straight forward. Know very little about sparklers, everyone seemed to enjoy though. Can't give score
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2012 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
At 10 years of age, I thought this would have more of an aged quality to it that the non-vintage brut, but it showed less of the yeasty, doughy and oxidative qualities of the regular brut. Decent sparkling wine, but not the depth of a true vintage Champagne. Given the discount price, I can't complain too much. Fresh, crisp but simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2012 - Iceman611 wrote: 93 Points
Especially good with smoked fish. I like it better than I did when I opened the first bottle. Tasting partner also really liked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2012 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with Friends (Shin's Underground): Opened by DanTheRhoneFan. Pale color with notes of chalk, limestone and Granny Smith apple. Medium bead, with apple, chalk and almond flavors. Crisp, clean finish with racy acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2012 - redknife wrote: 92 Points
Needs some air and tasted better at room temeperature
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2012 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
Sharp in a nice way. Chemical and oxidized apple flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with xhoser (billhike's): Equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Notes of chalk, limestone, citrus and white flowers. Fine bead, with mineral, citrus and limestone flavors. Developed a rich nutty quality in the bouquet and on the palate by the end of the evening. Lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Bill at his house with xhoser and locals. Citrus and yeast with very fine bead and mousse.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2012 - JVG wrote: 86 Points
No formal notes. This was good but simple, centered around apple, pear, and a hint of mineral. Good acid on the palate, but a short finish. Disappointing considering the age and pedigree. Maybe my other bottle will be better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2012 - K is for Kate wrote:
This was very mellow and pleasant but not exciting. I bought on a wine discount site, so it's possible that storage conditions could have played a part in the lackluster showing. I also opened it only a week or so after it was shipped to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2011 - wrrntl wrote: 91 Points
Hard to please me with champagne but this one delivers an excellent nose of pear and yeast. Crisp palate with more apple notes that turns into a long, lingering spice laden finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2011 - Lprhi1 wrote: 92 Points
Fruity flavor with a sense of freshness!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2011 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
DC Wine Bloggers Tasting (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): This Champagne was a great way to start off the evening. The lemon and wheat bread aromas were just explosive. The palate has a ton of acid and intense yeast. It's a powerful wine, with laser-like lime, pear and biscuit flavors. A long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2011 - Didman wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful rich vintage Champagne. Moderate yeast notable. Fine bubbles. Comparable to the big names at a fraction of the cost.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment