The 2012 Suenen Robarts starts off appealing, but very linear and almost strict with fresh lemon and chalk. Followed over a few hours, the evolution is remarkable. Reaching its apogee by 60 minutes, the nose develops rich lemon, mirabelle, marcona almond, and subtle brioche, broadening in scope beautifully and shedding its austere character for a more succulent profile. Another young 2012 that will improve with time.
Drinking from 2025, probably looking at 93-94
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DG 11/2018 We suspected that this wine would be very austere and mineral, and it was indeed younger than expected. The chalk was the dominant aroma, and it was so present that it was almost overwhelming. Wet stones and gunpowder complete the mineral side of the wine; limes, baked lemons and lemon curd; some lilies and elderflower; after a couple of hours some notes of butter and fresh milk appeared; it also showed some raw almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts. The acidity was high but not aggressive, and the texture was soft. It was very very young, and it's a shame to drink this kind of cuvée -difficult to find and with a very limited production- in such an uncompleted state. Store! 90pt
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Disgorged November 2, 2018 and dosed at just 1 g/L. This is a little shy aromatically but shows nice depth and a lingering richness on the palate already. Despite the low dosage this is much less austere than recent Suenen nonvintage wines I've had. It's just a touch oxidative in the mouth the fruit shows as a sort of applesauce made from ripe fruit, but there's tons of great acidity that is well buffered by the concentration of fruit. Overall it was a little closed on day 1 but really came around nicely on day 2. For me this is currently a hold, but I don't think it will take long to come into a nice drinking window - perhaps another three years or so.
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100% Chardonnay from a Lieu-Dit, matures on the yeast for 60 months, Deg. 29.6.2018, 1g dosage.
Still very youthful and fresh on the nose, smells of stones, green apple, yuzu, bread and yeast. Flows extremely tight in the mouth, the perlage is fine, everything looks very fresh and puristic, but still has a lot of strength and density. Also on the palate with a mix of apple fruit, ripe lime, baguette and brioche. Very good length with a slightly toasty note, great complexity, lots of minerality. Needs more time and a big glass, has the potential for a higher rating with maturity!
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medium champagne color, soaring nose with an assertive young mousse, citrus, on the palate exceptional with firm bread crust, oyster shell, chalky young Chardonnay with a rich effervescence that melts on the palate, lengthy finish that is fairly dry, oyster shells, fine persistence, this is a very special wine with a breadth that I find very rare in single vintage bottlings of what have come to be known as "grower champagnes", the first vintage so forecasts are difficult- but this most definitely needs a few years in the cellar and could potentially impress for quite a long time.
(****)+, 2025++
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4/9/2023 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
June 2018 disgorgement with 1g/L
A richer Cramant, toasty and deep yellow fruits, the depth gives some early mature flavours. Very fine, but rich.
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6/26/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
The 2012 Suenen Robarts starts off appealing, but very linear and almost strict with fresh lemon and chalk. Followed over a few hours, the evolution is remarkable. Reaching its apogee by 60 minutes, the nose develops rich lemon, mirabelle, marcona almond, and subtle brioche, broadening in scope beautifully and shedding its austere character for a more succulent profile. Another young 2012 that will improve with time.
Drinking from 2025, probably looking at 93-94
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12/31/2020 - julen789 Likes this wine: 90 Points
DG 11/2018
We suspected that this wine would be very austere and mineral, and it was indeed younger than expected. The chalk was the dominant aroma, and it was so present that it was almost overwhelming. Wet stones and gunpowder complete the mineral side of the wine; limes, baked lemons and lemon curd; some lilies and elderflower; after a couple of hours some notes of butter and fresh milk appeared; it also showed some raw almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.
The acidity was high but not aggressive, and the texture was soft. It was very very young, and it's a shame to drink this kind of cuvée -difficult to find and with a very limited production- in such an uncompleted state. Store!
90pt
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4/17/2020 - 5laton wrote:
Disgorged November 2, 2018 and dosed at just 1 g/L. This is a little shy aromatically but shows nice depth and a lingering richness on the palate already. Despite the low dosage this is much less austere than recent Suenen nonvintage wines I've had. It's just a touch oxidative in the mouth the fruit shows as a sort of applesauce made from ripe fruit, but there's tons of great acidity that is well buffered by the concentration of fruit. Overall it was a little closed on day 1 but really came around nicely on day 2. For me this is currently a hold, but I don't think it will take long to come into a nice drinking window - perhaps another three years or so.
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6/1/2019 - Marcio Hamann Likes this wine: 93 Points
100% Chardonnay from a Lieu-Dit, matures on the yeast for 60 months, Deg. 29.6.2018, 1g dosage.
Still very youthful and fresh on the nose, smells of stones, green apple, yuzu, bread and yeast. Flows extremely tight in the mouth, the perlage is fine, everything looks very fresh and puristic, but still has a lot of strength and density. Also on the palate with a mix of apple fruit, ripe lime, baguette and brioche. Very good length with a slightly toasty note, great complexity, lots of minerality. Needs more time and a big glass, has the potential for a higher rating with maturity!
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5/1/2019 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
medium champagne color, soaring nose with an assertive young mousse, citrus, on the palate exceptional with firm bread crust, oyster shell, chalky young Chardonnay with a rich effervescence that melts on the palate, lengthy finish that is fairly dry, oyster shells, fine persistence, this is a very special wine with a breadth that I find very rare in single vintage bottlings of what have come to be known as "grower champagnes", the first vintage so forecasts are difficult- but this most definitely needs a few years in the cellar and could potentially impress for quite a long time.
(****)+, 2025++
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