Deep mature golden color. An initial bit of bottle funk blows off after fifteen minutes or so, revealing caramel apple, basil, honeycomb and a bit of marshmallow. Flavors of lemon confit, sautéed apple and honey. There’s a toffee almond quality in the finish that’s very appealing. Very nice, though perhaps more interesting than anything else at this point.
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Nose of delicious complexity: blend of citrus, orange peel, tropical fruits, chalk and jasmine.
In the mouth, the effervescence caresses and awakens the taste buds with a beautiful touch, the juice is ample but with a beautiful fullness. The dosage is perfectly integrated and the wine unfolds its entire palette of patinated champagne with magnificent density and delicacy. Jasmine largely dominates, with crusts of baguette, a herbaceous hint, a zest of spice, sweet almond, pear, quince… The whole thing is perfectly regulated like on music paper. Large, intense and long finish, chalky and saline which stretches delicately.
Great champagne.
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Post-Prelude 25-Nebbiolo B sides (DP's, Goose Hollow, Portland OR): This is so giving, generous, and balanced as it permeates in the glass with mature tones of honeydew, caramel apples, toasty notes, brioche, bosc pears, yellow flowers, and some almond paste. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and deft in the way that only a mature champagne can be along with integrated and crisp, high acidity. This is a beautifully mature champagne that is just sexy. That’s really all there is to it!
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So much better than the 2002 rendition, brioche and chalk sour from the glass. Whilst not as deep looking as expected, in the mouth it is very broad and there is tonnes of fruit with a very dry chalky finish. Just lacks a long a detailed tail. Excellent fine mouse. Whilst great now I think this will actually improve further to almost 2030. An unexpected hit. 96+pts
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Yeah, this is really good. From one of the grandest Champagne vintages in a 100 years or so.
The nose is extremely complex. Notes of; mixed orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, white spice, faint sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens.
The palate is gentle, micro lean bubbles, amazingly, soft mousse. Just beautiful, orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, juicy lime pulp, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, graham crackers, vanillin, white spice, crushed more pronounced sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow & white lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens. The acidity is perfect. The finish is excellent with similarities wire to wire. Lasts minutes.
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(Disgorged in 2007, 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay) Deep golden yellow colour with endless streams of fine bubbles rising in the glass. Mature nose showing yellow plums, dark chocolate and some hints of honey in a very pleasant way. Delicious intensity on the palate showing red apples, lemon citrus zest and some butter and with a lengthy and intense finish showing lime zest and leaving a pleasant saltiness on the lips. (Best 2016-2036)
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Fresh perfumed nose showing bruised Macintosh apple, bready notes rather than yeasty and soft white flowers
Med acidity and a rounded palate showing tons of fresh apples and citrus along with some orange peel. The mousse is oh so fine and creamy and the feel is polished.
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Had this in London with high expectations based on vintage. Somewhat disappointing. Very aggressive and acerbic with a short finish. Will need to revisit
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golden and certainly mature - lovely and complex, the mousse is quite settled but this could do with a tad more acidity - I would be inclined to drink this in the short term
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Served blind. Gold colour. Nose closed. No visible bubbles but plenty of fizz on the palate. Rich. Real depth. Somehow, both fully resolved and yet reserved! Fantastic.
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Deep mellow color, initial fine froth. Very complex nose of brioche, hay, and a touch of honey. Medium weight, lovely creaminess, crisp bitter citrus, great acidity. This is just a fantastic bottle, if anything fresher than one a few years ago with none of the caramel or truffle that I described then. Probably the best Billecart I've ever had. Champagnes from 1996 continue to provide incredible drinking pleasure-what a great vintage!
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Se prior note from 2 years back. Maybe the best champagne 2020 so far. From half bottle so a bit more evovled than normal size which works in its favour I belive. Nevertheless. Brilliant champagne! Just brilliant!
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Stunning wine tonight. Popped and poured a glass at my house before going out to dinner--it was good, but cold, was sort of wondering if it should be better. got to the restaurant and poured again and after a little air and warming up this was incredible. Sappy, apricot pit, wheat bread/sourdough, really intense and concentrated, super fine creamy bubbles with excellent lift to support the dense structure of this wine. Super long tangy finish. Wow. I hesitate to say this is at it's peak, but IMHO it is sailing now, and I can't imagine it gaining more than it has already. It could get more tertiaries and possibly more complex, but I love the intersection of age and complexity with the youthful character and superb balance. Blair's in Silverlake b-day dinner.
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Golden color. Singing on the nose with citrus, green apples, roses, anise, red berries, complex and developed, vegetative, wax, tropical fruit (pineapple). Nice development in the glass.
Nice grip on the palate, fresh acidity, vegetative, waxy texture, rich and concentrated fruit, lower oak with some air. 95p
BV 3 WV 3
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Oh boy. This is terrific. Golden color. Emended nose of ripe pear and broken gravel. White flowers. Smells like grand cru white burgundy. Subtle needle point precise bubbles. Long and full of volume. Finish lasts and lasts. Mature and at the top of its game. A wonderful way to celebrate 23 years with my lovely bride. (97)
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One of the highest scores I have ever given a Champagne. My last bottle of 15 bought way back for 40 euro per bottle! I should have saved more for later. Enjoyed over long time in a restaurant (Ruth's in Skagen, DK) and it was very closed initially. To follow it and experience it open up was just wonderful. The last glass was so razor sharp and precise. Full of acidity and fruit in almost perfect balance. Loooong aftertaste. What a performance.
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The 1996 Billecart Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois is drinking perfectly today, it is at its sweet spot of maturing complexity and fresh fruits. Honied nose of stone fruits, ripe citrus, toasted cinnamon and hints of brown sugar. Good raw materials. (92/100)
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Doften är parfymig med dragning åt sötma. Lite brända toner - kanske kanderat vitt socker. Smaken åt blommigt håll, hyacinter och gröna syrliga äpplen
Den här var knepig. Sluten tycker jag. Väldigt sluten. Känns som att det finns mycket mer.
Skrev 90+++ men ändrar till 91++ Det här kommer att bli bra men baserat på flaskan vi drack bör du vänta minst fem år till. Troligtvis mer. Då kommer du troligtvis att skriva 94-96 poäng.
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The best champagne of the year! I say this with only some tongue in cheek :). Golden color foreshadows a sumptuous, mature wine with layers of delicate fruit and bright acidity. This is long long long. Awesome first taste of 2019. (97)
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Quite mature and slightly oxidized which partly blew away. I must say I like this type/age of Champagne but the opinions are quite divided I know. Nuts, plums and generally mature in its expression. Week mousse but persistent. Long aftertaste.
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Served blind, this was actually the bottle I brought but I failed to recognise it. This tasted a LOT younger then the last bottle I had recently. Blind everyone thought this was 2000s, I thought either 02 or 06. Very mineral, crisp, clean. I thought it was a grand cru BdB grower champagne. Very nice and great contrast to the Dom Ruinart 81 drank alongside.
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From half bottle. Golden yellow colour. Small bubbles. On the nose it's butterfried chanterells, nice aging tones, sourdough bread, lemongrass and something chalky. In the mouth the acidity is well preserved, bit of sherry-like tones and the sourdough and chnterells again, Limezest and almonds. The mousse is like velvet in the mouth. Very good!
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Served by the glass, twice, from a new bottle. Spiciest on the nose, mixture of citrus and saline on the palate. Golden colour. Subtle bubbles. Fresh punch of white fruits and wild flowers combined with sweet spices like cinnamon or clove. The real thing happens in the mouth with an oxidised touch, fine citrus mousse and really round. Also mineral. Highly harmonious. Good length and a salty aftertaste. Long seconds of pure enjoyment. Superior class here. An unexpected gem. Aspiring to perfection. Seriously tempted to score 95 on this ...
Servido por copas, dos veces, de una botella nueva. Más picante en la nariz, mezcla de cítricos y solución salina al paladar. De color dorado. Burbujas sutiles. Un directo fresco de frutas blancas y flores silvestres combinado con especias dulces como la canela o clavo. Lo de verdad ocurre en boca con un toque oxidado, una fina mousse de cítricos y un resultado realmente redondo. De buena duración y un regusto salado. También mineral. Armonioso. Largos segundos de puro disfrute. Clase superior. Una joyita inesperada. Aspirando a la perfección. Estoy seriamente tentado de ponerle un 95 ...
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Drank both bottles at birthday lunch. Golden yellow colour now. Small beads of bubbles. Honeyed. At or passing peak - quite a few at lunch liked it. Oxidised quickly.
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A fanastic Champagne in so many ways...One guessed CdM 1996. Some almonds and lots of fruit with some cirus and mineral. Still viral with good acidity and a bargain back in the days. Drink now or enjoy in ten years.
Btw the 2002 show the same potential.
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French 1996 Vintage Dinner for a Twenty-First Birthday Celebration (Nopa, San Francisco): Medium yellow, still plenty of effervescence for a few minutes. Medium bodied, dry, stony finish. Blossomed beautifully with older Champagne aromas of truffles and flavors of caramel and butterscotch as it opened. Excellent and pretty close to ideal drinking window now.
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A more developed bottle then the one I had last year. This bottle was probably not singing as much as the other one, but it was a sublime example of a very nicely aged champagne - golden in color, with very fine mousse, hazelnut, brioche.
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Now I was looking forward to tasting one of those... I would count the 1990 Nicolas Francois drunk between 10-15 years of bottle age amongst my top ever champagne taste experiences. And I also had numerous 95 vintage which were amazing too at around 10 years of age. The 96 I had only tasted on one occasion around 10 years back and felt that it needed lots of time for that Billecart typical salivating fruit-yeastiness to develop and show what it has got. So I had been sitting on a handful of these bottles till now patiently. And I am extremely pleased to report that the wait was worth it. Firing on all cylinders straight out of the get-go. Slight straw colour but not too mature looking, firm and very persistent fine mousse that lasts in the glass. After some time in glass and warming beautiful minerality compliments the red fruit aromas and yeastiness which makes you salivate and you find yourself reaching for the next sip very frequently. On the nose a stunner also, brioche, some slight almond. This is exceptional by any standard and if kept perfectly this will be a marathon runner and could last another ten to twenty years. Chapeau. A stark reminder why this cuvée of Billecart is among my absolute top champagnes and for the money is reigning without competition.
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(Disgorged summer of 2007) Golden yellow colour with a stream of very fine and tiny bubbles exploding in a mixture of honey, chocolate, dried fruits and figs. Very typical palate for the vintage with high acidity but not as oxidized as many '96 are getting right now. Very nice refined lime peel finish and with a saltiness on the lips. Was a perfect match with Pannacotta with licorice. A very nice vintage from this cuvée. Best 2016-2036.
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What a wonderful bottle. Lots of pressure in the bottle and a lovely mousse throughout. Still a good amount of acidity but in a nice balance now. Plenty of fruit to counter the acid. Long aftertaste and plenty of life yet.
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Beautiful golden color, with tiny bubbles. Nose is a little shy at first with slightly oxidised (=sherry) tones. Full-on aromas of bread and toast complemented with overripe apples. Medium palate is rich and finish is long. From half bottle.
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(BYO Blind tasting) Fully mature nose with ripe apple and White chocolate. Some hints of oyster minerality. Lacking a bit in depth and complexity, but also very inviting. Very mature palate that has some hints of sherry-like flavours. A lot of ripe apple and dark chocolate with a orange-acidic finish. Good grip, but also a bit hard. Maybe not much upside from here.
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A great champagne that I suspect is soon approaching its peak (at least based on this particular bottle). A very complex nose with toast, lobster shells and hazelnuts. Good acidity and a long, complex aftertaste. A slight bitterness in the end reduces the score for me. Nevertheless, this was great!
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Vintage Champagne: Golden colour. Rich, toasty style. Nose of toasted white bread, some oak influence, some yeast, but not too much of it. Long, interesting, multilayered and massive on the palate. Citrus and grapefruit tartiness on the finish. Excellent and mature, with enough stuffing to keep going on.
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Golden in color, medium intensity. Nose of green fruits, bread, yeast, brioche. Palate is super fresh, apple, pear, citrus, white peach, honey, floral, yeasty, brioche, mineral, mushroom. Excellent acidity.
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Lovely mature golden colour, good mousse. Complex spread of notes on the nose, still fresh and lively. But quite lean and acidic on the palate despite a good dosage. acid+ sugar + alcohol in a not perfectly melded way. Good to try this and overall a very nice drink but I don't think it will ever be an outstanding bottle. 17
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(from a half bottle) Goldenyellow colour with an amazing amount of fine and tiny bubbles. Mature nose showing marmalade, butterscotch and burnt caramel. But took over an hour to open up in the glass, then it Went over to plums and dark chocolat. Typically hard acidity in the palate but the fruit follows nicely showing yellow apples. And after all this comes the nice and long finish of kaffir lime bitterness.
Wonderful this time as well, and will last many years to come!
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Robin Visit for lunch (Elgin Valley): This 1996 has a mid-gold colour. Elegant and intense on the nose, it showcases plenty of lemon and orange with shortcrust pastry and softened warmed brioche mixed with tertiary elements. Still amazingly youthful for an old wine, the palate holds a fine, tingling, crisp acidity that balances well with the mid-palate breadth that brings in lemon and some blanched almonds. Tight and streamlined, this is a smart wine, complex.
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Still a great Champagne without being exceptional. Lots of acid and good fruit. Opened it a little too warm, and that didn't suit the wine. After cooling it showed baked apples, brioche, nuts, citrus. Still a little too much acid. Good and subtle mousse. Medium aftertaste. Should last many years still.
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Wonderful bubbles that are aging beautifully. Medium golden color with lively mousse. Toast and quince on the nose with a citrus finish. Very precise and crisp - elegant in every sense of the word. (94)
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Fizz @ Fish Club (Fish Club, Clapham): Slightly darker colour than the b de b. Fuller on the nose too. Spicier. A little more savoury with a nice toatiness. Richer on the palate but seemingly higher acidity too. Quite a zing here. ****
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Yellow colour with a rapid stream of tiny little bubbles running up the glass. On the nose there's a very mature scent of yellow apples and chocolate with a hint of Sherry. The palate is very full with chocolate and a hint of mature fruits. The after taste is relatively short.
The overall experience is good, but still not as good as I would expect from this premium champagne from 1996. Since it has such good structure I think it should probably be put away for 5-7 years to pass this current phase.
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In the three plus years since I had my last bottle, this wine has taken on tremendous weight and is now explosive with biscuit, cantaloupe, and lemon aromas and flavors and a medium thick mouthfeel. I have never had a better champagne.
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This was superb. Turning slightly to a golden color, with a little honey suckle, yeast, lemon, orange peel, and green apple on the nose. Classic small delicate Billlecart bubbles, but a little less energetic than a young NV. On the palate mouth-filling fruitiness of ripe green apples, almonds, a touch of melon and a solid hit of toasted biscuit. Balanced out by a solid but not overwhelming acidity. The finish last at least a minute with a lingering citrus freshness and what seemed like a late hit of lightly roasted nuts. I feel like this is peaking now, I will drink my last three bottles in the next few months.
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Drank alongside a bevy of 96 champagnes, including the 96 Grand Cuvee, Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rose Extra Cuvee De Reserve, Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé and the A. R. Lenoble Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru. This wine was my favorite of the 96 line up. Just tremendous lift and soaring flavors. Beautiful lemon and orange peel, limestone and young fresh strawberries on the nose. Still young and pretty primary on the palate with beautiful mousse, crunchy acidity and sweet tight fruit. Still a youngster, but a beautiful drink.
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Now we are getting there. Still a young Champagne but just so much more pleasure now. The fruit is showing very well now. Dark, bright yellow color. Lots of small bubbles, fading though. Lovely mousse. Green apples, nuts, dough, soy. Very powerful and overwhelming in a fruity way. Lacks some debts and complexity still. Medium acidity.
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So nice to have another great bottle of this Champagne. After a few lackluster performances, this bottle showed the lovely balance and freshness of the best examples. At peak but should stay at this level for a while. Deep, balanced and long. Terrific. (95)
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Fin rostad doft med smörad rostat bröd, vanilj, honung och lite nötter, bra mousse med fina bubblor, syran finns där men tar inte överhanden, lite bitterhet kan skönjas. Rent och bra vin. Tog denna mycket pga diskussionen kring Grande Cuvée kontra NF. Även om NF 96 är riktigt bra så når den inte upp i klassen av sin storebror. Saknar lite av den kristalklara skärpan och perfekta balansen som GC har , NF är inget dåligt vin men i jämförelse så bleknar det
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Still a shimmering pale yellow color - a young sample of this wine, with taut structure and some austerity, but still a very nice bottle of bubbly. Opened up in the glass with some notes of light toast, crunchy apple, and a bit of nuttiness on the finish.
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Really fine, medium gold color, no mousse but this was drank out of random wine glasses of dubious quality. Nice brioche & yeast with apples on the finish. Very clean and refreshing. Champagne is so versatile, this worked great at a Amer-asian Easter potluck that included Schezuanese noodles, Malaysian shrimp sambal with coconut rice, Cantonese ham hocks, honey-baked ham, mashed potatos, green beans, and corn bread.
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Paul Visit (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, The Forum Shopping Mall, Orchard Road): Alcohol :: 12% Even more toasty, yeasty compare to the rose with aromas of green apple, melon, pear as well as fresh baked biscuit and earth. Still young and a bit sharp, but there is this intensity and power to go along with the rich white fruits coated palate and almost crystalline with the lively acidity spine. Though the finish is still kinda disjointed and not able to carry the power from the mid palate at this moment. Age is needed. Buy - No.
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Now the fruit is much more evident than last year. Fresh, green apples and lots accidity. Brioche, nuts, soy, yeast. Light yellow color and lots of fine bubbles. Promising more in the future.
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Mom's 88th birthday. Rather unusual medium yellow/green color (I'm color blind, so what do I know?). Sharp green apple. Diminished mousse. Nice long finish. Seemed slightly more one-dimensional than when I opened my other bottle of this stuff a year and a half ago. Least enjoyable at this time of the 96's I've tried.
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Lovely aromatics, packed with fresh brioche, vanilla cream, white fruits and touches of honey and yeast. Tremendous power and richness in the mouth with fresh baked biscuit and ripe fruit complemented by gentle nutty and marzipan notes, very fresh and lively with really good acidity and effervescence. Delicious.
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Drank from a 375 with raw scallops prepared five ways. This champagne was an excellent match for the dish, liquid orange/gold in color with fine mousse and bubbles. Palate of citrus, caramel, stones and white fruit.
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Al naso subito bellissimi toni salmastri e di crema pasticcera all'arancia, molto aperto e pieno. La bocca è goduriosa e polposa, di grandissima acidità ma piacevole. Finale piacevolmente amarognolo e lungo.
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This is the only wine of the B-S linup from 1996 I had never tried, so I picked one up from AMC retail to check it out. It's excellent to outstanding. While not quite integrated yet, the bready PN (60%) and citric CH (40%) are both apparent. Terrific grip, good but not obtrusive acidity. Clearly on the upswing and much better than the '96 Clos St. Hilaire I had recently.
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Old note. Fresh, very interesting, complex nose with light bread notes, some citrus and flowery notes, apples, some spice, white chocolate. Fresh. Good intensity on the palate, autolytic, balanced, elegant. Mineral finish. Long. Nice!
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Tyvärr saknade den all frukt och var platt. Doften var ganska svag. Kan inte säga att vinet var defekt, korkat eller oxiderat men det var ingen bra flaska.
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Nice pale golden color. Good tiny mousse. Yeasty, toasty & a bit of roasted nut on the nose with a slightly oxidized quality. Full & yeasty on the palate with a tart bite to the finish. Tasted blind.
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Faiveley Luncheon and MORE (Makaros @ NLB, Denise Vivo and Le Bistrot): Deep gold with teeny tiny bubble beads. Marmite, yeasty and bready. Slightly honeyed when swallowed. This is lovely, toasty and clean lemons. Hints of chicken essence shows but is enveloped by a certain sweet aura about it that I associate with sweet apple core or zappel drink! A lovely seamless and unique effort. This champagne has purity. I do love it because it tastes different from the other top vintage cuvees I have tasted.
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An afternoon with the wines of Faiveley (Makarios, National Library, Singapore): Really fine, but oh so young, even given that we drank it from a 375ml. Yellow gold in colour. Super fine, super persistent and really dense bead promisd quality, and the wine delivered. Really yeasty, chardonnay nose, with some soy, bread and honey along with a fragrant seam of sweet red apple running through the nose through onto the palate which was creamily textured with great weight and delineation. It was all acid at first, but really blossomed with time to show honey, white fruit and that red apple flavour along with a savoury bready undertone. Long, balanced finish. Beautiful, but needs time to integrate.
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Out of half bottle at Veritas, NYC. Just a fantastic champagne with frothy mousse and ultrafine bubbles. Tons of earthy yeast and lemon flavors with a lovely elegant but firm intensity on the incredibly long and complex finish. This champagne has big fruit balanced by big acidity and it actually lifts the palate. Really good stuff. In half-bottle this is ready now but has life ahead. 94
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Opened on the birth of our 1st child Liam. Great Champagne, straw yellow colour, fine bead, mousse and yeasty characteristics on the palate - has the power of Bollinger and the elegance of Dom Perignon. Drinking perfectly right now...
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Beautiful, rich golden hue. Very small, fast bubbles. First smell instantly makes us salivate. Wow, what a nose! Wide open, buttery character with walnuts, hazelnuts, cream, fudge, honey, raisins and perfectly integrated, discrete oxidation. You actually "ride" the nose! Lovely, harmonious, nectarlike on the palate. Extremely refined acids. Caressing and very easy to drink. Fantastic, just so delicious...
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Great champagne. This is big without being heavy yet full of delicacy without being light. It rides the middle ground well without being the slightest bit boring – in fact, I loved the complexity. Almost too easy to drink, I enjoyed it so much. (94)
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Very Good ! I liked this more then the Gosset 1996. Great nose ( bakery, apple, vanilla) and impressive aftertaste. Nice bubbles, glass Vinum 416/68. Some people say this is not ready to drink, but for me, this is already fantastic. Will buy more and see how this develops in time as it only can improve.
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Learn about Wine: Lovely strong angel food, yeast, and bread dough notes--soft-yeast; a bit green apple in mth, but tons of intensity and power. This was fantastic--5-10 yrs more.***Lighter than DP, but intense dough & yeast w/green apple mth and ultra refinement.
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Surprisingly evolved, dark color. Nose is complex yet still very clean and pure. We had no flutes so drinking out of riedel Bordeaux glasses might explain why this wine seemed to have almost no fizz. It had everything else though - fruit, acidity and a long poweful finish. Would imagine that this will only get better but the lack of bubbles is troubling
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Fairly deep yellow / gold color. Particularly bright with very active bubbles. Mild toast, fresh cream and white fruit aroma – a stark contrast to the high yeast Bollinger GA a few days ago. A prettier and more gentile style. Wonderful, fruit driven attack with super follow-up on the mid-palate and finish. Not a brash style, but not wimpy either. This seems to straddle the fence between heavy and light. This needs a few years to truly strut its stuff. Should be fascinating to follow for the next 10 or so years. I like this a lot. (18.5++)
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Wonderful complexity, nuts, coffee, brioche, crystallised fruit; ininmitable marriage of freshness and ripeness, intensity and elegance, smooth mousse; excellent length.
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Dinner at the Wine Cask (The Wine Cask, Santa Barbara, CA): This was undeniably quality champagne but seems very young. It was difficult to get a read on the personality of this champagne but I believe this is due to its relative youth. Only time will tell how much better it will get.
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First bottle was corked. Second - very lively young fizz, but at this stage I really can't see anything to this - doubtless it will turn into something nice in the next few years
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5/26/2024 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Deep mature golden color. An initial bit of bottle funk blows off after fifteen minutes or so, revealing caramel apple, basil, honeycomb and a bit of marshmallow. Flavors of lemon confit, sautéed apple and honey. There’s a toffee almond quality in the finish that’s very appealing. Very nice, though perhaps more interesting than anything else at this point.
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4/25/2024 - hargy Likes this wine: 90 Points
quite golden now and certainly mature with an edge of oxidation - a bit too much for me but I am sure some will love it
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3/24/2024 - Benoit Hardy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of delicious complexity: blend of citrus, orange peel, tropical fruits, chalk and jasmine.
In the mouth, the effervescence caresses and awakens the taste buds with a beautiful touch, the juice is ample but with a beautiful fullness. The dosage is perfectly integrated and the wine unfolds its entire palette of patinated champagne with magnificent density and delicacy. Jasmine largely dominates, with crusts of baguette, a herbaceous hint, a zest of spice, sweet almond, pear, quince… The whole thing is perfectly regulated like on music paper. Large, intense and long finish, chalky and saline which stretches delicately.
Great champagne.
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3/1/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Some Wine Tasted at the Acker La Paulée Auction (Maybourne Hotel - Beverly Hills CA): Tasted at auction. Very rich, fully mature. Very good volume.
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11/1/2023 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Post-Prelude 25-Nebbiolo B sides (DP's, Goose Hollow, Portland OR): This is so giving, generous, and balanced as it permeates in the glass with mature tones of honeydew, caramel apples, toasty notes, brioche, bosc pears, yellow flowers, and some almond paste. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and deft in the way that only a mature champagne can be along with integrated and crisp, high acidity. This is a beautifully mature champagne that is just sexy. That’s really all there is to it!
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10/1/2023 - JulianSkeels wrote: 96 Points
So much better than the 2002 rendition, brioche and chalk sour from the glass. Whilst not as deep looking as expected, in the mouth it is very broad and there is tonnes of fruit with a very dry chalky finish. Just lacks a long a detailed tail. Excellent fine mouse. Whilst great now I think this will actually improve further to almost 2030. An unexpected hit. 96+pts
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5/6/2023 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 95 Points
Yeah, this is really good. From one of the grandest Champagne vintages in a 100 years or so.
The nose is extremely complex. Notes of; mixed orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, white spice, faint sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens.
The palate is gentle, micro lean bubbles, amazingly, soft mousse. Just beautiful, orange citrus, overripe golden apple, bruised pear, overripe papaya & mango, stone fruit, just a hint of Meyer lemon, juicy lime pulp, brioche, biscuits, baguette crust, ginger ale to gingerbread, graham crackers, vanillin, white spice, crushed more pronounced sea fossils, understated saline, limestone marl, soft herbaceous, beautiful, powdery chalkiness, heavy cream, yellow & white lilies, jasmine and spring flowers in a field of greens. The acidity is perfect. The finish is excellent with similarities wire to wire. Lasts minutes.
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2/14/2023 - thewiz Likes this wine: 95 Points
(Disgorged in 2007, 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay)
Deep golden yellow colour with endless streams of fine bubbles rising in the glass. Mature nose showing yellow plums, dark chocolate and some hints of honey in a very pleasant way. Delicious intensity on the palate showing red apples, lemon citrus zest and some butter and with a lengthy and intense finish showing lime zest and leaving a pleasant saltiness on the lips.
(Best 2016-2036)
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4/14/2022 - nynrgtrader@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Med Gold
Fresh perfumed nose showing bruised Macintosh apple, bready notes rather than yeasty and soft white flowers
Med acidity and a rounded palate showing tons of fresh apples and citrus along with some orange peel. The mousse is oh so fine and creamy and the feel is polished.
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3/15/2022 - sbjm wrote:
Had this in London with high expectations based on vintage. Somewhat disappointing. Very aggressive and acerbic with a short finish. Will need to revisit
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1/9/2022 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
golden and certainly mature - lovely and complex, the mousse is quite settled but this could do with a tad more acidity - I would be inclined to drink this in the short term
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12/7/2021 - DAN BAILEY Likes this wine:
Served blind. Gold colour. Nose closed. No visible bubbles but plenty of fizz on the palate. Rich. Real depth. Somehow, both fully resolved and yet reserved! Fantastic.
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2/21/2021 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep mellow color, initial fine froth. Very complex nose of brioche, hay, and a touch of honey. Medium weight, lovely creaminess, crisp bitter citrus, great acidity. This is just a fantastic bottle, if anything fresher than one a few years ago with none of the caramel or truffle that I described then. Probably the best Billecart I've ever had. Champagnes from 1996 continue to provide incredible drinking pleasure-what a great vintage!
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1/1/2021 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Pleasing.
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10/14/2020 - Lars1974 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Se prior note from 2 years back. Maybe the best champagne 2020 so far. From half bottle so a bit more evovled than normal size which works in its favour I belive.
Nevertheless. Brilliant champagne! Just brilliant!
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8/22/2020 - peternelson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning wine tonight. Popped and poured a glass at my house before going out to dinner--it was good, but cold, was sort of wondering if it should be better. got to the restaurant and poured again and after a little air and warming up this was incredible. Sappy, apricot pit, wheat bread/sourdough, really intense and concentrated, super fine creamy bubbles with excellent lift to support the dense structure of this wine. Super long tangy finish. Wow. I hesitate to say this is at it's peak, but IMHO it is sailing now, and I can't imagine it gaining more than it has already. It could get more tertiaries and possibly more complex, but I love the intersection of age and complexity with the youthful character and superb balance. Blair's in Silverlake b-day dinner.
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2/22/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Wine in the Sunshine State; 2/20/2020-2/23/2020 (Florida): First time with this wine and fun to get to try. It's quite young and probably needs some more time, but it was enjoyable.
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2/21/2020 - Markus IWC wrote: 93 Points
Alex Billecart 96 tasting, second flight wine #2+3:
From half bottle, two different bottles (same source):
Bottle 1:
Developed nose, red apples, roasted notes, sherry.
Fresher on the palate than the other bottle but weaker nose. 92p
Bottle 2:
Roasted notes, citrus, nice development. Rich fruit on the palate, nice concentration, slightly oxidized in a nice way. 93+p
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2/21/2020 - Markus IWC Likes this wine: 95 Points
Alex Billecart tasting wine #3:
Golden color. Singing on the nose with citrus, green apples, roses, anise, red berries, complex and developed, vegetative, wax, tropical fruit (pineapple). Nice development in the glass.
Nice grip on the palate, fresh acidity, vegetative, waxy texture, rich and concentrated fruit, lower oak with some air. 95p
BV 3
WV 3
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2/21/2020 - Elvis1969 wrote: 90 Points
Halvflaska.
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2/21/2020 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Underbar balans.
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11/21/2019 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Acker 2019/11 (Valcluse): Magnum. Lovely composure of yeast and sweetness with a precise finish. 93
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9/28/2019 - dbkitc wrote: 97 Points
Oh boy. This is terrific. Golden color. Emended nose of ripe pear and broken gravel. White flowers. Smells like grand cru white burgundy. Subtle needle point precise bubbles. Long and full of volume. Finish lasts and lasts. Mature and at the top of its game. A wonderful way to celebrate 23 years with my lovely bride. (97)
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8/7/2019 - Tartiflette Likes this wine: 97 Points
One of the highest scores I have ever given a Champagne. My last bottle of 15 bought way back for 40 euro per bottle! I should have saved more for later. Enjoyed over long time in a restaurant (Ruth's in Skagen, DK) and it was very closed initially. To follow it and experience it open up was just wonderful. The last glass was so razor sharp and precise. Full of acidity and fruit in almost perfect balance. Loooong aftertaste. What a performance.
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8/2/2019 - Jammy Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
The 1996 Billecart Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois is drinking perfectly today, it is at its sweet spot of maturing complexity and fresh fruits. Honied nose of stone fruits, ripe citrus, toasted cinnamon and hints of brown sugar. Good raw materials. (92/100)
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5/4/2019 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 91 Points
Helblint. BYOB Mö-Gbg
Dåligt med noter
Doften är parfymig med dragning åt sötma. Lite brända toner - kanske kanderat vitt socker.
Smaken åt blommigt håll, hyacinter och gröna syrliga äpplen
Den här var knepig. Sluten tycker jag. Väldigt sluten. Känns som att det finns mycket mer.
Skrev 90+++ men ändrar till 91++ Det här kommer att bli bra men baserat på flaskan vi drack bör du vänta minst fem år till. Troligtvis mer. Då kommer du troligtvis att skriva 94-96 poäng.
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1/2/2019 - dbkitc wrote: 97 Points
The best champagne of the year! I say this with only some tongue in cheek :). Golden color foreshadows a sumptuous, mature wine with layers of delicate fruit and bright acidity. This is long long long. Awesome first taste of 2019. (97)
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12/25/2018 - Tartiflette Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite mature and slightly oxidized which partly blew away. I must say I like this type/age of Champagne but the opinions are quite divided I know. Nuts, plums and generally mature in its expression. Week mousse but persistent. Long aftertaste.
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12/19/2018 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served blind, this was actually the bottle I brought but I failed to recognise it. This tasted a LOT younger then the last bottle I had recently. Blind everyone thought this was 2000s, I thought either 02 or 06. Very mineral, crisp, clean. I thought it was a grand cru BdB grower champagne. Very nice and great contrast to the Dom Ruinart 81 drank alongside.
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8/10/2018 - Pavan wrote: 93 Points
Still excellent structure and acidity, although not quite the length I had expected from raving reviews. Will cellar my final bottle another few years
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6/30/2018 - Lars1974 Likes this wine: 96 Points
From half bottle.
Golden yellow colour. Small bubbles.
On the nose it's butterfried chanterells, nice aging tones, sourdough bread, lemongrass and something chalky.
In the mouth the acidity is well preserved, bit of sherry-like tones and the sourdough and chnterells again, Limezest and almonds.
The mousse is like velvet in the mouth.
Very good!
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6/5/2018 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Served by the glass, twice, from a new bottle. Spiciest on the nose, mixture of citrus and saline on the palate.
Golden colour. Subtle bubbles. Fresh punch of white fruits and wild flowers combined with sweet spices like cinnamon or clove.
The real thing happens in the mouth with an oxidised touch, fine citrus mousse and really round. Also mineral. Highly harmonious. Good length and a salty aftertaste. Long seconds of pure enjoyment.
Superior class here. An unexpected gem. Aspiring to perfection. Seriously tempted to score 95 on this ...
Servido por copas, dos veces, de una botella nueva. Más picante en la nariz, mezcla de cítricos y solución salina al paladar.
De color dorado. Burbujas sutiles. Un directo fresco de frutas blancas y flores silvestres combinado con especias dulces como la canela o clavo.
Lo de verdad ocurre en boca con un toque oxidado, una fina mousse de cítricos y un resultado realmente redondo. De buena duración y un regusto salado. También mineral. Armonioso. Largos segundos de puro disfrute.
Clase superior. Una joyita inesperada. Aspirando a la perfección. Estoy seriamente tentado de ponerle un 95 ...
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3/9/2018 - chadslater wrote: 92 Points
Drank both bottles at birthday lunch. Golden yellow colour now. Small beads of bubbles. Honeyed. At or passing peak - quite a few at lunch liked it. Oxidised quickly.
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12/31/2017 - Clos du Mesnil wrote: 97 Points
A fanastic Champagne in so many ways...One guessed CdM 1996. Some almonds and lots of fruit with some cirus and mineral. Still viral with good acidity and a bargain back in the days. Drink now or enjoy in ten years.
Btw the 2002 show the same potential.
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12/29/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
French 1996 Vintage Dinner for a Twenty-First Birthday Celebration (Nopa, San Francisco): Medium yellow, still plenty of effervescence for a few minutes. Medium bodied, dry, stony finish. Blossomed beautifully with older Champagne aromas of truffles and flavors of caramel and butterscotch as it opened. Excellent and pretty close to ideal drinking window now.
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11/5/2017 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 95 Points
A more developed bottle then the one I had last year. This bottle was probably not singing as much as the other one, but it was a sublime example of a very nicely aged champagne - golden in color, with very fine mousse, hazelnut, brioche.
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3/19/2017 - ondevall wrote: 93 Points
Dark golden with small soft bubbles. Honey and citrus with great depth and oxidized sherry-like notes. Great stuff!
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12/22/2016 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable.
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6/28/2016 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 97 Points
Now I was looking forward to tasting one of those... I would count the 1990 Nicolas Francois drunk between 10-15 years of bottle age amongst my top ever champagne taste experiences. And I also had numerous 95 vintage which were amazing too at around 10 years of age. The 96 I had only tasted on one occasion around 10 years back and felt that it needed lots of time for that Billecart typical salivating fruit-yeastiness to develop and show what it has got. So I had been sitting on a handful of these bottles till now patiently. And I am extremely pleased to report that the wait was worth it. Firing on all cylinders straight out of the get-go. Slight straw colour but not too mature looking, firm and very persistent fine mousse that lasts in the glass. After some time in glass and warming beautiful minerality compliments the red fruit aromas and yeastiness which makes you salivate and you find yourself reaching for the next sip very frequently. On the nose a stunner also, brioche, some slight almond. This is exceptional by any standard and if kept perfectly this will be a marathon runner and could last another ten to twenty years. Chapeau. A stark reminder why this cuvée of Billecart is among my absolute top champagnes and for the money is reigning without competition.
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2/8/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
The Ultimative 1996 Champagne Tasting with Richard Juhlin (Behrens am Kai in Düsseldorf 1 star restaurant): From Magnum
Very elegant and fresh. Toasty, buttery, bread crust and still red fruits with lime notes. Better than expected. 96(96)
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1/2/2016 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Disgorged summer of 2007) Golden yellow colour with a stream of very fine and tiny bubbles exploding in a mixture of honey, chocolate, dried fruits and figs. Very typical palate for the vintage with high acidity but not as oxidized as many '96 are getting right now. Very nice refined lime peel finish and with a saltiness on the lips. Was a perfect match with Pannacotta with licorice. A very nice vintage from this cuvée. Best 2016-2036.
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12/28/2015 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
Possibly the best bottles from the case. Full of vigor and complexity. Will last for years but in a great place now. (95)
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12/25/2015 - Tartiflette Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had to grab another since since it is quite perfect right now. And no change there. Still great
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12/9/2015 - Tartiflette Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a wonderful bottle. Lots of pressure in the bottle and a lovely mousse throughout. Still a good amount of acidity but in a nice balance now. Plenty of fruit to counter the acid. Long aftertaste and plenty of life yet.
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11/13/2015 - cnordstr wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful golden color, with tiny bubbles. Nose is a little shy at first with slightly oxidised (=sherry) tones. Full-on aromas of bread and toast complemented with overripe apples. Medium palate is rich and finish is long. From half bottle.
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10/10/2015 - Argrath wrote: 93 Points
(BYO Blind tasting)
Fully mature nose with ripe apple and White chocolate. Some hints of oyster minerality. Lacking a bit in depth and complexity, but also very inviting.
Very mature palate that has some hints of sherry-like flavours. A lot of ripe apple and dark chocolate with a orange-acidic finish. Good grip, but also a bit hard. Maybe not much upside from here.
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7/6/2015 - mmh wrote: 93 Points
A great champagne that I suspect is soon approaching its peak (at least based on this particular bottle). A very complex nose with toast, lobster shells and hazelnuts. Good acidity and a long, complex aftertaste. A slight bitterness in the end reduces the score for me. Nevertheless, this was great!
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6/8/2015 - AV2012 wrote: 94 Points
Vintage Champagne: Golden colour. Rich, toasty style. Nose of toasted white bread, some oak influence, some yeast, but not too much of it. Long, interesting, multilayered and massive on the palate. Citrus and grapefruit tartiness on the finish. Excellent and mature, with enough stuffing to keep going on.
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4/18/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Golden in color, medium intensity.
Nose of green fruits, bread, yeast, brioche.
Palate is super fresh, apple, pear, citrus, white peach, honey, floral, yeasty, brioche, mineral, mushroom. Excellent acidity.
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12/28/2014 - 500174 wrote:
Lovely mature golden colour, good mousse. Complex spread of notes on the nose, still fresh and lively. But quite lean and acidic on the palate despite a good dosage. acid+ sugar + alcohol in a not perfectly melded way. Good to try this and overall a very nice drink but I don't think it will ever be an outstanding bottle. 17
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7/20/2014 - RolfT Likes this wine: 90 Points
I didnt take notes but recall it beeing very thin and salty on the nose to begin with. After 5 minutes in my glass it opened up wonderfully.
On the palate it was still very young. I didnt detect any notes of maturity.
I was slightly dissapointed.
Store!
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7/12/2014 - thewiz Likes this wine: 94 Points
(from a half bottle)
Goldenyellow colour with an amazing amount of fine and tiny bubbles.
Mature nose showing marmalade, butterscotch and burnt caramel. But took over an hour to open up in the glass, then it Went over to plums and dark chocolat. Typically hard acidity in the palate but the fruit follows nicely showing yellow apples. And after all this comes the nice and long finish of kaffir lime bitterness.
Wonderful this time as well, and will last many years to come!
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7/3/2014 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 96 Points
Robin Visit for lunch (Elgin Valley): This 1996 has a mid-gold colour. Elegant and intense on the nose, it showcases plenty of lemon and orange with shortcrust pastry and softened warmed brioche mixed with tertiary elements. Still amazingly youthful for an old wine, the palate holds a fine, tingling, crisp acidity that balances well with the mid-palate breadth that brings in lemon and some blanched almonds. Tight and streamlined, this is a smart wine, complex.
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3/13/2014 - AtoZ wrote: flawed
From magnum. Thought corked at first. Blew off and returned. Just not right / off. Lacked freshness. Tart. And slightly corky. Meh.
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2/22/2014 - Tartiflette Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a great Champagne without being exceptional. Lots of acid and good fruit. Opened it a little too warm, and that didn't suit the wine. After cooling it showed baked apples, brioche, nuts, citrus. Still a little too much acid. Good and subtle mousse. Medium aftertaste. Should last many years still.
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12/26/2013 - Jadiii wrote:
Not a big champagne person but this champagne is wonderful, a very nice nutty blend for lack of a better description, just delicious.
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10/1/2013 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful bubbles that are aging beautifully. Medium golden color with lively mousse. Toast and quince on the nose with a citrus finish. Very precise and crisp - elegant in every sense of the word. (94)
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12/6/2012 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Fizz @ Fish Club (Fish Club, Clapham): Slightly darker colour than the b de b. Fuller on the nose too. Spicier. A little more savoury with a nice toatiness. Richer on the palate but seemingly higher acidity too. Quite a zing here. ****
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12/5/2012 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Yellow colour with a rapid stream of tiny little bubbles running up the glass.
On the nose there's a very mature scent of yellow apples and chocolate with a hint of Sherry. The palate is very full with chocolate and a hint of mature fruits. The after taste is relatively short.
The overall experience is good, but still not as good as I would expect from this premium champagne from 1996. Since it has such good structure I think it should probably be put away for 5-7 years to pass this current phase.
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9/4/2012 - Tartiflette wrote: 92 Points
(Formel B, Copenhagen). Lots of both fruit and acid. Bubbles fading a bit though. Still a lovely specimen. Dough, apples, nuts, brioche.
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7/31/2012 - Sterling Minor wrote: 95 Points
In the three plus years since I had my last bottle, this wine has taken on tremendous weight and is now explosive with biscuit, cantaloupe, and lemon aromas and flavors and a medium thick mouthfeel. I have never had a better champagne.
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4/18/2012 - godx wrote: flawed
From 375ml. Corked. What a shame!
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12/29/2011 - monk8miles wrote: 94 Points
This was superb. Turning slightly to a golden color, with a little honey suckle, yeast, lemon, orange peel, and green apple on the nose. Classic small delicate Billlecart bubbles, but a little less energetic than a young NV. On the palate mouth-filling fruitiness of ripe green apples, almonds, a touch of melon and a solid hit of toasted biscuit. Balanced out by a solid but not overwhelming acidity. The finish last at least a minute with a lingering citrus freshness and what seemed like a late hit of lightly roasted nuts. I feel like this is peaking now, I will drink my last three bottles in the next few months.
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12/10/2011 - jreis wrote:
Drank alongside a bevy of 96 champagnes, including the 96 Grand Cuvee, Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rose Extra Cuvee De Reserve, Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé and the A. R. Lenoble Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru. This wine was my favorite of the 96 line up. Just tremendous lift and soaring flavors. Beautiful lemon and orange peel, limestone and young fresh strawberries on the nose. Still young and pretty primary on the palate with beautiful mousse, crunchy acidity and sweet tight fruit. Still a youngster, but a beautiful drink.
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10/4/2011 - Tartiflette wrote: 93 Points
Now we are getting there. Still a young Champagne but just so much more pleasure now. The fruit is showing very well now. Dark, bright yellow color. Lots of small bubbles, fading though. Lovely mousse. Green apples, nuts, dough, soy. Very powerful and overwhelming in a fruity way. Lacks some debts and complexity still. Medium acidity.
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9/26/2011 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
So nice to have another great bottle of this Champagne. After a few lackluster performances, this bottle showed the lovely balance and freshness of the best examples. At peak but should stay at this level for a while. Deep, balanced and long. Terrific. (95)
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9/10/2011 - Shorepower wrote:
Fin rostad doft med smörad rostat bröd, vanilj, honung och lite nötter, bra mousse med fina bubblor, syran finns där men tar inte överhanden, lite bitterhet kan skönjas. Rent och bra vin. Tog denna mycket pga diskussionen kring Grande Cuvée kontra NF. Även om NF 96 är riktigt bra så når den inte upp i klassen av sin storebror. Saknar lite av den kristalklara skärpan och perfekta balansen som GC har , NF är inget dåligt vin men i jämförelse så bleknar det
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5/21/2011 - jaimetown wrote: 91 Points
Still a shimmering pale yellow color - a young sample of this wine, with taut structure and some austerity, but still a very nice bottle of bubbly. Opened up in the glass with some notes of light toast, crunchy apple, and a bit of nuttiness on the finish.
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5/17/2011 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
A disappointment – flat – seemed tired. I hope the rest are not this way. Not in the same league as the last bottle. (89)
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4/24/2011 - suttonri wrote: 92 Points
Really fine, medium gold color, no mousse but this was drank out of random wine glasses of dubious quality. Nice brioche & yeast with apples on the finish. Very clean and refreshing. Champagne is so versatile, this worked great at a Amer-asian Easter potluck that included Schezuanese noodles, Malaysian shrimp sambal with coconut rice, Cantonese ham hocks, honey-baked ham, mashed potatos, green beans, and corn bread.
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3/29/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Paul Visit (Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, The Forum Shopping Mall, Orchard Road): Alcohol :: 12%
Even more toasty, yeasty compare to the rose with aromas of green apple, melon, pear as well as fresh baked biscuit and earth. Still young and a bit sharp, but there is this intensity and power to go along with the rich white fruits coated palate and almost crystalline with the lively acidity spine. Though the finish is still kinda disjointed and not able to carry the power from the mid palate at this moment. Age is needed. Buy - No.
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2/14/2011 - magnord wrote: 93 Points
Divine.
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1/28/2011 - tveek wrote:
Tight, acidic, still way way too young. Wait. Potential in abundance.
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12/1/2010 - Tartiflette wrote: 91 Points
Now the fruit is much more evident than last year. Fresh, green apples and lots accidity. Brioche, nuts, soy, yeast. Light yellow color and lots of fine bubbles. Promising more in the future.
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10/23/2010 - paulevd wrote: 92 Points
Mom's 88th birthday. Rather unusual medium yellow/green color (I'm color blind, so what do I know?). Sharp green apple. Diminished mousse. Nice long finish. Seemed slightly more one-dimensional than when I opened my other bottle of this stuff a year and a half ago. Least enjoyable at this time of the 96's I've tried.
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8/19/2010 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Lovely aromatics, packed with fresh brioche, vanilla cream, white fruits and touches of honey and yeast. Tremendous power and richness in the mouth with fresh baked biscuit and ripe fruit complemented by gentle nutty and marzipan notes, very fresh and lively with really good acidity and effervescence. Delicious.
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8/8/2010 - G Kapoor wrote: 92 Points
Drank from a 375 with raw scallops prepared five ways. This champagne was an excellent match for the dish, liquid orange/gold in color with fine mousse and bubbles. Palate of citrus, caramel, stones and white fruit.
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7/25/2010 - Jossik wrote:
Al naso subito bellissimi toni salmastri e di crema pasticcera all'arancia, molto aperto e pieno. La bocca è goduriosa e polposa, di grandissima acidità ma piacevole. Finale piacevolmente amarognolo e lungo.
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5/16/2010 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is the only wine of the B-S linup from 1996 I had never tried, so I picked one up from AMC retail to check it out. It's excellent to outstanding. While not quite integrated yet, the bready PN (60%) and citric CH (40%) are both apparent. Terrific grip, good but not obtrusive acidity. Clearly on the upswing and much better than the '96 Clos St. Hilaire I had recently.
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5/6/2010 - igaf wrote:
Old note. Fresh, very interesting, complex nose with light bread notes, some citrus and flowery notes, apples, some spice, white chocolate. Fresh. Good intensity on the palate, autolytic, balanced, elegant. Mineral finish. Long. Nice!
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2/6/2010 - Shorepower wrote: flawed
Tyvärr saknade den all frukt och var platt. Doften var ganska svag. Kan inte säga att vinet var defekt, korkat eller oxiderat men det var ingen bra flaska.
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1/26/2010 - ed-d wrote: 90 Points
Nice pale golden color. Good tiny mousse. Yeasty, toasty & a bit of roasted nut on the nose with a slightly oxidized quality. Full & yeasty on the palate with a tart bite to the finish. Tasted blind.
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11/28/2009 - Tartiflette wrote: 91 Points
Still very young. Store.
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10/19/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 95 Points
Every bit a good as the big boys....perfect now but will age easily for 15 more years...
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8/24/2009 - 60ouvrees wrote:
Drinking exceptionally well but still with plenty of room for development. Very nice.
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5/31/2009 - Sterling Minor wrote: 93 Points
Needs some more time. Creamy.
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11/15/2008 - Alex H wrote: 91 Points
Faiveley Luncheon and MORE (Makaros @ NLB, Denise Vivo and Le Bistrot): Deep gold with teeny tiny bubble beads. Marmite, yeasty and bready. Slightly honeyed when swallowed. This is lovely, toasty and clean lemons. Hints of chicken essence shows but is enveloped by a certain sweet aura about it that I associate with sweet apple core or zappel drink! A lovely seamless and unique effort. This champagne has purity. I do love it because it tastes different from the other top vintage cuvees I have tasted.
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11/15/2008 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
An afternoon with the wines of Faiveley (Makarios, National Library, Singapore): Really fine, but oh so young, even given that we drank it from a 375ml. Yellow gold in colour. Super fine, super persistent and really dense bead promisd quality, and the wine delivered. Really yeasty, chardonnay nose, with some soy, bread and honey along with a fragrant seam of sweet red apple running through the nose through onto the palate which was creamily textured with great weight and delineation. It was all acid at first, but really blossomed with time to show honey, white fruit and that red apple flavour along with a savoury bready undertone. Long, balanced finish. Beautiful, but needs time to integrate.
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9/14/2008 - spaniel wrote: 95 Points
Superb. Still tight and youthful.
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8/30/2008 - Rupert wrote: 91 Points
On top form today, very fresh with a citrus edge, layered, balanced, lovely
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7/8/2008 - dream wrote: 94 Points
Out of half bottle at Veritas, NYC. Just a fantastic champagne with frothy mousse and ultrafine bubbles. Tons of earthy yeast and lemon flavors with a lovely elegant but firm intensity on the incredibly long and complex finish. This champagne has big fruit balanced by big acidity and it actually lifts the palate. Really good stuff. In half-bottle this is ready now but has life ahead. 94
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2/22/2008 - tonsta wrote: 94 Points
Opened on the birth of our 1st child Liam. Great Champagne, straw yellow colour, fine bead, mousse and yeasty characteristics on the palate - has the power of Bollinger and the elegance of Dom Perignon. Drinking perfectly right now...
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1/20/2008 - ove wrote: 93 Points
Golden mature colour with lovely aromas and bread on the nose. Mature and full-bodied on the palate. Will last for years.
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12/31/2007 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful, rich golden hue. Very small, fast bubbles. First smell instantly makes us salivate. Wow, what a nose! Wide open, buttery character with walnuts, hazelnuts, cream, fudge, honey, raisins and perfectly integrated, discrete oxidation. You actually "ride" the nose! Lovely, harmonious, nectarlike on the palate. Extremely refined acids. Caressing and very easy to drink. Fantastic, just so delicious...
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12/31/2007 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Very austere, but deep and minerally, but on this particular evening I wanted something more generous
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12/25/2007 - Rupert wrote:
Out of sorts - tight and raw, metallic - I suspect it was slightly corked
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10/7/2007 - Rupert wrote: 93 Points
As bready and yeasty a nose as I've ever encountered, giviing way to deep, tangy fruit, balanced and long, this was really super.
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10/2/2007 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
Great champagne. This is big without being heavy yet full of delicacy without being light. It rides the middle ground well without being the slightest bit boring – in fact, I loved the complexity. Almost too easy to drink, I enjoyed it so much. (94)
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9/7/2007 - CobraKahn wrote: 95 Points
Deliscious. Rich, creamy, toasty. Everything I like about champange. Like a La Grande Dame but less over the top.
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4/14/2007 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Really powerful, tangy, vibrant, rich - coming into its own
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2/15/2007 - Verreydt wrote: 94 Points
Very Good ! I liked this more then the Gosset 1996. Great nose ( bakery, apple, vanilla) and impressive aftertaste. Nice bubbles, glass Vinum 416/68. Some people say this is not ready to drink, but for me, this is already fantastic. Will buy more and see how this develops in time as it only can improve.
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2/11/2007 - peternelson wrote: 94 Points
Learn about Wine: Lovely strong angel food, yeast, and bread dough notes--soft-yeast; a bit green apple in mth, but tons of intensity and power. This was fantastic--5-10 yrs more.***Lighter than DP, but intense dough & yeast w/green apple mth and ultra refinement.
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2/6/2007 - 60ouvrees wrote:
Surprisingly evolved, dark color. Nose is complex yet still very clean and pure. We had no flutes so drinking out of riedel Bordeaux glasses might explain why this wine seemed to have almost no fizz. It had everything else though - fruit, acidity and a long poweful finish. Would imagine that this will only get better but the lack of bubbles is troubling
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12/16/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
Fairly deep yellow / gold color. Particularly bright with very active bubbles. Mild toast, fresh cream and white fruit aroma – a stark contrast to the high yeast Bollinger GA a few days ago. A prettier and more gentile style. Wonderful, fruit driven attack with super follow-up on the mid-palate and finish. Not a brash style, but not wimpy either. This seems to straddle the fence between heavy and light. This needs a few years to truly strut its stuff. Should be fascinating to follow for the next 10 or so years. I like this a lot. (18.5++)
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7/15/2006 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful complexity, nuts, coffee, brioche, crystallised fruit; ininmitable marriage of freshness and ripeness, intensity and elegance, smooth mousse; excellent length.
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7/7/2006 - tendring wrote: 96 Points
Sophisticated and complex nose.
Substantial in the mouth, really elegant, will be even better in a couple of years.
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5/5/2006 - skwid wrote:
Drunk from Riedel Sommelier Vintage Champagne glass. not decanted.
Much more mature than when I last had this last year. The hard acidic edge has really toned down and the Champagne is now quite nice.
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3/11/2006 - Winetex wrote:
Dinner at the Wine Cask (The Wine Cask, Santa Barbara, CA): This was undeniably quality champagne but seems very young. It was difficult to get a read on the personality of this champagne but I believe this is due to its relative youth. Only time will tell how much better it will get.
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2/14/2006 - Sav wrote: 98 Points
Unique full bodied flavour, lots of character, but not for those who prefer delicate refined champagne. Loved it, buy more on special occasion!
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12/26/2005 - Rupert wrote: 86 Points
First bottle was corked. Second - very lively young fizz, but at this stage I really can't see anything to this - doubtless it will turn into something nice in the next few years
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