Producer: Dehours et Fils
The Dehours Champagne Brut Grande Reserve is the result of an assemblage of Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a great percentage of vin de rèserve, fermented according to Solera methods, embraced by Jerome in 1998.
Producer: Gerard Perseval
Gérard Perseval combines his extensive knowledge of biodynamic viticulture and his profound respect for nature to create structured and complex wines, treasures in bottles capable of exciting the senses.
Producer: Jacquesson
The NV Extra-Brut Cuvée No. 744 is soft, open-knit and caressing. The natural radiance of the vintage comes through in the wine's ample, creamy feel. Apricot, spice, dried flowers, hazelnut and lightly honeyed notes are all beautifully laced together.
Producer: Jacquesson
For the 2018 harvest in Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers (68%), Avize and Oiry (32%), the previous winter was exceptionally rainy, this was followed by a mild, stormy spring. The weather changed from June onwards, becoming fine and dry, resulting in a particularly early harvest: we started picking on 30 August and finished on 11 September. The vines were in perfect...
Producer: Jacquesson
NV Extra-Brut Cuvée No. 743 (2015 base) is soft, open-knit and caressing. The natural radiance of 2015 comes through in the wine's ample, creamy feel. Apricot, spice, dried flowers, hazelnut and lightly honeyed notes are all beautifully laced together.
Producer: Bouquin Dupont Fils
A wonderful champagne, 100% Chardonnay of Avize from vineyards more than 60 years old. A base of citrus fruit melted with the scent, and taste, of a custard where there are also two drops of lemon juice. Delicious and enjoyable.
Producer: Jacquesson
2017, the harvest from Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers (66%) Avize and Oiry (34%). Winter and Spring were exceptionally dry; the beginning of Spring was mild but, in April, destructive frosts ravaged the vineyards, especially in the Côte des Blancs. Temperatures then rose and the weather was good until July. The end of the growing season was hot but very wet. The...
Producer: Jacquesson
2019. Winter was mild and dry. Spring frost struck three times and mainly caused damage to our Chardonnay vines, hence the predominance of the Pinots in this cuvee. Summer was dry with heatwaves that caused sunburn. We harvested a very high-quality crop with moderate yields from 12th to 22nd September. The wines are structured, balanced, long and complex....
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The 2019 Le Pergole Torte is all class and refinement. At the same time, the 2019 is quite reticent at this stage. In this tasting, the Pergole Torte comes across as more refined and aromatically expressive than the Montevertine, with lovely brightness driving the red berry fruit. Elegant and sophisticated, the 2019 is a wine to treasure for the next several decades.
Producer: Montevertine
The 2021 Montevertine is a huge, potent wine. Dark, rich and explosive, the 2021 possesses tremendous depth, maybe too much. Readers will have to be patient. The inclusion of new vineyards in the Docciole sector have altered Montevertine; it's now a darker, more virile wine from mostly younger vines, in relative terms. In bottle, I find it a bit...
Producer: Podere Poggio Scalette
The 2020 ll Carbonaione comes across as a touch slender in this vintage, which might explain why the oak is so pronounced. Dark fruit, leather, tobacco and incense struggle to emerge. It will be interesting to see how this ages. Slightly oxidative and sweet notes are distracting.
Producer: Tenuta Antinori
The 1995 Solaia is simply magnificent. Here it is the wine's combination of richness and vibrancy that impresses. The 1995 is a wine of total balance, harmony and class. What a great showing.
Producer: Tenuta Antinori
Much the same can be said about the 2000 Solaia, another wine with plenty of near and medium-term appeal, but less potential for aging.
Producer: Tenuta San Guido
The 2019 Guidalberto is a stellar wine. Rich, ample and resonant, the 2019 possesses superb depth and textural richness, both signatures of this warm, dry vintage. The 2019 Guidalberto hits it out of the park on that level.
Producer: Castello dei Rampolla
Wines from the Castello dei Rampolla property show an impressive and especially chiseled quality. These are frank and honest wines that stay true to the identity set forth years ago at this historic estate.
Producer: Montevertine
The 2021 Pian del Ciampolo is racy, supple and textured, with lovely up front and plenty of charm. In this vintage, the Pian del Ciampolo is quite generous and forward.
Producer: Podere Poggio Scalette
The 2018 Il Carbonaione is one of the most elegant editions of this flagship wine I can remember tasting. Il Carbonaione is usually a rich, bombastic wine, but the 2018 is sleek, gracious and remarkably refined.
Producer: Jurij Fiore & Figlie
The 2021 Chianti Classico PuntodiVista is a wild, savory wine. Dried herbs, leather, licorice, incense and scorched earth bring out that aspect of its personality.
Producer: Biondi Santi Tenuta Il Greppo
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous. The estate's preference for picking on the early side is one of the factors that help balance some of the fleshiness of the vintage. This is an especially silky, supple Brunello from Biondi-Santi. The overt personality of the year comes through, but not at the expense of the house's style. Floral notes reappear...
Producer: Jurij Fiore & Figlie
Occhioroso Difori is a intriguing wine. Just bottled, the 2021 is heavily reduced, and yet behind that lies a serious core of fruit laced with savory and floral notes. Exotic and wild but certainly intriguing.
Producer: Podere Poggio Scalette
The 2019 Il Carbonaione is silky and racy in the glass. Scents of new oak are a clear sign the 2019 doesn't quite have the density of the very best years, but Il Carbonaione has a brilliant track record of aging.
Producer: Jurij Fiore & Figlie
The 2016 Chianti Classico Lamole PuntodiVista is dense, pliant and super-expressive. A rush of sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint and blood orange give the 2016 a decidedly exotic flair.
Producer: Montevertine
The 2020 Montevertine is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Dark, powerful and imposing, the 2020 impresses with its vibrancy and energy.
Producer: Tenuta San Guido
The 2021 Guidalberto is a delicious wine from Tenuta San Guido. Dark, plush and enveloping, the 2021 offers plenty of near and medium-term appeal.
Producer: Podere Poggio Scalette
The 2021 Il Carbonaione is a regal, elegant wine. Silky, beautifully perfumed and persistent, the 2021 is everything I want from Il Carbonaione. All the purity of Sangiovese caresses the senses in a wine that is both textually intense and also light on its feet. Dark red-toned fruit, rose petals, cinnamon, new leather and cedar are some of the many...
The 2019 Le Pergole Torte is all class and refinement. At the same time, the 2019 is quite reticent at this stage. In this tasting, the Pergole Torte comes across as more refined and aromatically expressive than the Montevertine, with lovely brightness driving the red berry fruit. Elegant and sophisticated, the 2019 is a wine to treasure for the next several decades.
