Champagne is for Lovers Sale 2-10-24

 
Bereche Brut Reserve:
 
This is THE staff favorite Champagne.
 
Mark: My favorite Champagne grower and ultimately my favorite NV Champagne. How in the world do they achieve such complexity in the blend year after year? Richness that’s as a light as a feather. Aromas that refresh and draw you in deeper. The most opulent of mousse that feels like it doesn’t have an end to the depth. My goodness.
 
Suzanne: I will always have a few bottles of this in my cellar. Aside from aging like it’s bottled at the fountain of youth, this is always delicious at any point in its maturity.
 
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve NV (2020 BASE) 750ml Displayed Price: $65, that’s $61.75 at 5% off and $58.50 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The NV Brut Réserve is bright and finely sculpted right out of the glass. There’s terrific purity and energy running through the Brut Réserve. Crushed red berry fruit, white pepper, crushed rocks and mint all race out of the glass. This release is based on 2020, with a good bit of reserve wine (35%) that serves to create terrific balance. The 5.5 grams of dosage is not at all felt.”
 
Delamotte:
 
Delamotte is best known as the more affordable arm of Salon—the original luxury-collectible single vineyard Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil.  While that’s understandable, it tends to ignore the fact that Delamotte is a Champagne house of note in its own right. These are enchanting and captivating Cote des Blancs Champagnes worthy of your attention (and ample space in your cellar!)
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut 2014 1.5L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Delamotte’s just-released 2014 Blanc de Blancs has turned out very well indeed, opening in the glass with scents of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a chalky finish, this isn’t as muscular as the 2008 or 2012, but it has real cut and persistence and should age very gracefully indeed.”
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “A blend of the six Grand Cru villages of the Cote de Blancs, with 6.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2014 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut is fresh and precise, with aromas of vibrant green apple, pleasant reduction with flint, and delicate smoke, citrus blossoms, and wet stone. The transition to the palate is seamless and linear, with crisp and crunchy green fruit, and is electric with lime candy, a refined mousse, and a chalky texture. It warrants more time before opening, but it is delicious and refreshing now. Drink over 2023-2043.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2014 Blanc de Blancs is seriously impressive. Ample in feel, Delamotte is especially rich in 2014, and yet there is plenty of freshness to balance things out. This is an especially savory style for Delamotte, and one that works so well. Dried lemon peel, pastry, almond, dried herbs and chamomile open in a beautifully translucent Blanc des Blancs that marries power and finesse. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Croissants, toasted sourdough, white pears, acacia and lemon meringue pie. Salty almond notes on the palate. Deliciously saline and creamy, with silky bubbles and a gently toasty finish. 100% chardonnay from Mesnil, Avize and Oger. Based on 2017 vintage with 20% reserve wines. Drink now. – July 19, 2023”
 
Delamotte Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed 2023] A delicate, mineral-driven Champagne, with an underpinning of chalk, smoke and oyster shell layered with notes of poached apricot, citronella and beeswax. Lively and persistent on the finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2026. 6,250 cases made.”
James Suckling 91 points “Attractively chalky and biscuity nose, with some honey, apricots and lemon cream. It’s balanced and focused, with very fine bubbles, a medium body and well-rounded finish. 60% chardonnay, 35% pinot noir and 5% meunier. Base wine from 2018 with 20% reserve wines from 2017 and 2016. Drink now.”
 
Delamotte Rosé Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “[Reviewed in 2023] The NV Champagne Rosé is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with the base of 2019, and 15% still red wine. It pours a salmon/orange-tinged hue and opens in the glass to fresh, floral, pretty aromas of nectarine, salted orange, fresh rose petal, and curry spice. Medium-bodied, it has a wonderful chalky and pithy texture, with a pinpoint mousse that’s almost an afterthought. Ripe with fruit but well-balanced and long, with mouthwatering acidity, its spicier notes (cardamom, perhaps?) start to reveal themselves as it opens, and the wine lasts long on the palate. It is quite distinctive. Drink 2024-2040. 8 grams per liter dosage.”
 
Marc Hebrart:
 
To quote Peter Liem from his book “Champagne,” a true must-read for any aficionado, Marc Hebrart is “one of the finest estates in the Grande Vallée.” This should be enough to convince anyone, but we’ll elaborate. These are near perfectly crafted, thought-provoking wines to enjoy at nearly any stage of their maturity.
 
“an utter masterpiece of weightless concentration, as huge and yet as penetrable as a cumulous cloud.” –Terry Theise
 
Marc Hebrart wines have been on a stealthy climb up the ladder of producers to know. The house style has always emphasized balance over power, and while there is plenty of complexity in his bottlings, they’re always drinkable and delightful. Peter Liem writes, “Hébrart’s wines have a broad appeal: if you like to think about your wines, they’re intellectually engaging enough to satisfy you; on the other hand, if you’re just looking to drink, they’re simply delicious. The wines are full and generous without being weighty, complex and soil-driven without being demanding. Overall, the entire range is of consistently high quality, and represents excellent value for the money.”
 
Hebrart Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes NV 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Old vines. 2018-base”
Aubrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 60% from the 2018 vintage and the rest from the 2016 vintage, the NV Champagne Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes Brut takes on more dark fruits, but they remain pure, with notes of kirsch, wet asphalt, and hay. The palate offers more red fruit eau de vie of raspberry, river rock, and saltiness, and it is dry, inviting, and pleasurable. This is a beautiful wine to drink now or over the next 15 or more years.”
 
Hebrart Premier Cru Brut Rosé NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed in 2023] Well-knit and minerally, with a crisp texture and flavors of ripe raspberry, poached apricot, tangerine peel and biscuit. Chalky finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.”
 
Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Review for previous disgorgement.] A sleek Champagne, mouthwatering and refined in texture, offering a creamy, well-meshed blend of crème de cassis, toast point, crystallized honey and lemon curd.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 points “[Review for previous disgorgement.] The NV Brut Sélection is based on 2018, with reserve wines from 2016 and 2015. Richness and vibrancy come together in a mid-weight Champagne that captures the essence of Hébrart’s style. Lemon confit, apple tart, spice, chamomile and dried flowers build into the resonant finish.”
Importer note “Anticipated assemblage: 60% 2019, 30% 2018, 10% 2017. Village/vyd: Old vines, 40+-years-old and sélection massale; Pinot Noir from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ 1er Cru, Avenay Val d’Or 1er Cru; Chardonnay from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ 1er Cru, Bisseuil 1er Cru.”
 
Christian Madl:
 
Christian Madl’s wines are a true delight for the senses, offering a refreshingly unique take on sparkling wine. Crafted with meticulous attention in the traditional method, these wines are vintage-dated and bottle-aged, utilizing grapes typical of champagne production as well as Austrian varietals.
 
Sektkellerei Madl Brut Nature, Weinviertel, Austria 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Falstaff 92 points “Light greenish yellow with silver reflections and a delicate, fine bubbly mousse. A hint of tobacco underpins aromas of yellow apple and pear fruit, meadow herbs and lime zest. Medium complexity on the palate, with green apple and some pineapple fruit, fresh acidity, a fine minerality and a lemony touch on the finish. Typical Grüner Veltliner nuances and a pleasant aperitif.”
Winery note “Unsulfured! For lovers of a puristic style, smells like a fluffy brioche, rustic, markedly dry, bready on the palate. 100 % Grüner Veltliner on lees since 2019.”
 
Sektkellerei Madl Cuvee Special Brut, Niederosterreich, Austria 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Falstaff 93 points “Pale green yellow, silver reflections, lively, fine mousse. Yellow tropical fruit, zest, some baked goods, nuances of red berries, a hint of currants, a multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, good complexity and mineral nuances, delicately fruity, saline nuances, balanced, delicate sweetness on the finish, has length and development, certain ageing potential. “
Winery note “White bread and brioche, rich and corpulent with depth, fine mousseux, creamy with a straight substance. Méthode Traditionnelle. Chardonnay 53 % & Pinot Noir 47 % on lees since 2016.”
 
Sektkellerei Madl ‘Von den Weissen’ Brut, Niederosterreich, Austria 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Fine-aromatic hay flowers meet elegant pear. Méthode Traditionnelle. Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner & Riesling on lees since 2017.”
No reviews for the 2016 vintage. Recent review provided for reference.
Falstaff 93 points “Pale yellow green, silver reflections, delicate, lively mousse. Fine yellow apple fruit nuances, some pear and herbs, lime zest underneath. Medium complexity, vivid fruit sweetness, some peach, fine acidity, good balance, mineral-salty finish, shows length, good certain ageing potential.”
 
Sektkellerei Madl Onothek ‘Von den Weissen’ Brut, Niederosterreich 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
A blend of Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling with over 60 months en tirage.
Review is for the early release version of this wine, not the extended tirage:
Falstaff 93 points “Light yellow green, silver reflections. Lively, fine mousse, delicate yeasty note, white fruit nuances of peach and fresh apple, some blossom, and backed by lime zest. Taut, tightly meshed, fine sweet fruit, integrated acidity, finely radiant and very youthful, with a mineral finish. It is a stimulating aperitif.”
 
Aubry:
 
“The essential point of Aubry is to limn the very fine line between a kind of country classicism and an absolute embrace of the avant-garde… When I first introduced the wines I was thrilled to highlight all the heirloom varieties, and the many ways Aubrys were true originals. I still am, and they still are.” –Terry Theise
 
Aubry is an interesting estate, in that stylistically (and from a zeitgeist perspective) they’re very much thought of as a “classical” producer (and are in their winemaking), but when you look at the wines they make, they appear very avant-garde. That’s largely due to a desire to work with what might be termed as “heirloom” varieties (Pinot Blanc, Arbanne, Petit Meslier) which goes back to time before that might have been seen as cool (and was instead thought of as crazy).
 
The bubbles produced from these grapes are the opposite of their basic wines—you recognize them instantly as Champagne, but as though through a mirror that subtly distorts what you expect. The wines are delicious and approachable but you leave with the impression that the world of Champagne has a few more layers than what you had previously assumed.
 
Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $39.50, that’s $37.53 at 5% off and $35.55 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV 1.5L Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Aubrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck “[Reviewed 2023] The NV Champagne Brut pours a copper-straw color and is the classic blend for this cuvée of 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier with a small amount of Arbanne, Petit Meslier, and Fromenteau, with 60% from 2020 and the remainder reserve wines back to 1998. Ripe with aromas of tropical fruit, it opens to notes of ripe mango, candied orange, fresh bread, and ginger. Medium-bodied, it is focused, with a delicate mousse and a clean, chalky texture. Versatile and charming, it’s ready for drinking now or over the coming 6-8 years.”
Importer note “Cépage 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier, 5% Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau. Anticipated assemblage 60% 2020, 40% reserve wine back to 1998. Village/vyd: Jouy-lès-Reims 1er Cru, Villedommange 1er Cru, Pargny-lès-Reims 1er Cru, Coulommes-la-Montagne 1er Cru. Elevage: Mostly stainless steel with a portion of the Chardonnay aged in used barrique.”
 
Aubry Premier Cru Brut Rosé NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The NV Champagne Brut Rosé pours a very pale salmon hue, with a floral bouquet of rose petal, bread dough, fresh peach, and cantaloupe. The palate is zippy and medium-bodied, with an approachable and refreshing nature, offering grapefruit zest with a saline touch. This is a pretty wine and a great value with a springy feel.”
 
Louis Roederer:
 
Not needing any introduction, this Champagne house is a legend in the wine-lover community and its Cristal bottlings are the day dreams of collectors and enthusiasts all over the world. Is there a more classic or striking expression of what top quality vintage Champagne is supposed to taste like? We think not.
 
Louis Roederer Collection 244 Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 29 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Based on the 2019 vintage, Roederer’s NV Brut Collection 244 is the finest release of the house’s reimagined non-vintage Brut to date. Offering up aromas of pear, peach and nectarine mingled with notions of white flowers, beeswax, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a pretty pinpoint mousse, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. The quality of the base vintage really shines through.”
James Suckling 94 points “The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more. A cuvee of 41% chardonnay, 33% pinot noir and 26% pinot meunier…”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut 2002 750ml Displayed Price: $599, that’s $569.05 at 5% off and $539.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 100 points “Roederer’s 2002 Cristal, from magnum, is just off the charts…….The texture, breadth, and overall pedigree here is just remarkable, with layers of apricot, spice, dried flowers, and citrus conft that continue to build over time. The 2002 is neither old nor young; it is quite simply eternal…..”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “Roederer’s 2002 Cristal is a fabulous wine! …Its amazing richness and concentration makes it a forerunner of the 2015 and follows the 1999… the nose of the 2002 Cristal shows a deep, ripe and elegant fruit with aromas of white chocolate, wet chalk, wild vanilla and pepper (typical for 2002) as well as terroir-driven truffle notes. Intense and very elegant in the mouth, this is a ripe, rich and concentrated yet also pure and vital Cristal with great finesse, elegance and mineral complexity. It’s a sublime Champagne right now, although it’s more wine than Champagne. Tasted in Reims in May 2018.”

Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut 2006 750ml Displayed Price: $459, that’s $436.05 at 5% off and $413.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2006 Cristal is a rich, explosive wine that captures all of the natural radiance of this warm year. Ample and full-bodied, the 2006 is one of the more extroverted recent Cristals. As such, it will drink well now, even though it has more than enough body to drink well for another 20 years or more…”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut 2012 750ml Displayed Price: $519, that’s $493.05 at 5% off and $467.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98 points “The 2012 Cristal is the first made entirely from biodynamically farmed vineyards. Passionfruit, mango, spice and ginger open first, but it is the wine’s textural richness and volume that stand out most. The 2012 is one of the most opulent, flamboyant recent Cristals. Those qualities feel especially amplified in this tasting, perhaps because of the presence of wines from the surrounding vintages. It was a complicated season, as mildew reduced yields significantly, resulting in an especially rich Cristal that seems to be gaining intensity with time in bottle.”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $349, that’s $331.55 at 5% off and $314.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
#1 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Spectator 98 points “This vivid Champagne shows up-front and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98 points “The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. A dazzling, vibrant Champagne, the 2014 impresses with a stunning combination of fruit density and linear energy that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of 2012 and 2008… The 2014 Cristal is a riveting Champagne. Don’t miss it.”
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection…”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that’s girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that’s simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn’t come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window…”
Simon Field MW-Decanter 95 points “The rollercoaster growing season of 2014 is reflected to perfection by the innate tension here; ripe citric fruit and even a touch of exoticism (mango and fig) tempered by a fine shard of acidity and a lifted ethereal character, described paradoxically by chef de caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon as ‘weightless density’…”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $379, that’s $360.05 at 5% off and $341.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
The Wine Independent 98 points “… An exquisitely delicate yet complex perfume of clover honey freshly shaved ginger marzipan and jasmine slowly emerges from the nose giving way to a core of pear tart persimmons and apple butter. The palate is an exercise in finesse featuring very fine bubbles and fantastic intensity with a myriad of spice and floral nuances finishing with impressive persistence and jaw-dropping poise. This is a style for those that embrace purity soft-spoken expression and impeccable crafting. It won’t disappoint those who love Champagne in its initial youthful perfume flushes yet will undoubtedly reward the patient with a richer toastier more obvious and opulent style with 5-10 years+ of cellaring.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “…Tasted at the maison the 2015 is rich dense and explosive with tremendous textural intensity and also a good bit of energy to back it up. Citrus confit spice ginger chalk and dried flowers abound in a Champagne endowed with tremendous aromatic presence in a style that offers notable richness but lighter than vintages such as 2012…”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Rose Millesime 2013 750ml Displayed Price: $619, that’s $588.05 at 5% off and $557.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 points “A candidate for wine-of-the-vintage honors in Champagne, Roederer’s 2013 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, red berries, stone fruit, freshly baked bread and tangerine oil. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, the vintage’s bright girdling acids are amply cloaked in exuberant, expressive and notably concentrated fruit; so while this Cristal is as tensile and age-worthy as one would expect, it’s also impressively fleshy and generous given the year…”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98 points “The 2013 Cristal Rosé is searingly intense right out of the glass, just like the Blanc, except it has a bit more fleshiness because of the skin contact on the Pinot. Cristal Rosé has one of the best track records for aging in Champagne. I suspect the 2013 will join the ranks of the epic vintages…”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “If you’re a Champagne lover and this doesn’t do it for you, I don’t know what will…”
Wine & Spirits 98 points “Cristal Rosé appears to be an effortless wine… A blend of Aÿ pinot noir and Avize chardonnay, all mid-slope parcels, all on chalk soils, this is glorious wine to enjoy now, while it holds the inner tension and bold compression of flavors to develop for decades.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “Like an orchestra that melds the voices of many components into one compelling song, this bright rosé offers precision balance, seamlessly knitting an expressive range of ripe nectarine and raspberry fruit, Marcona almond, blood orange peel and candied ginger flavors with racy acidity and saline-laced minerality…”
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Top 100 Cellar Selection…”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Vinotheque Edition Brut Millesime 1999 750ml Displayed Price: $1,245, that’s $1,182.75 at 5% off and $1,120.50 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “The nose has such beautiful, autolysis character with brown-mushroom and toasted-almond aromas. The nose has still-fresh lemons and oyster shell. Very smooth, pastry-like texture on the palate with even layers and a core of fresh lemons and peaches. The striking thing here is the balance and melted-together complexity. In a very great place. This spent seven years sur latte, seven sur pointe and was disgorged in 2014. Drink now.” [Reviewed 2019]
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “Roederer’s 1999 Cristal Vinothèque is endowed with tremendous power and concentration, especially for a Champagne of its age. Palate staining minerals, chalk, white pepper, mint, citrus and orchard fruit soar out of the glass. Tasted next to the Rosé the Blanc has a slightly more toasty character along with more body and a stronger presence of the mousse, which in this wine wraps around the fruit…” [Reviewed 2020]
 
Please note that disgorgement dates may vary from reviews.