Billecart
Salmon Brut Reserve NV
Not quite as elegant as previous bottles, a touch earthy even, but has
some cherry fruit too.
|
86
|
|
Billecart
Salmon Brut Rosé
A
regular high achiever in blind tastings of roses the currant crop has
attractive strawberry, red currant and cream fruit.
|
88
|
|
Billecart
Salmon Cuvée Nicolas-Francois Billecart 1997
A very classy wine with a toasty nose made more elegant by notes of peach
plus cream on the palate. Not huge but really more-ish.
|
93
|
|
Bollinger
Grand Année 1996
Almost a parody of the Bolly style with very heavy toast and
honey on the nose and palate allied to terrific length. Is it too much of
a good thing?
|
92
|
|
Bollinger
Grand Année Rosé 1996
Very different ball game to the regular wines as this has sharp, bordering
on tart, cherry fruit and will come as a shock to the uninitiated.
|
86
|
|
Bollinger
Special Cuvée Brut NV
In imperious form honeyed toasty nose and mouth filling palate with honey,
mineral, nuts and great length.
|
91
|
|
Bruno
Paillard Brut 1995
Fairly rich style with clear bottle age – biscuit and cream character
and good length. Lovely.
|
90
|
|
Bruno
Paillard Brut Première Cuvée NV
Fine fruit and yeast notes and good length. Consistently good.
|
88
|
|
Bruno
Paillard Réserve Privée NV
A really interesting wine with peach, butter and biscuit on the nose while
firm, but not sour, acid adds length.
|
91
|
|
Canard
Duchêne Brut NV
Aperitif style with its zesty. Lively lemon sherbet and biscuit bouquet
and mid weight.
|
86
|
|
Charles
Heidseick Brut NV, mise en cave 1997
A slightly muted tight-knit nose but palate has more expansive butter and
toast characteristics.
|
89
|
|
Charles
Heidseick Brut NV, mise en cave 1998
A house so hot it’s on fire – this is beautiful NV that’s more like
smart Burgundy with bubbles with its elegant cream and nut nose and
palate, elegant yet good body and length. Bravo.
|
91
|
|
Charles
Heidseick Champagne Charlie 1985
Seriously rich buttered brioche and chocolate flavours and great length
and texture.
|
91-92
|
DeCastellane
Brut 1995
Curious, distinctive nose that Liam Campbell (the Dubliner) said reminded
him of oysters and he could well be right.
|
87?
|
|
DeCastellane
Brut Croix Rouge
Biscuit and cherry on nose plus something mineral (the oysters again?)
with medium rich palate.
|
87
|
Deutz
Brut Classic NV
Buttered cream cracker on the nose with lemon wafer on the palate – so
it’s about elegance and autolysis. Lovely.
|
89
|
|
Drappier
Blanc de Blancs 1995
Textbook b de b with its classy butter and lemon character and
lovely fresh texture.
|
91
|
|
Drappier
Brut Carte d’Or NV
Drappier use a lot of red grapes and it shows in the cherry and rhubarb
fruit in this medium bodied wine.
|
87
|
|
Drappier
Grand Sendree
A full bodied yet elegant style with rich toast and cherry
aromas. And
long finish.
|
91
|
|
Fleurie
Père et Fils Brut 1996 (Bio-dynamique)
Lighter, or is it just more elegant than the NV with its cherry
or rhubarb like fruit; either way prefer the NV.
|
87
|
|
Fleurie
Père et Fils But NV (Bio-dynamique)
Pop a cork and save the world with this first rate right on fizz with a
touch of biscuit on the nose plus creamy cherry fruit on the palate.
|
89
|
|
Gatinois
Grand Cru Ay 1997
A new name for me but from a very reliable UK agent. It’s Bollinger like
in its gutsy rich toasty style. Many will love it. Drink 2003 -
2010.
|
90
|
|
Gosset
Brut Exellence NV
Curious but attractive chalky character plus red fruit and fair
length.
|
88
|
|
Gosset
Grand Millésime 1996
Fuller and softer than some 1996 wines with buttered toast on the nose
and full bodied smooth texture. Drink 2003 - 2015.
|
90
|
|
H.
Blin Brut Tradition NV
Light nose, palate a bit vegetal, medium length. I’ve had better
bottles.
|
83
|
|
Heidsieck
Monopole ‘Blue Top’
Dry Monopole with a new name and in fair shape with elegant lightly
biscuity fruit, if a little on the slight side. Tried it again as a snipe
on Cityjet and had similar experience.
|
85
|
Heidsieck
Monopole Premier Crus
Classy than the blue top, as it should be, with a creamy mineral palate
also showing some redcurrant fruit.
|
89
|
Henriot
Brut Souverain NV
Disappointingly simple and green.
|
81
|
Jaquart
Brut de Nominée NV
NV but I’m told it’s mostly 1996 and it has what appears
characteristic for me of the year, which is body and acidity and length
allied to attractive red fruits. Drink 2005 - 2012.
|
91
|
Jaquart
Brut Mosaïque 1996
Proper vintage character and a jump up from the NV with a hot of toast,
butter and lemon, medium rich body and firm but not harsh acid that
suggests it will age. Drink 2005 - 2012.
|
90
|
Jaquart
Brut Mosaïque NV
Elegant if light nose with lenon and biscuit all of which is echoed on the
mid weight elegant palate.
|
86
|
Jaquesson
Avize Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc 1995
A good quality wine with rhubarb fruit allied to toast and cream, good
length and balancing acidity.
|
89
|
Jaquesson
Brut Perfection NV
Light and elegant if a bit one dimensional.
|
84
|
Joseph
Perrier Cuvée Royal Brut 1996
Toasty character and fruit on the nose while the palate has fair length
with red apple fruit.
|
87
|
Joseph
Perrier Cuvée Royal Brut NV
Slightly clumsy, earthy mid weight wine.
|
84
|
Krug
Grand Cuvée
Despite the stratospheric price tag I have to say that the Krug style
isn’t one I like as much as some. They use a lot of pinot meurnier in
the blend, which can taste a bit cabbage like, as this does. Mind you
there’s also attractive toast and butter and cherry fruit and very good
length.
|
88
|
Lanson
Brut NV
Tasted two or three tines of late and there’s always a sour/sweet
character that suggests unripe wine is being masked by dosage plus when
it’s at it’s best a little cheery and toffee. You’ve a right to
expect better of a grand marque Champagne.
|
82-84
|
Lanson
Brut Vintage 1995
A very toasty, mature style but good.
|
88
|
Lanson
Noble Cuvée 1989
A very classy toasty drop just starting to show its age.
|
89
|
Larmandier
Bernier Cramant Grand Cru Vielle Vignes Extra Brut 1998
New to me. The names a mouthful, but so’s the wine with delicious
elegant buttery texture and good length.
|
90
|
Laurent
Perrier Brut NV
Tasted a few times it is always a mid weight elegant wine with a touch of
biscuity bottle age character alongside cherryish fruit. Pretty good.
|
87
|
Laurent
Perrier Brut Vintage 1993
The extra richness and weight of flavour, which is heavy with
digestive biscuit butter and cherry makes this classic vintage style. Well
done.
|
90
|
Laurent
Perrier Grand Siecle La Cuvée
Attractive cherry and biscuit fruit on the nose plus elegant palate with a
surprisingly fresh citric finish for a wine blended from wines taken from
1988, 1990 and 1993.
|
91
|
Laurent
Perrier Rosé NV
The
rosé market leader is on good form with raspberry and strawberry fruit as
scented and fragrant as Mary Archer.
|
87
|
Laurent
Perrier Ultra Brut NV
‘Ultra’ means that no dosage has been added and it shows in the
elegant taught lemon and cherry style that some may find too lean for
their taste.
|
89
|
Le
Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru 1996
A little bit more weight and biscuit character than the NV but the same
classy lemon/butter fruit and acid.
|
91
|
Le
Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru NV
Class tells here with classic quality chardonnay character of lemon and
butter allied to firm but good acidity and length.
|
89
|
Louis
Roederer Brut 1996
Real vintage style with quite a full body showing honey and cherry and a
firm acidity giving structure and length. Still a baby. Drink 2005 - 2015.
|
92
|
Louis
Roederer Brut Premier NV
Elegant light biscuit and cherry on the nose with cherry fruit again on
the palate and notes of cream and pear. Good length.
|
88
|
Moët
& Chandon Brut 1996
Fairly light fresh nose with some creamy cherry fruit on the palate and
mid length. Should be more class on a vintage wine.
|
87
|
Moët
& Chandon Brut Imperial NV
When a Champagne sells as much as this one consistency can be difficult
and I’ve had lean green samples of this, but the one at the Champagne
Information Bureau (CIF) tasting was better than expected, so credit where
it’s due for a wine with tart cherry fruit on the nose and creamy
biscuit character on the palate and a fresh finish.
|
83-86
|
Moët
& Chandon Brut Rose NV
Quote stalky fresh red fruit are the main flavours here with fair
length.
|
86
|
Mumm
Cordon Rouge Brut 1995
Tried this two or three times and always enjoyed its attractive biscuit
and toffee utter character.
|
90
|
Mumm
Cordon Rouge NV
Tasted a couple of times this is better than a few years ago but a notch
off the big tine with mid weight toasty fruit but it lacks the style and
elegance of really good NV. Some bottles lighter than others
.
|
85-86
|
Mumm
Cordon Rouge Rosé
NV
Attractive if simple raspberry fruit.
|
84
|
Mumm
de Cramant, NV
All chardonnay and shows with the elegant butter and zesty lemon and apple
fruit. Really lovely.
|
90
|
Nicolas
Feuillate Brut Réserve Particulière NV
A surprisingly classy, creamy textured and nut scented sparkler with good
length.
|
88
|
Nicolas
Feuillate Brut 1996
Surprisingly not as good for me at any rate as the NV. There’s an array
of attractive flavours such as cherry and pear but also marmite like
character that suggests it’s ageing faster than it should.
|
87
|
Nicolas
Feuillate Palmes d’Or 1995
Good autolytic character on the nose with biscuity notes plus honey and
fudge on the palate. Mid to good length. Not really de-luxe
standard.
|
88
|
Pannier
Brut Sélection NV
Pannier is usually one of the less expensive brands and there’s a good
reason, you get what you pay for as I find it light, simple and sharp
even.
|
81
|
Perrier
Jouët Blasson Rosé NV
Lots of red currant fruit but a little on the sharp side for me.
|
85
|
Perrier
Jouët Brut 1996
Tasted twice. This has a classic digestive biscuit like character on the
nose from yeast autolysis plus attractive cherry fruit plus good length
and a clean finish.
|
89
|
Perrier
Jouët Brut NV
Last year I had a great bottle when researching wine republic 2003, the
latest sample was sadly nothing special and even a little too sharp.
|
84-87
|
Pierre
Gimmonet 1er cru Brut Fleuron 1996
Quite a serious wine with all the right components – buttered toast on
the nose plus a rich yet firm palate with lemon curd on toast character.
Lovely. Drink 2005 - 2012.
|
90
|
Pierre
Gimmonet 1er cru NV
Butter, lemon and biscuit, so typical of blanc de blanc with an elegant
lemon wafer nose. Good value.
|
89
|
Piper
Heidseick Brut 1995
Something odd on nose – rancid nut?
|
86?
|
Piper
Heidseick Brut NV
Sound enough, but light simple and a bit too much sweetening, so it will
probably have mass appeal.
|
84
|
Pol
Roger Brut 1995
Not a heavyweight but attractive nevertheless with long creamy
fruit.
|
89
|
Pol
Roger Brut Réserve NV
A light, elegant creamy style with decent length.
|
88
|
Pommery
Brut 1992
Holding up really well and streets better than the NV with
attractive fresh buttery fruit.
|
89
|
Pommery
Brut NV
Light apple nose while palate a little earthy and sweet with dosage trying
to mask deficiencies. Best sipped by models in night clubs though a straw
from the snipe size.
|
82
|
Pommery
Cuvée Louise
High percentage of chardonnay gives this a classy elegant style
and this is what those models should be sipping.
|
90
|
Ruinart
R de Ruinart 1995
Toasty slightly toffee-ish nose suggesting age. Palate has good length.
Quite distinctive, but not sure if I really like it.
|
88
|
Ruinart
R de Ruinart Brut NV
Toast plus a note of pear and cabbage on the nose. Palate is more
attractive with a rich creamy character.
|
86
|
Ruinart
Rosé NV
Mid weight raspberry fruit.
|
86
|
Taittinger
Brut NV
As ever Taittinger was elegant with butter and lemon fruit and terrific
length. Lovely and better than last bottle I tried.
|
88-90
|
Taittinger
Vintage 1996
Tasted twice and varied between heavenly rich buttered toast and elegant,
tight and light. Somebody send me a third bottle and I can give it a best
of three score!
|
88
- 93
|
Thiénot
Brut 1995
Elegant, light but long. Drink 2003 - 2010.
|
89
|
Thiénot
Brut NV
Elagant smart stuff with good to medium length.
|
87
|
Veuve
Clicquot Demi Sec NV
Cherry pie like with a dash of cream and sweet cherry-ish pinot noir fruit
and fair length.
|
84
|
Veuve
Clicquot La Grande Dame 1995
Tasted twice recently, Clicquot’s deluxe wine is deliberately elegant
rather than powerful as the vintage is. It has a beautiful fine citrus
note mingled with buttered croissant on both nose and palate and great
length. Drink 2003 - 2010.
|
90
|
Veuve
Clicquot Vintage Brut 1995
Tasted twice and each tie a superb wine with beautiful creamy buttered
toast on the nose (the French would say brioche) or Bollinger like with a
long palate plus a lemony acidity that keeps it fresh. Drink 2003 - 2012.
|
93
|
Veuve
Clicquot Yellow Label NV
The nose is quite elegant with a citrus character mixed with digestive
biscuit whilst the palate is richer and creamier with good length.
|
88
|
