LARMANDIER-BERNIER Rose de Saignee Premier Cru, Champagne

2014 base, disgorged in October 2017. Within the cold, west-facing Biaunes lieu-dit there is a small parcel of Chardonnay (the Côte des Bar is overwhelmingly planted to Pinot Noir) that Gautherot planted wild, without preparing the soils, amongst the native vegetation. Established in 2000, with massale cuttings from Anselme Selosse's vines in Avize and Vincent Dauvissat's Valmur Grand Cru vineyard, this portion of the vineyard is now the origin of what Antonio Galloni calls "one of the most beautiful and distinctive wines in Champagne." The vines here yield only 15-20 hl/ha each year--a key to the quality and intensity on offer. Fermentation is wild and has traditionally taken place in a mix of Burgundian pièce and 400-litre fût, purchased from vigneron friends in Burgundy. The new vintages now include a portion of fruit fermented and raised in Georgian amphora. As with the Fidèle, this wine spent roughly 15 months in bottle, sur lattes, before being disgorged by hand with zero dosage.

The wine pours well with impressive mousse, followed by a fine bead with moderate persistence. Deep straw colour base wine. The nose is showing some developed character with aroma of yeast lees, cashew and biscuit with honeycomb end note. Creamy textured palate, with flavours of strawberry, yeast lees and biscuit. Clean acid finish. Creamy strawberry aftertaste. A very good Commercial style. Cellar 1-2 years (2009-2010) Alc/Vol: 12.5% First tasted: August 1999 A newly re packaged Methode Champenoise and at its price point, very impressive. Bright pale straw colour followed by very fine and very persistent bead. Excellent nose with distinct yeast autolysis and a hint of grapefruit and citrus. Full bodied creamy palate, excellent finesse followed by persistent biscuit, yeast flavours and crisp acid finish. Great everyday drinking.

Billecart-Salmon Sous Bois Brut One-third of each of the champagne varieties; one-third reserve wines from the previous two harvests; fully oak-fermented below 16 degrees; aged on lees in barrel with bâtonnage (lees stirring) for 6 months; 7g/L dosage. "The mark of Billecart is made not by the heavy foot?all of concentration, power and presence, but rather by the fairy touch of delicacy and crystal/clear fidelity."- Tyson Stelzer, The Champagne Guide. The name Billecart-Salmon comes from the joining of two families by the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon.

Bright yellow hue flecked with gold. Its lively sparkle forms beautiful, even streams of bubbles. Aromas of citrus fruit (lemon) and fresh, zesty notes combined with soft tones of grilled hazelnuts and heady acacia flowers. After aeration, the wine develops hints of fresh wood, subtle spices (pepper, cardamom), cocoa beans, and honey nougat which add depth. The palate is simultaneously smooth, rounded and fresh. The attack is juicy, direct, concentrated and pure, yet exceptionally soft and gives way to a saline freshness endowing it with remarkable mineral precision and discreet elegance. The result is a delicate, fluid, supple, coherent and disconcertingly honest tasting experience! Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2012, 70% Pinot noir and 30% Chardonnay, a lower 8% of which is wine matured in oak. As noted by the Cellar master: "The perfect product from the Louis Roederer terroir, in which finesse, purity, precision, and harmony highlight the qualities of a great vineyard." Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. The subtle bouquet, on the first nose, opens out gradually to reveal spring-like notes of fresh citrus fruit (lemon tree rather than lemon fruit) combined with warm, almost smoky, mineral aromas, followed by notes of lightly toasted almonds, one of the signs of the ageing in oak foudres. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon Today Louis Roederer remains one of the very few remaining family owned Houses in Champagne with 7th generation Frederic Rouzaud at the helm. From the 100 hectares acquired in 1850 by Louis Roederer, the Domaine today extends over 240 hectares averaging 98% on the official Echelle classification. All vineyard acquisitions follow Louis Roedererâs strict 70% policy â that is ownership of at least 70% of the total production. All Louis Roederer Cuvees are Estate grown with the exception of Brut Premier which is 60% estate fruit and 40% fruit sourced from long-term contracted growers. Louis Roederer farm 65 Ha of their Domaine vineyards under a biodynamic and organic regime as part of what Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon says is a work in progress. In 2012 Louis Roederer became the largest biodynamic producer in Champagne.