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Orders placed by Dec 18, earn10% off listed prices except for already discounted Mix Sets.
Quantities of many are very limited.
INTRODUCTION |
BELOW THE RADAR AND OFF THE CHARTS - |
Below the radar because these small producers cannot afford the splashy advertising of the grandes marques. Off the charts when it comes to quality and value. Not that any wine of the Champagne region could be described as a value these days, at least not in dollar terms. Nonetheless, when it’s time to splurge, you’ll find a lot of bubbly bang for the buck in this collection. |
| s1211-02. A. MARGAINE PREMIER CRU DEMI-SEC CHAMPAGNE half bottle |
| Beverage Dynamics 93: ‘Absolute elegance in a demi-sec - well balanced, delicate, not syrupy and a whisper of sweetness; a pleasure to enjoy by itself or with light fruit desserts. $56.’ |
| How Many: 28.99 each |
| s1211-03. ALFRED GRATIEN BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Tanzer 91: ‘Pale gold with a strong mousse. Expansive bouquet of lemon meringue, green almond, vanilla and floral honey. Fleshy, palate-staining citrus and orchard fruit flavors are brightened by Meyer lemon and dusty minerals, with a late note of vanilla. Suave, silky and impressively persistent on the finish, with the citrus note echoing. Sexy stuff. $85'. |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-04. A. R. LENOBLE CUVEE INTENSE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Guide Hachette - 1 Star. Tanzer: ‘Spiced apple and poached pear scents are deep and gently smoky, with a light brioche quality adding richness. Fleshy pit fruit flavors project a dry, firm personality, picking up subtle cinnamon and honeysuckle nuances with air. Offers a nice blend of ripeness and energy, and finishes with spicy bite and good persistence.’ |
| How Many: 47.99 each |
| s1211-05. A. R. LENOBLE CUVEE NATURAL DOSAGE ZERO BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Spectator 90; Tanzer 90: ‘Secy pear and grilled nuts on the nose, complemented by yellow rose, butter and toasted marshmallow. Round and invitingly lush, offering sweet orchard and pit fruit flavors, with gentle minerality adding lift. The broad finish features impressively concentrated peach and floral honey flavors. This could stand up to strongly spiced foods.’ |
| How Many: 49.99 each |
| s1211-06. 04 A. R. LENOBLE ROSE CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Spectator 91; Tanzer 90: ‘Mineral--driven aromas of red berries and citrus fruits, with notes of talc and white flowers adding complexity. Tightly wound and focused, offering incisive wild strawberry and ruby-red grapefruit flavors and a strong undercurrent of minerals. Extremely youthful, with strong finishing lift, cut and clarity. This is energetic enough to work with delicate seafood dishes.’ |
| How Many: 52.95 each |
| s1211-07. 04 A. R. LENOBLE BISSEUIL 1ER CRU BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| All pinot noir from a village on the Montagne de Reims, this is a full-bodied, meal-time champagne with plenty of red fruit, power, and punch. A layered complex of red fruit, flower, and spice aromas and flavors. Fleshy yet very dry. Full and long lasting. 92+/100. |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-08. BERNARD GIRARDIN CUVEE BG BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Like last year, a very well balanced, harmonious combination of red and white varieties./ Toasty, creamy. Singed meringue. Honey butter on toast. Rich without being sweet. Fine mousse. Great combo of fruit and bottle bouquet. Outstanding. 94/100. |
| How Many: 49.99 each |
| s1211-09. BARNAUT BOUZY GRAND CRU BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| 100% pinot noir. Full, rich blanc de noirs styling. Full black-fruit concentration. Hallmark Bouzy. Huge nose of toast, nuts, and biscuity yeast autolysis bouquet. Pinot noir strawberry and cherry subtleties./ Rich, classic Bouzy fullness, ripeness, plumpness. Full squared; mouthfilling. Mr Big. A pleasure to drink now. Nonetheless, I’d advise ‘losing’ a few bottles in the cellar for a couple of years. 94/100. |
| How Many: 52.95 each |
| s1211-10. CAMILLE SAVES BOUZY GRAND CRU ROSE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Tanzer 92: ‘Subtle, mineral-accented peach, pear and cherry aromas, with a hint of white pepper. Vibrant and fresh, with juicy acids energizing the pear and red berry flavors. Finishes bright and precise, with a lingering strawberry flavor. One of the best non-vintage roses I tried this year.’ |
| How Many: 59.95 each |
| s1211-11. CHARTOGNE-TAILLET MERFY 1ER CRU STE. ANNE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Spectator 92: ‘Full-bodied and powerful, offering toast and malt aromas followed by honey, roasted almond and ginger flavors. Rich, this finishes dry, with a long aftertaste of honey and nut. Now-2012. $53.’ Ric: Finely etched minerality. Steely and refined. 95/100. |
| How Many: 47.99 each |
| s1211-12. DELAMOTTE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Enthusiast 92 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: ‘There is good bottle age here, the wine full and ripe with an integrated dosage that is relatively high. Flavors of sweet pastry go with white nectarines and pear. It’s deliciously balanced, finishing with a soft, fresh aftertaste. $55.’ |
| How Many: 39.99 each |
| s1211-13. DIEBOLT-VALLOIS COTE DES BLANCS BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE half bottle |
| Wine & Spirits 94: ‘This manages to be vinous yet completely Champagne, intensely concentrated and weightless. Long and gracious, this is a beautiful chardonnay built out of light smokiness, fresh floral scents of chamomile, firm minerality and a lot of bubble. A case will go fast. $49.’ |
| How Many: 25.99 each |
| s1211-14. GASTON CHIQUET DIZY 1ER CRU CARTE VERT TRADITION BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Dry, firm, and stylish Dizy, with red fruit body and green apple chardonnay. And plenty of aging en tirage despite not being a reserve. Yes, fine mature bread dough bouquet./ Just the right combo of varietal fruits. Very fine mousse. A lot of personality. Good combo of freshness and maturity. Deep and classy. Perfectly poised and pleasing. 94/100. |
| How Many: 49.99 each |
| s1211-15. GUY LARMANDIER CRAMANT GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Parker 92: ‘Offers up an array of exotic aromas and flavors in a full-bodied, intense style. Notes of mint, ash, flowers, licorice, graphite and apricots emerge from this decidedly masculine, brooding wine. Sweet, long and powerful, the wine shows outstanding persistence on the palate and this pure breed of a first-class wine.’ |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-16. J. LASSALLE CHIGNY LES ROSES 1ER CRU IMPERIAL PREFERENCE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Plenty of pinot, plenty of Montagne de Reims red fruit. Very nice./ Very fine mousse. Good pinot red fruit sweetness. Good bottle age. Nicely fashioned. 92/100. |
| How Many: 47.99 each |
| s1211-17. J. M. GOBILLARD BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Cellars at Hautvillers. Good bottle bouquet–doughy, toasty. Good cuvee of all three varietals, it seems. Meunier soft and forward appeal, pinot red fruit, and chardonnay white fruit. Balanced; fine mousse; equally appealing doughiness to taste. 92/100. |
| How Many: 36.99 each |
| s1211-18. J. M. GOBILLARD ROSE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Jorge: Lovely nose. Mousse, chocolate, red fruits, some walnut, some watermelon. Nice all the way./ And very dry. Good acid, mineral, earth. 93/100. |
| How Many: 42.99 each |
| s1211-19. JACQUES PICARD BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wow! Broad, nutty, creamy, doughy. Mature richness and plenty of Montagne de Reims burnished pinot fruit goodness. Really fills the nostrils./ Rich, doughy, creamy bottle bouquet and luxuriant red fruit emphasis. Full, with great flavor intensity. Very fine mousse. Obviously of long ‘en tirage’ aging and of great pedigree. 94+/100. |
| How Many: 52.95 each |
| s1211-20. JACQUESSON NO. 733 BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Enthusiast 94 - EDITORS’ CHOICE: Each year, the Jacquesson nonvintage is identified by a new cuvee number, meaning the vintage basis and the composition has changed. But not the style, which remains firmly dry, full of gravitas and intense quality. The wine has plenty of freshnmess, but the ripe fruit shows signs of opening out and becoming more complex. $63.’ |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-21. JEAN LALLEMENT RESERVE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Burghound 93/100. Our notes: Very citrusy, brisk. And full. Citrus peel. Verzenay I.D. Intense. Full pinot extracts and chardonnay vigor./ Very rich and full in the ‘96 mode, but not a bit heavy. Perfect balance. Perfect mousse. A wine of place and time. 95+/100. |
| How Many: 67.95 each |
| s1211-22. JEAN LAURENT CELLES SUR OURCES BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Parker 93/100.. Our notes: Lots of doughy bottle bouquet. Red fruit of blanc de noirs too./ Again, lots of doughiness. Even more red fruit and peels sense. Creamy. No peels astringency or grip. Most accomplished. Wonderfully deep, mature, nutty, toasty. A very full bodied, well aged blanc de blancs from the Aube. 94/100. |
| How Many: 49.99 each |
| s1211-23. JEAN LAURENT CELLES SUR OURCES BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wonderfully deep, mature, nutty, grainy, toasty. Lovely intensity, largesse. A very full bodied, well aged blanc de blancs from the Aube. Special. 94/100. |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-24. JOEL FALMET TRADITION BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Exceptionally fruity–one of the fruitiest champagnes here today. Red fruit emphasis./ Yes, lots of pinot. Ripe fruit. Not sweet but invitingly plush. Seems to be based on a ripe vintage like 03. Welcoming now. 92/100. |
| How Many: 37.99 each |
| s1211-25. L. AUBRY JOUY 1EER CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Tanzer 92: ‘Light peach skin color. Cinnamon, poached pear, apple, honey and smoke on the pungent nose. Fleshy orchard fruit flavors are complicated by floral honey and candied ginger, with impressive back-end grip. Reminds me a lot of a wine from Krug. Finishes with very good grip and an echo of ginger. $52.’ |
| How Many: 42.99 each |
| s1211-26. LANCELOT-ROYER CUVEE DES CHEVALIERS BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Parker 91: ‘Exhibits an excellent nose of wheat thins, honey, and ripe fruit. Full-flavored, with excellent depth and richness, persistent pinpoint bubbles, and a crisp yet long finish.’ 42 months en tirage. |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-27. 02 LANCELOT-ROYER CRAMANT GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Parker 92: ‘Offers up an attractive array of smoke, toasted oak, minerals and dried apricots and orange peel, with sweet floral notes that give the wine a nice sense of lift on the finish. This beautifully proportioned Champagne offers lovely richness and complexity in a delicate, understated style.’ 72 months en tirage. |
| How Many: 69.95 each |
| s1211-28. LEGRAS & HAAS TRADITION BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Very pretty fruit. Seems some red fruit in spite of being a Cote des Blancs community. Stylish, sophisticated, well crafted./ Definitely a lot of reserve wines here. An certain oxidative tone, under control. Maybe it’s barrel aging. Certainly marches to its own drummer. 92/100. |
| How Many: 42.99 each |
| s1211-29. LEGRAS & HAAS CHOUILLY GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Good, deep, doughy bottle bouquet. Not a delicate blanc de blancs. Rather full, like a Le Mesnil wine./ Wow! Totally deep and doughy. Yes, and full bodied. Gigantic! This is special, luxuriant, classy. 95/100. |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-30. LILBERT FILS CRAMANT GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Lemon creme and vanilla cake frosting. Both rich and incisive. Even a pineapple hint. Lively, creamy mousse; cookie-like bottle bouquet. Yes, lemon creme sandwich cookie. 92/100. |
| How Many: 59.95 each |
| s1211-31. LOUIS BARTHELEMY AMETHYSTE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Spectator: ‘This is big, offering malt, bread dough and roasted nut aromas and flavors. Balanced, with a leesy, nutty aftertaste. Try with chicken in a cream sauce or pork.’ |
| How Many: 34.99 each |
| s1211-32. LOUIS BARTHELEMY ROSE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Wine Spectator 91: ‘Light berry, gingerbread and pastry flavors combine for a pleasing effect in this elegant, finely textured bubbly. Balanced and intense, with a lingering, brioche-like finish.’ |
| How Many: 42.99 each |
| s1211-33. 01 LOUIS DE SACY GRAND SOIR BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Very malty. But that’s not alien in the world of Champagne. Wine News uses malt and beer descriptors with some frequency in its epic annual Champagne report, especially the fuller-bodied Montagne de Reims productions. 91/100. |
| How Many: 47.99 each |
| s1211-34. MONTAUDON BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Yeasty bottle bouquet and underlying calcaire./ Silky fruit with some pinot berriness. Long on lees bouquet. 92/100. |
| How Many: 36.99 each |
| s1211-35. PAUL LAURENT RESERVE CUVEE DU FONDATEUR BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Ric: Fruity, sleek. Racy, edgy finish. 92/100. |
| How Many: 39.99 each |
| s1211-36. PIERRE MONCUIT LE MESNIL GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Burghound 92: ‘This offers aromatic depth as the brioche and floral suffused nose is admirably layered and this depth continues onto the foamy and utterly delicious flavaors that possess both excellent complexity and length on the very yeasty finish. Really lovely.’ Our notes: Lots of apple. Lots of blanc de blancs elegance and grip with the concentration of Le Mesnil superimposed./ Shows lots of bottle age on the lees. Very fine mousse. Delicious savors. Apple, biscuit, mineral salts. Grand. 94+/100. |
| How Many: 49.99 each |
| s1211-37. PIERRE PETERS LE MESNIL GRAND CRU RESERVE BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Tanzer 92: ‘Vivid citrus and green apple aromas are complicated by subtle lees, spice and brioche qualities, as well as a slow-building floral quality. Firm and focused, offering tangy orange and orchard fruit flavors along with anise and sweet butter. Gains weight with air but not at the expense of the crackling fruit. The citrus notes linger impressively on the finely etched finish. I really like this wine's delicacy and sneaky power. $61.’ |
| How Many: 52.95 each |
| s1211-38. PIERRE PETERS GRAND CRU RESERVE BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE half bottle |
| Wine & Spirits 92: ‘There’s an intriguing, floral red fruit character to this blanc de blancs, an earthy scent of roses as well as an herbal note that one taster compared to Fernet Branca. The texture is broad and robust, brought back into focus by saline minerality. A substantial Champagne, built for the dinner table and a dish such as Jean-Georges’s parmesan-crusted confit leg of chicken.’ |
| How Many: 29.99 each |
| s1211-39. R. H. COUTIER AMBONNAY GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Full, nutty, long-on-lees Montagne de Reims style of blanc de blancs. Certainly unique from the Cote des Blancs styles. Big and forceful nose. Seductive and generous bouquet of baked apple, peach cobbler, nuts, and brandy./ Lots of biscuity bottle bouquet, with more to come. Fine, refreshing blanc de blancs fruit acidity. 92/100. |
| How Many: 47.99 each |
| s1211-40. RENE GEOFFROY CUMIERES 1ER CRU EXPRESSION BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Tanzer 91: ‘Intriguingly perfumed nose displays dried pear, herbs, anise and potpourri scents. Sappy pit and orchard fruit flavors are complemented by an exotic cherry skin quality and pick up a candied floral quality with air. Really interesting wine, with excellent finishing cling and thrust.’ |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-41. ROLAND CHAMPION CHOUILLY GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| More youthful than the 2000. Full bodied for a blanc de blancs. Is that a Chouilly trait?/ Palate shows more maturity, nuttiness. 91/100. |
| How Many: 54.95 each |
| s1211-42. 00 ROLAND CHAMPION CHOUILLY GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Nicely composed and not at all excessively soft like some 00s. Plenty of bottle bouquet./ A certain softness, forgiveness of the vintage. Plump center, well framed. 92+/100. |
| How Many: 69.95 each |
| s1211-43. SPARNACUS GRAND PRESTIGE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Sparnacus was the Roman name of the Champagne region. Nice mousse, fluff. Lots of meunier in here I’d guess. Apple and brioche. 92/100. |
| How Many: 42.99 each |
| s1211-44. THIERRY MASSIN VILLE SUR ARCE SELECTION BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Small family estate in the Aube, producing 2500 cases per year. Will sample at the 12/13 Tasters Guild Champagne Brunch and add notes thereafter. Watch this space! |
| How Many: 44.99 each |
| s1211-45. TROUILLARD EXTRA SELECTION BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Lots of red fruit to this. Seems to have all three varieties involved. I like the middle of the road style. Good lees aging apparent too./ Rich mouthfeel, very savory. Pinots are clear. A ripe red fruit sweetness. Delicious bottle. 93/100. |
| How Many: 49.99 each |
| s1211-46. VARNIER-FANNIERE ROSE BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Ric: Full pinot strength with lush, doughy bottle bouquet. 96/100. |
| How Many: 44.99 each |
| s1211-47. 02 VAZART-COQUART SPECIAL CLUB BLANC DE BLANCS GRAND BRUT CHAMPAGNE |
| Fresh, doughy, blanc de blancs style nose./ Appley chardonnay taste. Not a lot of bottle bouquet yet. Very young and unevolved, which is typical for the vintage, and promising. Needs bottle age. 92+/100. |
| How Many: 74.95 each |
| s1211-48. A TOUR OF CHAMPAGNE #1 - MIX OF 6 |
| 1 bottle each: 00 Jacquesson Avize Grand Cru, Barnaut Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, R. H. Coutier Ambonnay Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Legras & Haas Chouilly Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Pierre Moncuit Le Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, 99 Quenardel Verzenay Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut. Retail value: $287. |
| How Many: 249.95 each |
| s1211-49. A TOUR OF CHAMPAGNE #2 - MIX OF 3 |
| 2 bottles each: Jacquesson No. 733 Brut, Barnaut Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, Pierre Moncuit Le Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut. Retail value: $316. |
| How Many: 269.95 each |
| s1211-50. GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE #1 - MIX OF 6 |
| 1 bottle each: Jacquesson No. 733 Brut, Legras & Haas Tradition Brut, Barnaut Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, R. H. Coutier Ambonnay Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Joel Falmet Tradition Brut, Pierre Moncuit Le Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut. Retail value: $376. |
| How Many: 329.95 each |
| s1211-51. GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE #2 - MIX OF 4 |
| 3 bottles each: 00 Jacquesson Avize Grand Cru, Barnaut Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, R. H. Coutier Ambonnay Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Pierre Moncuit Le Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut. Retail value: $783. |
| How Many: 649.95 each |
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