Rene Collard, Cuvee Reserve Brut

Retail $50. Extremely Heavy Bottle (877g; 30.9oz). 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir. I found this tiny producer in Villers-sous-Chatillon while leading bike tours in France several years ago. It is one of the few champagnes still aged in oak foudres, making one wonder why more aren't. This has been in my cellar for close to decades now and the loss of a little of the effervescence is the only sign of its age. Straw to a light …

WT's. This is the first French producer to make a 100% Pinot Meunier. Showed very, very well. Color seemed youthful but the wine was surprisingly sherried, which worked very well for the sherry lovers in the crowd (I'm one). Of all the wines I wished I could go back to at the end of the night, this was the one.

1990 vintage

SAC: Rare Pinot Meunier with Peter Liem (63 Clinton) : Again very much the sherry flavor and then also perhaps a bit lemony. A wine that I wouldn't say is quite as hedonistically pleasing as champagne often is but is a bit intellectual.

1975 vintage

SAC: Rare Pinot Meunier with Peter Liem (63 Clinton) : One of the vintages that we own some bottles of so fun I think to get to try it. It's a bit more sherry like. Clearly an older wine and not quite with the vibrancy that you'd want to see. Interesting flavors though. Also interesting to me the way there wasn't a ton of variation across vintages. Very similar to the '85 and '75 brothers.

1990 vintage

Still wonderful at 32 years of age. Perfect expression of Meunier.

1990 vintage

A lovely depth of colour and some brioche, citrus and a bit earthiness on the nose. The palate had a lovely mousse, lots of depth and some fruits of apple, a little red fruit and a tiny hint of sweetness and a good acidity. A very enjoyable champagne and at £40 from @akeandhumphris well worth the money.91

Straw yellow color with fine perlage and abundant foam. On the nose aromas of flowers, brioche and dried fruits. On the palate savory and balanced.

This is in a maderized style that many don't understand, but while showing baked apple with caramel notes, it still has a nice mousse with body yet plenty of acidity for a clean finish. Was wonderful as a alternate style and to pair with a mushroom tartlet course.

1975 vintage

BYO Blind Tasting and Dinner (House of Nanda - Chicago IL) : Tasted double blind. I thought it quite nice and age appropriate for an unknown (to me) Champagne from this era, but Jim J thought it "barely still drinkable."

1975 vintage

Solid and correct showing. Started to lose it's bead and energy after 10-15 minutes.

1975 vintage

USA 1995 (@ JK) : Special bouquet with yeast, smoke and broth, and to be honest; quite pleasant. On the palate minerals a good mousse, apple, citrus and celery. Mature and beautiful bubble.

1990 vintage

Bottle 1300/8840 (of the '02&'05 blend) - ripe, rich and yet still with some balance. Perhaps a little advanced for its age, but apart form that.

Very rich and mature; clearly on the backside if it's drinking window. I enjoyed this over the years, but glad it was my last bottle.

1990 vintage

An enticing grapefruit twist in the fruit, mineral, invites contemplation. Lovely, individual fizz.

Good mature champagne in a rich toasty style. This bottle had an interesting cinnamon note that reminds me of '02 vimart coeur de cuvée. Drink any time.

1990 vintage

Deep, extended lemon and other citrus fruit tones with a creamy background. Lovely deep yellow color. This is holding up well, drinking beautifully already but may develop further. Such a treat.

1990 vintage

Rich and mature in a semi oxidative style. This is good if you like mature champagne done in this style.

1990 vintage

2002-2005 still going strong. WC14 party

Still magnificent from Mag.

Lovely, soft, creamy Champagne - quite complex. Better with food.

1990 vintage

Collard-Chardelle Cuv�e Prestige�elegant yet powerful with great fruit and spunk. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

The N.V. Cuv�e Prestige (18�) is the bulk of their production. The wine is bright and lively with an active mousse and just a hint of the oxidation that takes place in the oak barrels. He gave us a good solid pour and I eagerly drank every drop. Outstanding. 91-93 Points. www.thedrunkencyclist.com

N.V. Cuvée Or Blanc (most champagnes are made from the clear juice of two black grapes–Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier–and one white grape–Chardonnay–the Blanc de Blancs is made with 100% Chardonnay). Blanc de Blancs are usually described by their “finesse” or “elegance” since that is generally what Chardonnay adds to champagne. I, for one, am not usually a fan of Blanc de Blancs (BdB) since I relish in the backbone and power that comes from the Pinot Noir. This wine, …

delicious and still in top condition : very expressive nose, bubbly, citrus, honey and some tertiary mushroomy notes... need to secure more of these .

1990 vintage

Brought by xhoser to CWM dinner at Adelle's. Initial thought was that this was corked. It was not. Interesting to see VM's note about "without any too much sherry nuances", as I felt sherry was the predominant note in this wine. I remember hearing someone at the table reference "wet socks" as well, but thankfully, I did not get this. This was interesting to experience a 37 year old vintage champy.

1975 vintage

Dinner with xhoser: old & new world comparisons (Adelle's, Wheaton) : Light golden color with notes of cashew butter, apple and bread. Medium bead. Apple, dough, citrus and roasted nut flavors; tart acidity. The citrus qualities came on strong as this opened over the course of the evening. Unique- not for everyone. Thanks for sharing, xhoser. 89-90 pts.

1975 vintage

Opened by Brad. Aromas of cauliflower. Minerally. Light bead. Citrus without a lot of sherry nuances at first. Rather fresh for it's age. However, when I retried it about an hour later the wine had fallen apart. Really 2 different wines. 2 points higher than my score when I first tried it and 5 points lower later. Probably more for someone with an English palate for Champagne. 90 points.

1975 vintage

Belle couleur bronze. Nez expressif avec des fruits blancs, des nuances de miel et de la noisette fra�che. Beaucoup de caract�re en bouche. Son c�t� ample et sa longue finale en font un superbe Champagne de gastronomie. V�ritable coup de coeur. Achet� 26 euros/caviste. 16.5/20

All-Champagne Euro Lunch: Clos des Goisses, Salon, La Grande Année, Cuvée Louise (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, California) : Light medium golden yellow color; mature, reduction, baked lemon, quince, green fruit nose; mature, a little oxidative, tart green fruit, mineral, lime palate; medium-plus finish 91+ points (90% Pinot Meunier from 75-year-old vines, 10% Chardonnay)

1975 vintage

No fade here. Distinctly Meunier profile. Too much dosage (it was the 70s after all). Lovely complexity. Rich elegance. But more novelty than greatness in this.

1975 vintage

Sandy's Birthday Wine Dinner (Chez Dan, Palo Alto, California) : Light medium golden color; mature, honey, mushroom nose; tasty, tangy, mature, citrus, honeyed palate; medium-plus finish 91+ pts. (90% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay)

1990 vintage

A lot better than I remember the other bottle being. Perhaps it was because this time I had it with others who appreciate older Champagnes. Certainly still a bit of an oxidated nose (less so on the palate), but vibrant plentiful mousse and a deep golden color. On the palate, brilliant acidity and remarkable depth. Very long finish. Really outstanding.

1990 vintage

Decisamente avanti, quasi marsalato. Nel tempo si riprende ma senza mai diventare buono

1975 vintage

Non male ma davvero molto in la, tenendo conto che i 1985 (anche quello che gli stava di fianco) e il 1975 bevuti altre volte erano perfetti. Al naso ossidatino sul metallico, con note fungose e tartufose. Meglio in bocca con una bella acidità.

1990 vintage

I was a fan, but not all were. This is certainly showing its age. Some oxidation on the nose and a dark color. Bone dry on the palate, this really needs food. We had it as an aperitif and should of had it with the skirt steak. Still Outstanding.

1990 vintage

Much better than I remember my previous bottle. Very few bubbles, which made the wine feel pretty rich for a Champagne. The palate was buoyed by the acidity. Nose of yeasty bread, preserved lemons, and a subtle minerality.Finish is long and complex. Nice!

1990 vintage

Opened two bottles, one was oxidized but the other had a brilliant golden hue with sherry overtones and flavors of honey, pears, apricots and apple as well as a hint of yeast. Mature and acidic this worked famously with the Saghanaki that it was paired with.

1990 vintage

Brad nailed this ... beautifully balanced, hint of sweetness, excellent array of subtle fruit. Extremely Drinkable.

Impressive mature bubbly. Shows a subtle sherryish hint, good apple flavours, long finish. Would definitely buy again.

1990 vintage

Oxidized. Have had great bottles of this wine but sadly this one was dead. Flat, caramel, sherry.

1990 vintage

Beautiful golden color--slightly sherried nose, but fresh, bracing palate. Almonds, citrus, biscuity. Classic and accidentally perfect with soup of Jerusalem artichoke, almonds, serrano ham.

1990 vintage

Golden yellow and full bodied. Shows its age with nutty and sherry notes. Eccentric and maybe not for everyone, but I like it.

1990 vintage

Quite apple-y. Vintage taste comes through nicely.

1990 vintage

Beautiful caramel nose and complexity. Delicious! I need more....

1990 vintage

Fantastic.

1990 vintage

Still vibrant and fresh, just starting to show some caramel notes, perhaps another 10 years will yield some coffee.

1975 vintage

26 Wines at Plumed Horse inc'g mature Barolo and '85 Grand Cru Burgs (The Plumed Horse Restaurant, Saratoga, California) : Golden honey color; honeyed, creamy nose; rich, tasty, honeyed, with a tough of caramel and good acidity; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.

1990 vintage

terrific wine, tastes like sherry. heavy flavor.

1990 vintage

Medium gold in the glass, this medium bodied wine exhibited lively acidity and a prickly effervescence. Filled with scents and flavors of dough, shellfish, strawberry, yeast, honey and the taste of taiglach that I get on almost all of the Collard wines. Medium length finish to this very enjoyable Champagne. 50+13+12+8+8.5 = 91.5

1975 vintage

Dinner at Alinea with Chris. Medium gold in the glass with very fine bubbles. As has been the case with this wine in the past, a terrific mix of freshness and aged perfection. Medium bodied and toasty, this was the kind of Champagne you want to drink all night. A truly remarkable beverage. 50+14+13+9+9 = 95

1975 vintage

Are you sure?

Rene Collard, Cuvee Reserve Brut

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews