A. Lamblot, Les Cotes Cheries

Wieder sehr schön, Mitternachtschampagner nach einem sehr hochklassigen besetztem Champagnerabend. Hatte dann nach den tollen Flaschen einen etwas schweren Stand. Aromatik wie bei den letzten Begegnungen.

A bit wild. Coarse mousse. Fine, but I don't get the hype.

Yet another separate bottle, also made more enjoyable by the fact that it had a couple of days of so-called 'micro-oxygenation'. Broader than the previous sampling, and the lack of mousse meant that the Burgundian elements of this wine managed to come through - generous and buttery, whilst still retaining the oxidative touch which serves as a hallmark of the grower style. The third bottle really ought to be my last, further evidence that drinking these bottles young is a …

Sampled again, similar notes to last time but suggesting that the lower levels of oxygenation meant that this sample was more energetic, the mousse was much more substantial but meant that it was difficult to enjoy the finer qualities of this champagne. Really one that needs the aging time or the decanting to reach peak pleasurability.

Mature Penfolds Grange Dinner : This is my second encounter with this cuvee. This particular bottle had been opened three days prior and then put back into the fridge with a stopper. I actually think that this was to its benefit - one of my qualms with the previous example was that it contained too much energy before and the mousse was totally overpowering. Not a problem this time. Oxidative style a la Selosse, zero dosage means that you get …

100% Meunier, premier Cru Lagen aus Vrigny, keine Dosage, keine Malo, ca. 2 Jahre auf der Hefe, Dégorgement 02/23. Klarerweise sehr energische Perlage, nachhaltig und sehr fein. Mittleres Goldgelb, leicht orangefarbene Reflexe. Fruchtdominierte Nase, Birne, Weingartenpfirsich, Kamillenblüte - kaum Hefearomen. Am Gaumen toller Zug, sehr frisch und von einer toll integrierten Säure getragen. Fruchtaromen ähneln der Nase, ich habe wieder Birne und weissen Pfirsich. Ein sehr fruchtiger, frischer Champagner, toll zu Meeresfrüchten/Krustentieren.

even better than previous note

Disgorged 09/11/2020. Pours a surprisingly dark orange color. I really like the minerality of this champagne, but it's lacking some fruit to balance that minerality. It ends up coming off as austere. Wish there were a couple grams of dosage for my palate.

Initially, apple juice and a bit one dimensional. But, after being open for 45+ minutes this really began to show. Moderate aromas of spiced orchard fruit. Moderate flavors of orchard fruit and fresh lemon. Lots of energy. Upside. 92-94+. 0g/l dosage, disgorged 09/11/2020.

Bubbleclub--March 2022 (all wines served blind) : Third bottle in past 4 months, and I tell you, this stuff is the real deal good. Disgorged September 2020, 100% PM, no dosage. Lightly bronze in color. Honeysuckle aroma, along with citrus blossom and slate. The palate is infused with plenty of flavor. Stone fruits of nectarine and peach, along with apple. The structure is what also fires me up, with an impression of wet stone and lemon peel acidity. Excellent complexity, …

Disgorged November 2020. 100% PM from Chenay and Vrigny (think the north and west sections of the region, just west of Reims, just north of the Montagne). Farmed organic and this cuvee has no dosage, which is I believe the style and intent for the other wines, too. This is another good zero dosage bottling, and like so many I like in Champagne made this way, my belief is that if one is going to omit dosage, then the wine …

100% Meunier, disgorged with no dose Nov. 9, 2020. 1,621 bottles produced. Loads of bruised apple, a b it of brioche, a wonderfully long finish mixing richness and acid seamlessly. This is a very delicious champagne, another great example of Meunier and a reminder to buy more Lamblot champagne.

ripe pears, baked apples, lemon oil, raspberry ginger ale, thick bubbles

DG 06/2020 Maybe it was too young, maybe the base vintage was 2017 (notoriously difficult, with a lot of rotten grapes lost in the harvest, as well as overripe fruit), maybe it's just not to our taste, or maybe all of the above; the only thing we have clear is that, unfortunately, we didn't enjoy this wine at all. Habitually, we're very enthusiastic about wines from this cru, especially meunier (the variety 'par excellence' in Vrigny), but this particular wine …