De Sousa et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Umami Extra Brut

Sparkle Ball: Reception with deviled quail eggs and smoked trout roe. Delicious full-bodied BdB. Trouble was we followed this with Krug 2006 which is a monster. Nonetheless this was delicious and more subtle.

not blind Very balanced and great to drink in this stage. Nomen est omen. Great acidity structure with some creamieness. Disgorged 2016. 94-95

Clear signs of oak but a creamy intense fruit which makes it a delight to drink. Toasty, honey, spices and candied lime. Fine minerality on the palate while still expressive in both fruit and spices Medium acidity - probably due to the vintage as I have before tasted De Sousa with higher acidity levels. Would by again but probably try to find a vintage like 2012

DG 12/2018 We were worried when we opened the bottle because there was a strange aroma that reminded us of TCA (heavy woody aroma, some dampness, ...), but we left the bottle a couple of hours and it completely disappeared for when we served the first glasses. Refined and opulent. The use of wood barrels is very obvious here: lots of spices such as black pepper, clove, Christmas cookies spice mix, sarsaparilla, balsamic vinegar, dried coconut; toasty notes of bread, …

Richard Juhlin Top 100 Day 1 @ Gustav Zürich (Restaurant Gustav Zürich) : From Magnum, not blind It was the starting Champagne for the first day of Richard Juhlin's Top 100. I had the chance to drink it 2 years before at the winery from regular bottle. Today much more balanced and subtle than then. Grapefruit, flintstone, citrus, salty, fresh and well drinkable. 92