Decanter (95)

This is a three-way assemblage: three grape varieties – and equal percentage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with 20% of Pinot Meunier – and a blend of 3 vintages, 2009, 2010 and 2012. The nose is full of flavours and rich with notes of white flowers and crème patissière. However, the palate is crisp, fresh and delicate with a lovely creamy texture. It is elegant, refined and very stylish (unlike the bottle!). It’s a pleasant combination of power and concentration blended with finesse and elegance. While the dosage is 9g/l, it feels much drier, more like a 5g/l and this probably due to the spinal cord of acidity.

Wine Spectator (92)

Well-spiced and finely knit, this harmonious rosé is framed by firm acidity wrapped in a creamy mousse and flavors of dried apricot, wild strawberry and almond skin. Smoke, floral and orange peel notes linger on the finish.

Wine Spectator (92)

Well-spiced and finely knit, this harmonious rosé is framed by firm acidity wrapped in a creamy mousse and flavors of dried apricot, wild strawberry and almond skin. Smoke, floral and orange peel notes linger on the finish.

Wine Advocate (95+)

Most of the 2002 Brut from Boërl & Kroff was bottled in 750-milliliter bottles, so only 800 magnums were produced—a surprising decision, given the vintage, and one Sabaté now laments. Offering up a rich but youthful bouquet of waxy lemon rind, mandarin, warm biscuits, candied peel and honeycomb, this is a full-bodied, vinous Champagne with considerable structure and concentration, with its creamy and muscular profile exemplifying the house style. Long and powerful, it's a terrific wine that will delight admirers of old fashioned Champagne.

Experience the refined brilliance of the Boerl & Kroff Brut 2003, a masterpiece from the celebrated French house of Boerl & Kroff. This extraordinary champagne was delicately crafted from 100% hand-selected Pinot Noir grapes, harvested from three distinct vineyards in the prestigious Aube region of Champagne. Boerl & Kroff utilised rigorous vinification practices, including first press juice exclusivity and extended ageing in the bottle on lees for optimum complexity.

Boerl & Kroff Brut 2003 flaunts a golden hue, punctuated by an effervescence of the finest bubbles. On the nose, it exudes harmonious notes of ripe pear, toasted almonds, and creamy vanilla, seamless entwined. Palate presents a tantalising balance of rich fruitiness and secondary aromas of honeyed brioche and delicate spice. The finish is impressively lingering and sophisticated.

The Boerl & Kroff winemakers, Michel Boerl and Stéphane Sese, have continued their pursuit of perfection, ensuring each bottle of Boerl & Kroff Brut 2003 encapsulates a privileged moment.

Vinous (90)

Light bronze color. Mature Champagne notes of brown butter, walnut, apple cider and maple syrup on the nose, along with fresher pear and mineral nuances. Rich, full-bodied and concentrated; a rather powerfully structured Champagne with noteworthy density and firm acidity. Considering the mature flavors, this wine is fresh and focused in the middle palate. Seems longer and more gripping than a bottle I tasted a year ago, perhaps the strengthening effect of another year on the lees prior to disgorgement.

Wine Advocate (97)

The bottle of Bollinger's 1973 R. D. was utterly pristine, soaring from the glass with a stunning bouquet of candied orange rind, mocha, dried white flowers, iodine and pralines. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and vinous, with a creamily textural attack, striking complexity, a pinpoint mousse and a long, elegantly mordant finish. Any readers who can find a perfectly preserved bottle shouldn't hesitate.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92+)

Classic Bollinger aromas of baked apple, toffee, coffee, nuts and brioche. Then superrich, highly concentrated and penetrating, with impressive chewy extract. Uncompromisingly dry and just beginning to unfold. Really saturates the palate. Remarkably young for a 12-year-old Champagne-but then the best '88s are evolving slowly. Finishes with superb length.

Wine Advocate (96)

Bottle number 904. A deep greeny/gold colour with fine, persistent mousse. The nose definitely has some age on it, smoke, walnut, linseed and beeswax, then a tinge of shiitake mushroom with further aeration but maintaining great definition. The palate is cerebral, complex, very intense, touches of apricot, dried fruit and a little truffle. Getting ever more intense on the glass, more and more honeyed. Drink now-2020+. Tasted October 2008.

Vinous (95)

Light gold with a steady bead of pinpoint bubbles. Deep, musky aromas of buttered toast, cherry pit, blood orange, lemon rind, pungent herbs and yellow rose, with mounting spiciness. Deeply concentrated but showing unlikely finesse, with firm, gripping red berry and citrus flavors and exotic notes of candied flowers and smoky lees. Intriguing for its blend of richness and delicacy; the endless finish repeats the spice and floral notes and lingers with impressive clarity and notes of honey, anise and minerals.

Vinous (90)

We start with a side-by-side comparison of Bollinger’s 2002 and 2004 Vieilles Vignes Françaises, one of my favorite Champagnes. The 2002 is spectacular, as it always is. Rich, warm and resonant, the 2002 covers the palate with seemingly endless layers of burnished, honeyed fruit and the most finessed, subtle mousse imaginable. I don’t see the 2002 making old bones, but it is flat-out great tonight. The 2004, on the other hand, is disappointing. More advanced in its flavors and with quite a bit less structure than the 2002, the 2004 is already maturing and needs to be enjoyed sooner rather than later.

The Carbon Vintage Rosé 2005 is an exquisite vintage, renowned for its elegance and depth. Crafted by the meticulous house of Champagne Carbon in France, the wine is the epitome of luxury. The grapes are carefully handpicked from their finest pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards, with an extra dash of meunier to enhance its delicate flavour. The wine is aged for over a decade in exquisite French oak barrels under the perfect climatic conditions, giving it a sophisticated, crisp taste profile.

The Carbon Vintage Rosé 2005 resonates with a lovely pink hue, dovetailed with an array of intense flavours including wild strawberry, raspberry cream, toasted almonds and a hint of mineral earthiness. Its full-bodied structure, silky texture and persistent finish is an ode to its extraordinary maturation journey. Not to mention, each bottle is embellished in carbon fibre, reflecting the house's passion for tradition and innovation. Truly, the Carbon Vintage Rosé 2005 is the embodiment of sheer indulgence.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Still greenish gold. Still lots of freshness on the nose. Noble and magnificent. Savoury and yet lacy. Full phenolic ripeness (a bit more than 2004, which is currently embargoed). Dances on the palate. Lovely, very lightly toasty, mature Chardonnay flavours but definitely tight-knit champagne not burgundy! So clean.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2000 Brut Millesime Amour de Deutz is a rare Blanc de Blancs made from vineyards in Mesnil (60%), Avize (35%) and Villers Marmery (5%) that the estate uses exclusively for charity events and/or gifts, which is a shame since that means only a few people will ever have an opportunity to taste it. The Amour de Deutz bursts from the glass with endless layers of mineral-infused fruit, showing marvelous intensity and richness. Pears, apples and flowers linger on the finish. Disgorged 12/10/2009. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.

Vinous (92)

(100% chardonnay grown in Le Mesnil, Avize and Villers-Marmery; disgorged October 12, 2011; LA109D29111): Bright yellow-gold. A heady, complex bouquet evokes dried citrus fruits, quince, white flowers and iodine, with a hint of truffle in the background. Shows both power and finesse, offering lively Meyer lemon, orange pith and fresh fig flavors. The floral quality builds with air and carries through a very long, mineral-accented finish.

Jancis Robinson (20)

Magnum disgorged 1981 for the royal wedding. Pale amber. Amazingly it smells like Dom Pérignon. Notes of putty! Excellent mousse – hugely lively. You would really think this was decades younger than it is. Extraordinary. Lemony. Dry on the finish, but wonderfully vital, well-balanced fruit and autolysis on the mid palate.

Vinous (97)

Dom Pérignon’s 1964 is another stunner. Wow. Here it is the wine’s detail and precision that really stand out. Hints of smoke and slate add nuance, but that is selling this majestic Champagne short. The 1964 is a wine to drink and simply enjoy for the pure pleasure it provides, without thinking too much.

Vinous (96)

The 1966 Dom Pérignon (Original Release) is absolutely gorgeous. Soft, open-knit and sensual, the 1966 is utterly sublime, with plenty of the orange peel, coffee, hazelnut, chamomile and dried flower nuances that are typical of mature Dom Pérignon, especially during this era. Gently mellowed by the passage of time, the 1996 is now at peak.

Vinous (97)

This bottle of 1971 Dom Pérignon, the second that I have tasted, was an original disgorgement and slightly paler than the Cristal 1971 served alongside. It has a devastatingly gorgeous bouquet, intoxicating from the get-go: grilled walnuts, dried honey and even a hint of marmalade, all delivered with exceptional delineation. The palate is beautifully balanced with perfect acidity. There are subtle notes of citrus peel, mandarin, crushed stone and honeysuckle, though these are discrete. It is rather the tension and precision that elevates this magnificent Champagne. Tasted at Christies/Fine Wine Experience 1971 dinner.

Wine Spectator (90)

A steely, full-bodied and complete Champagne, showing a touch of honey, cedar, butter and spice. Has fruit and lime flavors, with a long finish.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

Both 1982 Champagnes are utterly spellbinding. It is amazing to taste these wines at 30 years of age and see that their signatures are all very much intact. Of course, the magnum format is so ideal for Champagne. The 1982 Krug Vintage is warm, toasty and totally expressive, with gorgeous exotic orange peel and white truffle overtones. This is one of my very favorite Krug vintages. Although fully mature, the 1982 is going to continue to develop at a glacial pace. The 1982 Dom Pérignon is just a little more focused and vibrant in style. Here it is the wine’s salivating minerality that really sings. It, too, is quite youthful and vibrant for its age. What a flight.

Wine Advocate (98)

The brilliant 1996 Dom Perignon, which has largely disappeared from the marketplace, may be the finest young example of DP I have ever tasted. Notes of crushed rocks, honeysuckle, lemon oil, orange marmalade, and white pear provide a stunning aromatic display as well as palate impression. Great acidity and huge flavor intensity backed up by vibrant acidity make this an exquisite Champagne. It should drink well for 20-25 years, possibly longer. Readers should remember that the 1971 Dom Perignon Rose is still drinking exquisitely. I recently had the 1969 and 1970 Dom Perignons (from magnum), and both were drinking brilliantly. It makes one realize just how long-lived these wines can be. Production is confidential, but there must be hundreds of thousands of cases of Dom Perignon since it available in most of the world’s luxury hotels and restaurants.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.