A crystal-clear glass bottle showcases the golden cuvée within, while minutely-detailed, embossed foil labels complete a gorgeous package that invites the touch as well as the taste. Balanced and elegant, the wine begins with aromas of stone fruits, ripe pear and brioche. Tropical notes of mango complement fresh Chardonnay fruit and limestone on the palate. Finely structured and delicate, the wine has a light, dry finish. Belaire Gold is perfect as a well-chilled aperitif, but it’s also a versatile food-pairing wine, especially with seafood, grilled vegetables, or poultry.

Biodynamic.  Base 2020, with 10% reserve wines blended in (vintages 2012 to 2019, 60% Pinot Meunier and 40% Chardonnay. The S.A. (Sans Anne) is a snapshot of the terroir of Vandieres. As Flavien says “the reflection of my village.”  This non-vintage Champagne shows the terroir of Vandieres with the fruit coming from multiple parcels. Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts. Ageing in a combination of small oak barrels and foudres. The vin clair is not chaptalized, fined, filtered, or cold stabilized and naturally goes through malo on its own in the Spring. Ageing on crown cap for secondary fermentation using MCR.

Bollinger's 2008 La Grande Année is superb, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, ripe lemons, honeycomb, warm biscuits, dried white flowers and a delicate top note of walnuts and fino sherry. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a beautifully refined mousse, superb concentration at the tightly wound core, incisive acids and a supremely elegant intermingling of Bollinger's oxidative stylistic signatures with fresh, vibrant fruit. The finish is long, precise and chalky. This is a Grande Année built for the cellar—the real excitement will come with a bit more bottle age—but this is already a thrilling Champagne in the making. Finished with eight grams per liter dosage, it was disgorged by hand in July 2018. This is also the first vintage of Grande Année to be bottled in Bollinger's new narrower-necked 1846 bottle, which should make for a slower evolving wine.-William Kelley, Mar 2019
Reviewed by: The Wine Advocate- 97 pts

Chandon was sparked into life in 1973 by the visionary spirit of Robert-Jean de Vogüé and California pioneer John Wright. As one of the first French-owned sparkling wine ventures in the U.S., Chandon carefully selected its vineyards and are now considered to be amongst the best for producing quality sparkling wines in California In keeping with the style established when the winery was founded, Chandon Brut Classic captures the expression of California’s vineyards. Its crisp and fresh flavor profile relies on a blend of the three traditional grape varietals used in Champagne — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier — and adds a celebratory note to any occasion.

The color is an elegant golden straw yellow with amber highlights. Its aromas are radiant, revealing bright yellow-fleshed fruits (apple, pear, yellow peach), honey, floral nuances (lime blossom) and elegant blond notes (brioche and fresh nuts). The palate is seductive, richly flavorful and smooth combining generosity and subtlety, fullness and vigor, followed by a delicately fresh crispiness (fruit with seeds), to reveal the magical balance of Champagne.

An excellent choice to open, or end, any celebration, the Delamotte Brut balances power and freshness on a supple, rounded palate with a clean, fruity finish. Floral on the nose, with great minerality and acidity to carry the stone fruit and citrus flavors. Bright, fresh, and fabulous, this charmer is destined to please.

To welcome the festive season, indulge yourself in the pleasure of decanting a unique Champagne, from a historic savoir-faire passed down through generations. Discover the precise and delicate art of blending through this cuvee, entirely vinified in oak and composed of the three champenois grape varieties. The Brut sous Bois comes in a beige box, giving it a raw and natural appearance, accompanied by a limited edition mouth-blown carafe.

About the Champagne A radiant yellow crystalline appearance with golden glints brought to life by a luminous bead of persistent fine bubbles. There is an olfactory impact due to the richness of harmonious expressions (dry fruits, fresh citrus, and white fruits) coupled with finely buttered seductive notes. A defined aromatic undertone which expresses the mature complexity linked to the vinification in oak barrels.

The caressing and refreshing texture enhance the creamy sensation, dominated by a beautiful bracing vivacity. A burst of flavors (notes of grilled brioche, toffee) thanks to the distinguished power and maturity which is a mark of the great wines of Champagne.

"The NV Grand Cuvée opens with a beautiful, very clear and delicate bouquet that displays very fine toast, nougat, hazelnut, ripe and dried fruit (raisins), floral and concentrated (and refreshing) citrus fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a generously rich, mature yet fresh, highly finessed and elegant prestige cuvée with a long, complex, tensioned and beautifully mineral finish with tangy citrus flavors." Apr 2018