Sparkling Wine

Vinous, 97 points: The 2006 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine, but it needs time to be at its best. I am surprised by how tightly wound it is. But that only makes me think what it might develop into with...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: A very fine-textured Champagne with lovely density and finesse. The bubbles roll off the palate. Full body. Extremely creamy and flavorful. Shows wonderful finesse and a lovely, chalky, lemon-curd and brioche aftertaste...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Tasted from magnum, the latest release of Palmer's NV Blanc de Blancs Brut is showing very well indeed, bursting from the glass with a ripe and expressive bouquet of grapefruit, orange zest, toasted bread, white flowers...

Wine Spectator, 93 points: Fragrant wafts of smoke and spice accent the steeped raspberry and mandarin orange peel flavors of this tightly meshed rosé Champagne, which is backed by a vivid spine of mouthwatering acidity and is silky on the palate...

Decanter, 94 points: The nose opens with the fresh ripeness of yellow apple and highlights of Granny Smith. It has beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum...

Decanter, 92 points: One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: The brioche and cooked-apple and cream character really comes through here. Full-bodied and round with fine bubbles. Flavorful and intense. Vivid, bread-dough finish. This is four years on lees. 55% chardonnay and the...

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Always a light, ethereal style of wine, this is also very fresh and still young. It will age with its taut minerality from the Chardonnay in the blend. A softer background will become toasty over the next few years. The...

Vinous, 96 points: The 2015 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Grandes Crayères 1er Cru is fabulous and also one of the clear highlights in this stunning range of Champagnes from Aurelien Laherte. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Cinnamon and dried nutmeg add to the experience of bread dough and rose petals. Flavorful on the medium-bodied palate and finely poised with bright acidity. Medium-long on the finish. Drink now.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: Based on the 2014 vintage with the addition of 55% reserve wines, the NV Extra Brut saw no dosage and an additional year sur lattes before disgorgement. Unwinding in the glass to reveal aromas of iodine, oyster shells...

jamessuckling.com, 92 points: A bright nose of strawberry and pink-grapefruit aromas with hints of blood oranges and berries, as well as almond biscuits. The palate has a super vibrant, fleshy ball of fresh red-fruit flavor and delivers a refreshing...

jamessuckling.com, 91 points: Quite impressive richness and gently toasty aromas on the nose here with almond, savory and sweet, bready autolysis notes. The palate has a fresh, succulent and smooth feel with soft, citrusy fruit flesh. Holds long...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Disgorged in November 2018, Ayala's 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs offers up an elegant bouquet of lemon oil, English walnuts, crisp yellow apples, linden blossom and hints of praline to come with bottle age. On the palate...

Wine & Spirits, 94 points: This is pinot noir from Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, part aged in stainless steel with some malolactic conversion, part in barrels without malolactic. This wine excited me personally, having just spent some time in the...