Vinous (95)

The NV (2014) Blanc de Blancs Experience is another very beautiful and expressive Champagne from Agrapart. Silky and nuanced, the Experience is quite vinous, with a very subtle mousse and tons of freshness. Experience is a blend of fruit from Les Robards and Les Bionnes. Pascal Agrapart added unfermented 2015 juice to a base of 2014 wine for the secondary fermentation, an approach that yields a Champagne that is both unique and compelling. Non-dosé. Disgorged: July 2018.

Vinous (95)

The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru L’Avizoise, from old vines in the Les Robards and Voie d'Epernay lieux-dits, is a wonderfully complex wine. Rich, ample and mineral but also intensely perfumed, the Avizoise has so much going on. Vinification in oak and aging on the cork seems to really bring out soft contours to match the wine's sculpted, translucent feel. This is an especially refined, aromatic expression of Avize, and also one of the most sublime, elegant wines I have tasted from Pascal Agrapart. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020.

Vinous (94)

The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral is a powerful, intense Champagne that captures all of the natural power of these old vines in Avize and Cramant. Aptly named, the Minéral is infused with tremendous mineral and soil inflections that give a real feeling of gravitas. Crushed rocks, slate, chalk and citrus accents are some of the many nuances that emerge with a bit of time in the glass. This release is fabulous. It is also a reticent wine, though, so at least a year or two in bottle will help soften. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020.

Vinous (95)

The 2014 Extra-Brut Le Cran (50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay) is fabulous. It marries the energy of the vintage with terrific mid-palate presence and overall depth. Dried pear, spice, menthol chamomile and lightly floral honey all meld together in a Chardonnay of real depth and textural resonance. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: July, 2021.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Malvasía Riojana, or Rojal, is a very rare grape that’s only found in old co-planted field blends as a rule. But here it takes centre stage in a brilliant wine that’s fermented and aged on its lees in concrete eggs. Saline, focused and refined, with jasmine and wet stone aromas, a creamy mid palate and a long, focused, pithy finish. A stunning debut. 2021 – 2026.

Vinous (98)

The 2014 La Grande Année is stunning. In fact, it is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. What comes through most is the wine’s sizzling energy and tension, qualities that aren’t often associated with Bollinger, where the Champagnes tend to show more breadth and volume. In 2014, readers will find a Grande Année built on linear intensity and drive. The 2014 is a blend taken from 19 villages, 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay instead of the more typical 70/30 mix. For the second time in two decades (the first was 2007), Verzenay takes the lead in the Pinots over Aÿ, more or less an inverse from the norm. Verzenay, a north-facing village in the Montagne de Reims that saw less rain than Aÿ and most of the Vallée de la Marne, yields Pinots of energy more than volume. That, married with Chardonnays mostly from the Côtes des Blancs (predominantly Chouilly, Vertus, Oiry and Cramant), results in a truly magical Grande Année that will delight Champagne fans for several decades. I can’t recommend the 2014 highly enough. It’s a total knock-out. Disgorged: April, 2021. Dosage: 8 grams per liter.

Vinous (98)

The 2014 La Grande Année is stunning. In fact, it is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. What comes through most is the wine’s sizzling energy and tension, qualities that aren’t often associated with Bollinger, where the Champagnes tend to show more breadth and volume. In 2014, readers will find a Grande Année built on linear intensity and drive. The 2014 is a blend taken from 19 villages, 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay instead of the more typical 70/30 mix. For the second time in two decades (the first was 2007), Verzenay takes the lead in the Pinots over Aÿ, more or less an inverse from the norm. Verzenay, a north-facing village in the Montagne de Reims that saw less rain than Aÿ and most of the Vallée de la Marne, yields Pinots of energy more than volume. That, married with Chardonnays mostly from the Côtes des Blancs (predominantly Chouilly, Vertus, Oiry and Cramant), results in a truly magical Grande Année that will delight Champagne fans for several decades. I can’t recommend the 2014 highly enough. It’s a total knock-out. Disgorged: April, 2021. Dosage: 8 grams per liter.

Vinous (97)

The 2014 Rosé La Grande Année is airy, gracious and full of energy. Crushed rocks, white pepper, red berry, mint and blood orange lend striking aromatic intensity and presence. Finely cut and taut, the Rosé is a nervy Champagne that needs time to come together. The Rosé is blended from a base of the Blanc plus 5% still red Pinot from Bollinger’s Coteaux des Enfants vineyard in Aÿ. Perhaps because of its later disgorgement vis-à-vis the Blanc, the Rosé is a bit tight today. Disgorged: August, 2021. Dosage: 8 grams per liter.

Vinous (90)

Light yellow. Deep, sexy scents of lemon drop, peach, white plum, honeysuckle and earth, complicated by a nutty leesy quality. Fat and deceptively sweet on entry, then citrus peel and mineral flavors give definition and energy to the middle palate and grip to the finish. The initial sensation of plushness disappeared in an instant but then returned with aeration. This is ultimately a firm, well-delineated, mineral-driven Chenin with spine and some aging potential. In fact, I'd give it another year to knit--and to lose its nagging slight hardness.

International Wine & Spirit Competition ()

Elegant white flowers and tropical fruits with vibrant acidity, delicate autolysis and a fine mousse. Bronze Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition 2020

Halliday Wine Companion (99)

Pale straw-green - an extraordinary colour of an extraordinary wine. A fragrant bouquet floats out of the glass and introduces a palate that has the best of all worlds: lemon, lemon curd, beeswax and fruit spice with no hint of the searing acidity Hunter Valley semillon can throw at the unwary. Here it is perfectly (and naturally) balanced. A worthy companion to the sublime Graveyard Shiraz '18.

Vinous - Neal Martin (97)

The 2014 d'Yquem has a complex bouquet with buttered toast, almond, honey and peach skin aromas. It opens with greater zeal than its peers, there is more immediacy here. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, a finely tuned and satisfying Sauternes with style and grace, evincing great tension and mineral drive towards the finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

L'Apotre Blanc de Blancs 2014 which is certainly the star of his cellar, is a single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) from old vines planted by his grandfather in 1946. The wine is vinified in oak barrel which lend this Champagne a powerful vinous character.

Vinous (91)

Bright yellow-gold. Deep, complex aromas of yellow fruits, smoke and honey, lifted by a subtle note of white flowers. At once dense, smooth and light on its feet, showing a fruitier personality and an airier texture than the 2015, not to mention an element of saline minerality. Here the oak influence gives shape to the wine and draws out its tactile finish. This may go truffley in its golden years.

Wine Advocate (94)

Delamotte's just-released 2014 Blanc de Blancs has turned out very well indeed, opening in the glass with scents of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a chalky finish, this isn't as muscular as the 2008 or 2012, but it has real cut and persistence and should age very gracefully indeed.

Vinous (95)

From an old parcel in the Hermannshöhle whose vines are still single post-trained, this auctioned bottling (representing the contents of a 600-liter Halbstück) delivers a highly aromatic and luscious amalgam of white peach, pink grapefruit and Persian melon not unlike that familiar from its A.P. #12 counterpart. Suggestions of nut pastes complemented by candied citrus rind are also present. But this boasts a yet creamier texture, greater delicacy, and a more complex and mouthwatering mineral savor, allied to raw scallop-like sweetness and salinity.

James Suckling (98)

Beautiful interplay of vivacity and silkiness. Vibrant and phenolic, yet also supple with long, caressing layers of crushed almond, brown butter, apricot, praline, white chocolate and hints of sage. Really opens up. Fantastic integration. 100% new barrels from selected parcels of the Argonne forest. Drink or hold.

Savour the exquisite quality of Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014, a fine vintage underpinned by a rich tradition in Burgundian wine-making. Produced from the revered vineyards of the Burgundy region, it hails from the Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres domain, bearing testament to the esteemed reputability of Hospices de Beaune, world-renowned for their exceptional commitment to viticulture mastery.

This critically acclaimed, full-bodied Chardonnay is expertly hand-harvested, preserving the purity and intensity of the fruit. The microclimate and rich soils have endowed it with exceptional terroir complexity, offering sophisticated layers of ripe apples, roasted nuts and hints of honeysuckle on the palate.

With age, Hospices de Beaune Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Baudot 2014 develops bracing mineral undertones, becoming more nuanced and vibrant. This wine is a true representation of elegant French viniculture, an exquisite choice for the discerning collector.

The Hospices de Beaune Pouilly Fuisse Cuvee Francoise Poisard 2014 is a quintessential expression of French Chardonnay of distinction. This exquisite wine originates from the famed vineyards of Pouilly Fuisse within the prestigious Maconnais region of Burgundy. Managed by the historic Hospices de Beaune, whose viticultural excellence dates back to the 15th century, this wine bears the name of its benefactor, Madame Françoise Poisard.

The 2014 vintage, made under the meticulous supervision of celebrated winemaker, Ludivine Griveau, enjoyed an extended fermentation with full malolactic conversion in oak barrels. The outcome is a wine imbued with an intricate palette of aromas, from delicate white flowers to ripe orchard fruits. On the palate, gentle hints of oak intertwine with the vibrant freshness of Chardonnay to produce an irresistible complexity and length. Indulge in the Hospices de Beaune Pouilly Fuisse Cuvee Francoise Poisard 2014 for an authentic taste of Burgundian sophistication.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

South Africa's Sweet Wine of the Year 2017.

Wine Advocate (90-93)

Tasted as a tank sample, the 2014 Grand Cuvee Blanc is a terrific looking blend of mostly Grenache Gris that’s aged, on Viognier lees, in 20% demi-muids. From the Aspres terroir and 60- to 70-year-old vines, it has awesome notes of citrus blossom, white flowers, green herbs, salty minerality and ample pear and stone-fruit characteristics on the nose. This is followed by a textured, full-flavored, yet clean and pure white that has both freshness and richness. Count me a fan. This is a terrific white that will impress for 2-3 years, if not longer.

One of the finest exemplars of Champagne in existence, the Laherte Freres Les Vignes d'Autrefois Extra Brut 2014 epitomises the elaborate craftsmanship of the famed Laherte Freres estate. Located in the celebrated Chavot-Courcourt region of France, the vineyard blends conventional wisdom with avant-garde winemaking techniques to bring to life this delectable heritage cuvée.

Born from a single vineyard growing on clay and limestone soils, this 2014 vintage is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, painstakingly harvested by hand to ensure their pristine condition. After undergoing meticulous vinification in oak with indigenous yeasts, the wine is left to age on lees for 24 months, resulting in an extra brut that truly captivates.

The Laherte Freres Les Vignes d'Autrefois Extra Brut 2014 reveals complex notes of white fruit, brioche, and an enticing minerality. The palate is robust, yet refined, reflecting the extraordinary precision of this esteemed estate. A splendid toast to tradition.

Vinous (95)

The 2014 Extra Brut Les Chemins d"Avize Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fabulous. Rich, ample and potent, the 2014 possesses tremendous density from start to finish. Apricot, spice, dried flowers, graphite and lemon confit all build in a Champagne of enormous resonance. The pedigree here is evident. Chemins d"Avize is a blend from the Chemin de Plivot and Chemin de Flavigny lieux-dits. It was vinified in neutral oak and bottled with dosage of two grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2021.

Wine Advocate (88)

The 2014 Bourgogne Blanc has developed nicely during the remainder of its élevage since I tasted it from stainless steel tank, offering apple blossom, flint and smoky scents that possess much more character. The palate is fresh on the entry with citrus peel and fresh Granny Smith, well judged acidity and a bright and lively finish. This is precisely what you want from a Bourgogne Blanc. Tasted December 2016.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Sourced from 39 plots, the 2014 Champagne Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 32% aged in oak, and it has 7 grams per liter dosage. It is highly expressive of classic elegance and purity, revealing aromas of crushed rock, almond croissant, and perfume of citrus blossoms. The palate is hyper-refined in its mousse, with pinpoint bubbles, a subtly rounded mid-palate, an irresistible chalky texture, and energy throughout its long and floral finish. Everything about this feels perfectly tailored. Drink 2024-2044.

James Suckling (95)

Round and creamy, yet bright and tangy, with delicious pie crust, walnuts, lemons, sourdough, white peaches and apricot stones. More gourmand, with a creamy mousse. Lingering praline and pastry notes. Pinot noir and chardonnay. Drink or hold.

Vinous (97)

The 2014 Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons is fabulous. The 2014 is not as obvious as years like 2012 or 2013, but it presents a youthfully austere, classic personality that is absolutely beguiling. Readers will have to be patient here. There is certainly a lot to look forward to. The 2014 Les Chétillons is a Blanc de Blancs that sizzles with Mesnil tension and energy. Dosage is 3.5-4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.

Vinous (97)

The 2014 Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons is fabulous. The 2014 is not as obvious as years like 2012 or 2013, but it presents a youthfully austere, classic personality that is absolutely beguiling. Readers will have to be patient here. There is certainly a lot to look forward to. The 2014 Les Chétillons is a Blanc de Blancs that sizzles with Mesnil tension and energy. Dosage is 3.5-4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.