94 POINTS
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front
“Beautiful whiffs of lemon curd, dried apple, cinnamon, sea spray, fino sherry, lime and brioche with light honeyed characters. Quite a bit of concentration, very briny and minerally at its core, lots more dried apple and lemon curd with licks of that fino sherry in the mix too. Creamy texture cut with crisp bubble, ticklish and energetic and long-lasting. Richness inherent. Complex and charismatic Champagne.” 94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
91 POINTS
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast
Dark, rich and sensuous, this is a ripe Champagne, boasting pear and apricot flavors. Although the aftertaste appears dry, the richness gives it a very sumptuous mouthfeel, leaving a long, full aftertaste.
90 POINTS
Stephen Tanzer - Vinous
Lemon, toast, toffee, brown butter and baking spices on the nose. Smooth but juicy, with concentrated flavors of apple, pear, toast and minerals. Strong acids are nicely buffered by the wine's chewy extract. The wine's younger and older components are in harmony. Full ripeness gives this a tangy sugar/acid balance. Finishes snappy and long, with impressive flavor intensity.
90 POINTS
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast
Philippe Chartogne's nonvintage Blanc de Blancs comes from 25-year-old vines in his family's Merfy vineyard. With its apple and green fruit aromas and soft, creamy mousse, it manages to balance richness, softness and acidity. The aftertaste is light and crisp.
90 POINTS
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
(47% pinot noir, 39% chardonnay and 14% pinot meunier, mostly 2008 with 27% 2007 wines; disgorged July, 2012): Light yellow-gold. Ripe melon and pear aromas are given depth by suggestions of dried fig, redcurrant and pungent flowers. Chewy orchard fruit flavors show good concentration and spicy character, with a hint of licorice emerging with air. The broad, clinging finish leaves lasting notes of sappy pear and chamomile. I like this Champagne's blend of richness and energy.
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The NV Brut Cuvée Sainte-Anne is a wonderfully rich, creamy wine that seems to be dominated by the significant presence of red grapes and a warm 2005 base vintage. There is lovely richness and density to be found in the glass, but with air the wine's chalky minerality emerges to add complexity and length. The Sainte-Anne is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a dash of Meunier, 80% 2005 juice with the addition of 10% each 2001 and 2002. Disgorged June, 2009.
Antonio Galloni MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The NV Brut Cuvee Sainte-Anne is a wonderfully rich, creamy wine that seems to be dominated by the significant presence of red grapes and a warm 2005 base vintage. There is lovely richness and density to be found in the glass, but with air the wine’s chalky minerality emerges to add complexity and length. The Sainte-Anne is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a dash of Meunier, 80% 2005 juice with the addition of 10% each 2001 and 2002. Disgorged: June, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014.
This is a striking set of wines from Alexandre Chartogne, a young grower inspired by Anselme Selosse. Chartogne has begun converting his vineyards to biodynamic farming and is giving his wines less malolactic fermentation than in the past, which may explain, at least in part, why these wines seem more mineral-driven and less overt than in the past. Whatever the reason(s), the wines are simply beautiful and are all highly recommended.
Antonio Galloni MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Chartogne-Taillet’s NV Brut Sainte-Anne is a relatively soft wine with good definition in its aromas and flavors and an accessible personality that makes it well suited to near-term drinking. The Sainte-Anne is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir based on the 2006 vintage, with the addition of 10% each 2005 and 2004 juice. Dosage was 5.5 grams per liter. This is Lot L5097, disgorged June, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
