Sparkling Gifts
Cap Classique Colmant Absolu Zero NV
Absolu Zero Dosage NV is 100% Chardonnay with the fruit coming from Franschhoek (65%) and Robertson (35%). A portion of the base wine (15%) is fermented in French oak barrels while a further 15% of reserve wine from previous vintages is also blended in. These techniques contribute to the complexity and elegance of the finished product – as does the extended time on lees, 85 months minimum – or seven years in layman’s terms!
Colmant Absolu NV is the pinnacle of the range: a Blanc de Blanc with zero dosage and extended lees maturation of 85 months. A poised balance of maturity, complexity and fresh vivacity.
Champagne Lanson “Clos Lanson” Blanc de Blancs Brut 2006
"The 2006 Clos Lanson is bright, focused and exceptionally pure. Veins of underlying acidity and chalkiness give the 2006 its super-distinctive, saline-driven personality. Lemon peel, white flowers, chalk and white pepper develop in the glass, adding further dimensions of nuance. With time in the glass, the 2006 acquires lovely textural brilliance, but it remains tense, crystalline and absolutely impeccable in its purity. The aromatics could use a bit more finesse and freshness, but otherwise this is a solid debut. Clos Lanson is fermented entirely in barrel, but the oak is very nicely integrated. Disgorged December, 2014." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Champagne Lanson “Gold Label” Brut Vintage 2008 Magnum
"In all probability the finest rendition of this cuvée since 1996, Lanson's 2008 Brut Vintage Gold Label is an impressive wine in the making, unwinding in the glass with aromas of white flowers, lemon oil, orange rind, apple and freshly baked sourdough. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with a concentrated but tight-knit profile that exemplifies the house's non-malo style, concluding with a long and penetrating finish. It's a terrific value in the world of seriously age-worthy Champagne." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Champagne Lanson Black Label Brut Non-Vintage 375ml
Champagne Lanson Black Label Brut Non-Vintage - “Light gold. Aromas of nectarine, pear and lemon curd, with subtle ginger, lees and floral accents. Sappy orchard and citrus fruit flavors are given spine by tangy acidity and pick-up spiciness and a chalky nuance with air. Powerful yet lithe and focused, finishing with very good clarity and length and lingering spiciness.”- Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Champagne Lanson Black Label Brut Non-Vintage 3L
"Light gold. Aromas of nectarine, pear and lemon curd, with subtle ginger, lees and floral accents. Sappy orchard and citrus fruit flavors are given spine by tangy acidity and pick-up spiciness and a chalky nuance with air. Powerful yet lithe and focused, finishing with very good clarity and length and lingering spiciness."- Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1976 Magnum
Tasted from magnum, Lanson's 1976 Brut Vintage Collection is spectacular, mingling aromas of white currant, lemon and confit citrus with nuances of brioche, beeswax and dried white flowers. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it's deep and complete, with huge energy and concentration and a long, saline finish. The product of a dry, warm growing season and an early harvest, the 1976 blend contains an atypically high percentage of Chardonnay.
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1979 Magnum
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1983 Magnum
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1985
“Tasted from magnum, Lanson’s 1985 Brut Vintage Collection is showing brilliantly, revealing a complex bouquet of dried fruit, mandarin orange, toasted bread, honeycomb and musky peach, followed by a full-bodied, deep and intensely concentrated palate that’s layered and multidimensional, built around the house’s trademark spine of incisive acidity that tempers the inherent generosity of the vintage. Long and penetrating, it concludes with a delicately exotic finish.” – William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1985 Magnum
"Tasted from magnum, Lanson's 1985 Brut Vintage Collection is showing brilliantly, revealing a complex bouquet of dried fruit, mandarin orange, toasted bread, honeycomb and musky peach, followed by a full-bodied, deep and intensely concentrated palate that's layered and multidimensional, built around the house's trademark spine of incisive acidity that tempers the inherent generosity of the vintage. Long and penetrating, it concludes with a delicately exotic finish." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1988
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1988 Magnum
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1989 Magnum
Tasted from magnum, the 1989 Brut Vintage Collection from Lanson exhibits aromas of toasted nuts and dried fruits as well as hints of confit citrus and mocha. Broad, muscular and powerful, this is a deep and textural Champagne built around considerable dry extract and mid-palate weight as well as the usual racy spine of acidity.
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1990
Nice glowing golden colour. Quite nettly and herbaceous at first, the nose reveals lots of crisp citrus fruit and over-ripe pear, but then a little toasty, biscuity richness shows through. Very full mousse, the palate is densely packed with crisp apple and pear fruit but shot through with racy acidity. Good length, very persistent mousse.
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1990 Magnum
Nice glowing golden colour. Quite nettly and herbaceous at first, the nose reveals lots of crisp citrus fruit and over-ripe pear, but then a little toasty, biscuity richness shows through. Very full mousse, the palate is densely packed with crisp apple and pear fruit but shot through with racy acidity. Good length, very persistent mousse.
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1995 Magnum
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1996
Tasted from magnum, Lanson's 1996 Brut Vintage Collection offers up a deep bouquet of citrus oil, confit lemon, fresh peach and wheat toast, as well as the iodine and kelp top notes that are so often characteristic of this particular vintage. Full-bodied, multidimensional and concentrated, it's deep, tensile and incisive, with a racy—even trenchant—spine of acidity and a long, penetrating finish. The 1996 is still a very youthful wine that's evolving gracefully, so readers should feel no urgency to open bottles.
Champagne Lanson Gold Label Brut Vintage 1998 Magnum
Champagne Lanson White Label Sec Non-Vintage
"Pale gold. Spicy pear, melon and white peach scents and flavors are lifted by a note of tangerine. Emphatically fruity, showing good depth and energy for its sweetness. Closes smooth and long, with a touch of ginger adding bite. Spicy Asian dishes or strong cheeses would be fantastic with this plush Champagne." - Josh Raynolds, Antonio Galloni's Vinous
Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru “Vieille Vigne du Levant” 2010
"Disgorged in June 2018, the 2010 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant offers up a bright and detailed bouquet of citrus oil, flowers, white peach, warm bread and a delicate top note of walnut oil that's less pronounced than its delicately oxidative 2009 counterpart. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and satiny, with considerable concentration and old-vine extract, concluding with a long and saline finish." - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Champagne Pol Roger Brut Réserve Non-Vintage
"Pale yellow. Toasty melon and white peach on the nose, with orange zest and dusty minerals emerging with air. Lively, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit flavors show good palate-coating intensity without any excess weight. The clinging finish displays a subtle floral quality and repeating orange and melon notes." - Josh Raynolds, Antonio Galloni's Vinous
Champagne Pol Roger Pure Extra Brut Non-Vintage
"Pol Roger's brightly colored, white-golden NV Pure Extra Brut is an undosed blend of equal parts of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier that has been aged four years on the lees. This excellent sparkling wine offers a pure, fresh, precise and yeasty bouquet of white fruits intertwined with lemon aromas, some notes of freshly baked rye bread and very subtle smoky flavors (although the wine has never seen any oak). The mousse is as fine and delicate as you can expect from a Pol Roger, and so is the complexity and refined elegance of this Champagne; it is is truly dry, straight and fresh, but also intense, firmly structured and reveals a nice iodine flavor in the long finish. This wine is as subtle as it is complex, and you should give it a second chance if you tend to underrate the first sip. The finish is really remarkable in its tightness, length and purity. Try it with shellfish!" - Stephan Reinhardt, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Champagne Pol Roger Rich Demi-Sec Non-Vintage
"Light, bright yellow. Ripe pear and nectarine on the fragrant nose, with hints of lemon curd, honey and dried fig adding complexity. Shows very good depth and a supple texture, with sweet poached pear and pit fruit nectar flavors sharpened by a minerally element. Closes silky, broad and gently sweet, with a suave floral quality coming up late. This would make a fantastic pairing with blue cheeses." - Josh Raynolds, Antonio Galloni's Vinous.com
