Wine Merchant

Vintage by Salon from Champagne, France - regions. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could drink Salon Le Mesnil every day? This is an incredibly beautiful, sophisticated, lavishly appointed bubbly with an exquisite blend of aged yeast notes smelling of lightly toasted brioche layered atop scents of vanilla, Meyer lemon, chalk and minerals all in the most seamless and creamy of fashions. Its mousse is smooth but energetic and comes with appropriately pinpoint-sized bubbles. Sporting all the finesse that Blanc de Blancs can manage yet rewardingly deep and rich in flavor, this wine is easily the most impressive bottling in this go-round of world-class bubblies. -Connoisseurs' Guide The 1996 Salon is a pale yellow color with a touch of green. It is clear and lively, with fine, persistent bubbles and a stunning bouquet. Initially, the nose offers hints of green apple, which soon develop into lemon and grapefruit combined with pear and kiwi notes. The wine is complex and refreshing on the palate, displaying a burst of minerality. This is a well-made, rich, powerful Champagne, all-encompassing yet subtle, with contained strength. Serving Suggestions According to Didier Depond, Salon should be served in a tulip-shaped glass instead of a traditional champagne flute. Because of the richness and complexity of its aromas, and its exceptional, lingering finish, we've found that Salon can be drunk in the same way as a great wine. This style of glass allows the wine to breathe more efficiently. Vineyard Profile Salon uses only grapes from severely pruned vines that are at least 40-years-old and grown on mid-slopes. All of the fruit is picked and sorted by hand. Winemaking Pressing is carried out with a traditional press used solely for Salon. Only the cuvee, or first pressing, is used for its wine. The cuvee is the lightest, purest and ripest juice that contains the highest amount of acid. The first fermentation occurs in a stainless steel tank, where the temperature is cont

Vintage by Pol Roger from Champagne, France. The Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill was created as a tribute to the great man, as he was a close friend of the Pol-Roger family and long time consumer of the champagne. The Cuvee is consistently made in the style he preferred: robust, full-bodied, relatively mature and dominated by Pinot Noir which contributes firmness and backbone complemented by the ethereal elegance of Chardonnay. The Cuvee is composed of the only the finest grapes from the very best vineyards (and only those from within the Champagne area under vine in Sir Winstons day), chosen for declaration in only the best vintage years. Bright gold with a lively mousse Deep, pungent nose features powerful scents of minerals, saffron, pear, lilac, buttered apple, pear, white peach and marzipan. Broad and improbably concentrated, the pear and apple flavors packing a huge punch and complicated by buttery, leesy tones. As rich and supple as this is, it also boasts brilliant cut. Finishes with expansive, exotic spice and pear notes, and superb focus and length. This spent nine years on its lees. Already delicious but I'd opt for holding this one for another decade before popping the cork. -IWC

Vintage by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. Blend: 64% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay La Grande Dame 1998 has a pale gold color with jade glints. The wine is crystal clear, with unbelievably fine bubbles. On the first nose, typical Chardonnay characteristics come to the fore, with the arrival of floral and mineral aromas (acacia, ferns, chalk). By agitating the wine, scents of candied fruit (citrus fruits, apricots, quince) and sweet almond emerge, to reappear later in the mouth. After rotating the wine for a few minutes more, rare notes such as peaty malt, tobacco and delicate herbs, are gradually unveiled. This aromatic, impressively complex bouquet is confirmed in the mouth. On the palate, the wine is clear-cut and pure, perfectly balanced with a delightful silky smoothness. La Grande Dame 1998, with its lace-like construction, has a long, lively, and structured finish. This wine has unbelievable aging potential. The 1998 vintage of La Grande Dame, the quintessence of the Veuve Clicquot style, reaches a peak of refinement, without losing its legendary strength produced by a blend including nearly two-thirds of Pinot Noir. The contrast of depth and brightness, or intensity and weightlessness creates a sense of harmonic resonance in this wine. All the aromatics are potent, from the scent of rising bread dough to the red skin of an apple, all the corresponding flavors rich yet refreshing. The firmness of the acidity seems to add briskness to the mousse, leaving a clean, chiseled impression of the chalk soils in which this grew. Once in a while, there is a young beauty who will age into a more profound older beauty; La Grande Dame is part of that rare breed. -Wines & Spirits

Vintage by Dom Perignon from Champagne, France - regions. The commitment of Dom Perignon is a commitment to creation. It's a quest for excellence; it is about taking risk, taking a challenge from the vintage, making it to the style of Dom Perignon. Every single vintage of Dom Perignon is an exclusive wine; it is the harmonious dialogue of style and vintage. Dom Perignon Vintage 1999 goes straight to the heart of Dom Perignon. This wine is radiant, pure and vibrant. It is a story of seduction and sensuality. The 1999 Harvest: Changeable, often unexpected, weather. Average temperatures were high and a very dry period gave way to almost tropical conditions in late summer, with strong winds and frequent hailstorms. The rainfall during harvesting did not affect this healthy and abundant crop with an exceptionally powerful and well-rounded character. On The Nose: This wine is full of life, with a fresh nose that dances through a spiral of aromas, blending hints of angelica, dried flowers, pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, cocoa and tobacco. In The Mouth: With a fullness in the mouth, its earthy, smoky, pearly complexity rises to the surface, underscored by the vibrant warmth of peppery spice. The sensation of intensity develops and melts into a deep, rounded heart, with a fruity, exotic maturity and a slight touch of aniseed. This sensation, almost unsettling, is even more pronounced in the finish, while the notes of spice, still present, remain discreet, with toasted, iodine flavors. p> 96 points Robert Parker in the Hedonist's Gazette: I was fortunate to have the newly released 1999 Dom Perignon, which is a spectacular Champagne. Based on one bottle, I would not rate it as highly as the 1996 or 1990, but it is much better than the 1998, and appears to have more body and richness than the 1995, also a top-notch vintage. The 1999 should have at least 20 years of life ahead of it.

Vintage by Perrier Jouet from Champagne, France - regions. Perrier Jou?t launched its famous flower bottle in 1969, with an arabesque design of anemones. Since then, it has been one of the world's most celebrated Champagnes - light bodied and distinctive. Aromas of fresh pineapple and white florals warm into complex scents of pear. The bead is intense and effervescent.

Vintage by Bollinger from Champagne, France - regions. The grapes come exclusively from Grands and Premiers Crus. 17 villages have entered in the 1999 blend, 82% from Grands Crus and 18% from Premiers Crus. The blend of La Grande Annee 1999 is composed of 63% Pinot Noir and 37% Chardonnay. La Grande Annee is the Prestige Cuvee of Champagne Bollinger. It is only produced when exceptional quality harvests occur, and is the expression of Bollinger's know-how. More than the illustration of the vintage particularity, La Grande Annee is the result of the Bollinger style, of its exceptional terroir and traditional wine making techniques. La Grande Annee develops a beautiful rounded structure and combines rich, complex and intense aromas, the expression of which changes according to the characteristics of the vintage.

Vintage by Schramsberg from California. The 1999 J. Schram opens with aromas of glazed pineapple, orange marmalade and crisp green apples. Just-baked puff pastry and rich creamy notes are derived from barrel fermentation (38%) and yeast aging. This powerful wine showcases the bright citrus and tangy, tropical fruit of the Tognetti, Hyde and Schwarze Chardonnay Vineyards in southern Napa in the Carneros region. The addition of 24% Pinot Noir lends subtle red fruit aromas and gives breadth to both the nose and palate. A creamy yet refreshing wine, with a long, seamless finish. - Winemaker Hugh Davies

Vintage by Taittinger from Champagne, France - regions. Pale gold in color, with delicate strands of pinpoint bubbles, Taittinger Brut Millesime shows the elegance of the house style while expressing the individual character of its vintage year. The fragrant white fruit and berry nose is offset by nuances of toast and minerals which carry onto the crisp, full palate. Delicately structured yet generous fruit flavors, clearly marked by Chardonnay, are balanced by a clean, refined acidity culminating in a fresh, persistent finish.

Vintage by Pol Roger from Champagne, France. Pol Roger, one of a few luxury Champagne firms still family-owned, was established in Epernay in 1849. Pol Roger owns 200 acres of vineyards, which provide about 45% of their needs. Pol Roger's cellars extend over four miles of winding chalk passageways on two levels. The second or deeper cellar maintains a constant 9.5? C (50? F), one degree lower than the first level and most others in the region. This lower temperature slows the second fermentation, encouraging a finer mousse or bubbles. Pol Roger Champagne also spends two to three times the allowable minimum in the cellar before disgorgement, or about three years for the non-vintage and up to seven for the luxury cuvees. The long, slow maturation contributes greatly to the complex aromas, which distinguish these superb Champagnes. The Vintage Brut follows the traditional formula for Pol Roger Vintage, being composed of about 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay drawn from 18 Grands and Premiers Crus. As always, the Pinot Noir contributes the intensity, backbone, tannins and body while the Chardonnay provides the fragrance, elegance, finesse essential to a perfect balance. Vintage Brut is only produced in declared vintage years.

Vintage by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. A blend of about twenty Premiers and Grands Crus, the Vintage has the power of Pinot Noir, balanced by the finesse and elegance of Chardonnay. It is the perfect expression of the House style, proving that champagne can be a great wine and, as such, makes a perfect accompaniment for many dishes, developing its qualities as the years go by. It goes well with spiny lobster prawns, scallops and sea fish as well as poultry and white meat. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VINTAGE: A mild winter led to an early bud-break, and a hot month of May produced premature flowering. The first part of Summer had mixed weather, with alternating rain and hail interspersed with drier spells, and low temperatures for the season. The second, however, took on a southern accent, with a drought near to resembling a heat wave. The rain which preceded the harvests encouraged the grapes to ripen and produce a large and qualitative harvest. Components: The 1999 Vintage Reserve is comprided of 21 crus only, which are either Grands or Premiers Crus, from the Montagne de Reims, Grande Vallee de la Marne and Cote des Blanc areas. 55% Pinot Noir 12% Pinot Meunier 33% Chardonnay Pretty bouquet of orange peel, freshly buttered bread and light malt. Great balance and finesse with tart citrus and caramel flavors, and soft acid backing. Foamy notes in the close with a touch of spicy ginger in this well-integrated wine. -Wine News

Vintage by Deutz from Champagne, France - regions. Made exclusively from Pinot Noir, 80% of these grapes come from the Montagne de Reims area, and the remaining 20% come from the Marne Valley. The specific style and color is obtained by the addition of 9% of red wine, whose Pinot Noir grapes come from two plots on the A? hillside called La Cote and Meurtet, both that have perfect exposure. After 4 years aging in the Deutz cellars, its aromas have perfectly blended, and the Brut Rose has a very subtle nose and a palate that shows remarkable power.

Vintage by Henriot from Champagne, France - regions. Racy, elegant and harmonious from start to finish. Candied citrus, honey and hazelnut flavors play out on a silky texture, and all is backed by a firm but unobtrusive structure. Lovely expression of the vintage. Drink now through 2010. -Wine Spectator Highly Recommended Brightly coloured with green tints. Fine, persistent bubbles. Rich and fresh on the nose. White fruit and flowers evolving towards mineral, spicy notes. Remarkably balanced on the palate. The attack is fresh and remarkably well balanced with a silky texture. Very pure and fine. This wine will be excellent as an aperitif and could also accompany refined fish dishes.