Essi Avellan MW “Stylish and charming nose of tart red berries; lingonberries, cherries and cranberries. Expressive, however relatively primary nose still, the coffee tones are charming. Highly promising palate. Powerful, dense and velvety with layered spicy and fruity characteristics. Its structure and intensity propose the wine to be nearly immortal. It is ageing extremely slowly but its true character starts to unveil itself little by little.”

See score and full tasting note at champagneclub.com.

Bright, amber-tinged pink with pinpoint bubbles. Deep, smoky and complex, with a kaleidoscopic bouquet incorporating wild strawberry, peach, apricot, chestnut honey and cured meat. A firm, strikingly concentrated midweight with powerful flavors of orange peel, raspberry, redcurrant, baking spice and smoked meat and gentle supporting acidity. Smoky, sweet and long on the back, with a slowly building impression of acidity that suggests this will be a long ager. As usual, a stunning Champagne.

Quite vivid pale tomato colour. Edge of smokiness on the nose – woodsmoke? Definite Pinot Noir character. A hint of black fruit flavours but still quite tight. Much broader than the regular ‘white’ version. Some floweriness. Needs time. (JR)