Community Review

Louis Brochet Hbh Champagne 2002

Champagne A.C., France

Community Score: 4.5/5
Community Reviews: 4

Price: $69.95

Sweetness: Extra Dry
Alcohol: 12%

Drink: 2017-2022

Bottle size: 750 ml
Winery: Louis Brochet

Greg Hughes rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Ontario is blessed to see as much of this wine as it does. This producer produces a scant 1500 of this cuvee a year. That's very small. This is their top wine. It's 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir aged 'sur lattes' on the fine yeast lees sediment for a decade. This wine is an absolute steal for what it is.
Beautiful deep golden yellow colour. Somewhat persistent bubbles, but it is getting on in years. Don't save this one for any longer than another five years.
Old Champagne has changed a lot from the bright, tart sparkling it once was. The aromatics undergo a change. Less straightforward and in your face, these aromatics are complex and rarely seen in other wines - even other traditional sparklings. Brown butter, candied ginger and apricot. Honey, smoke, lemon juice, and zest.
The bubbles are small and refined at this stage. Still very noticeable. It hasn't gone away, yet. Lemon, brioche, coconut, apple, apricot, pear, and dried currants. It is a lot fresher on the palate than for the nose. That can happen witholder wines, though. There will be variation from bottle to bottle because each one has been a separate ecosystem for almost two decades. Just appreciate it for what it is.
This winery is a small production 'grower Champagne' (it is grown, managed, and vinified by a small family operation instead of a big corporation of co-operative). Rather than one of the big names, try smaller specialty producers like this one. They are always a better value.
On top vintages, this producer used to put Tintin characters on the crown-cap. 2002 was a great year, indeed. I hope I got a Snowy...
Pair this decadent wine with duck rillette. Some cut peaches and berries always are a nice fingerfood to start with at holiday gatherings. They would go well with this wine. Old Champagne sometimes needs some help with acidic food to keep things balanced and fresh.

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