New Champagne in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/champagne.asp IWC 91 (12/2006): Pale, orange-tinged pink. Vibrant, spicy aromas of orange peel, ruby-red grapefruit and floral honey. Focused and pure, with juicy orange and tangy rhubarb flavors and a lush, velvety texture. This is weightier than previous bottlings of this cuvee, but has the usual precision and lift expected by long-time fans of this rose. Finishes with juicy citrus flavors and a late mineral jolt.WA 90 (12/2009): The NV Brut Rose is beautifully balanced in its layers of perfumed red fruit, berries and flowers. Clean mineral notes frame a silky, sensual finish. Billecart-Salmon’s NV Brut Rose is one of the most consistently delicious roses readers are likely to find. This is Lot: L779914 30209M. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014. WS 86 (12/2008): Light, offering modest candied cherry and almond notes. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Billecart-Salmon.aspIWC 93+ (11/2003): Medium yellow color. Brooding aromas of pineapple, pine needles, toffee and nuts. Dense, full and quite dry, with penetrating fruit, hints of oak spice, and powerful acids that have not yet come into harmony. But this extremely impressive young Bollinger vintage shifts into a higher gear on the back end, showing even more flavor intensity than it does in the middle palate. This boasts the near-freakish combination of high ripeness and high acidity shared by the best '96s. Builds and builds on the back; one must practically scrape this off the palate. A worthy follow-up to the '95, and likely to develop in bottle for a couple of decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bollinger.aspBH 91 (10/2009): This is also very discreet aromatically and again requires 15 to 20 minutes for the nose to really get going but when it does, it reveals very fresh citrus and green apple notes that are trimmed in background nuances of freshly baked brioche and this character can also be found on the moderately effervescent, pure and intense flavors that are impressively refined and highly detailed. This is presently still very youthful and for my taste, I would suggest cellaring it for another 3 years or so. Those that enjoy very crisp and intense examples may find this to their taste however. Drink 2012+.WS 90 (12/2007): There's a nice earth and mineral component to this Champagne, with honey, truffle and a citrus edge on the finish. Stays vibrant and focused, with an aftertaste of honey. Drink now.WA 88 (12/2005): A highly focused wine, the non-vintage Blanc de Blancs d’Ay (degorge le 3/8/2004) reveals spicy, salty, yeasty apple aromas. This Champagne’s linear character displays appealing tangy spiced apple flavors intermingled with flowers in a light to medium-bodied format.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GastonChiquet.aspIWC 91+ (12/1998): Pale color. Vibrant aromas of lemon oil, chalk, spice and earth. Dry, toasty and very intensely flavored, with strong extract and bracing acidity. Classy, precise flavors of ginger, minerals, chalk and toffee. Has the acid structure to improve in bottle. Finishes young and strong.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonDeutz.aspWS 89 (11/2006): Fresh and spicy, with ginger, honey and lemon as the main flavor themes. Picks up a biscuity note as it fans out on the caressing finish. Drink now through 2008. 250 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonDeutz.aspWS 85 (12/1993): This shows intense vanilla and apple aromas and flavors; it has a full body but is rather rough on the finish, with searing acidity. Needs time. 3,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonDeutz.aspWS 87 (12/1997): The big easy. Rich, toasty flavors combine with a soft, nearly sweet character in this abundantly proportioned wine. Best now through 2000.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonDeutz.aspIWC 89 (12/1999): Complex nose combines high-pitched lemon drop and candied lime notes with lower-toned, toffeed suggestions of yeast autolysis. Very dry and assertive in the mouth, with a strong spicy character. Offers excellent flavor intensity with no excess weight. Youthfully fresh, minerally and still evolving. Would make a perfect accompaniment to raw shellfish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonDeutz.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonDeutz.aspWS 91 (11/2008): Pure Pinot fruit leaps from the glass in this rich, vinous Champagne, which is well put together with a hint of tannins shoring up the finish. Has nice length. Think chicken in a morel sauce. Drink now through 2018. 225 cases imported. IWC 91 (12/2008): Dark pink with a strong bead. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are underscored by musky herbs and dried flowers. A serious version of pink Champagne, offering meaty red berry flavors and chewy texture. Finishes long and quite floral. I'd serve this with a rich poultry dish, or with cheeses. LO32172http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NicolasFeuillatte.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Godme.aspWS 93 (11/2004): Like biting into clover honey spread on whole-grain toast, with a subtle hint of berries, this is developing well, contrasting maturing flavors with a freshness provided by its lively structure. Fine, lingering finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Gosset.aspIWC 92 (12/2007): Vivid light gold with an energetic mousse. Fresh citrus pith and smoky minerals complement pear and nectarine aromas, with a suave toasty character adding depth. Vibrant orchard fruit flavors are deep but lively, picking up an exotic floral honey quality on the long, chewy finish. Plenty going on already but this has the depth and balance to repay cellaring. WS 90 (11/2004): A slightly earthy version, yet more vinous too, with autumn woods, spice and dried cherry notes riding the vivid structure. More of a connoisseur's Champagne than a crowd-pleaser; I like its firm authority and finesse. This needs time and food.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Gosset.aspJR 20 (8/2007): Not yet in its second life. Hasn't evolved enough to be in the Collection phase. Much paler and greener. Lovely sweet brioche nose. Very, very dense and tight and lively. Dom Pérignon-like. Creamy, fine, dense: lots of energy. Very, very tight. In between, long, tense, vibration. Very, very long (I could definitely see a relationship with the ‘64). Quite big and ripe.WA 96 (21/1994): (no note)WS 90 (12/1993): If you like your Champagne very mature, drink this. Superbly rich with bread dough and vanilla and ripe fruit aromas and flavors. Full bodied yet fine with mature and rich flavors. Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspWA 96 (12/1994): No tasting note.WS 94 (12/1996): A seductive, fully mature, spicy-flavored Champagne that's rich in texture, full in body, still quite firm in balance and long on the finish. What a satisfying taste experience! Drink now through 1999.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspWS 99 (11/2002): Brilliant aromas of coconut, tropical fruit, candied citrus peel and spring blossoms hint at perfection, yet the structure is firm and unyielding. Then it all returns on the finish, a wave of fresh and dried berries, white truffle and hazelnut. A compelling and contemplative wine. What more could you expect from a Champagne? Best from 2005 through 2015.MB ***[*]: Excellent wine. Two recent notes. 1999 in Memphis: lovely scent, great length, finesse and future. Most recently, prior to a dinner at Ch. Figeac in St. Emilion: a fairly deep straw gold; fine, mature bouquet; fullish body. Classic Krug. Drinking well but will keep.IWC 96+ (11/2001): Ineffable yeast autolysis aromas (biscuit, meal, nuts) virtually resist characterization; reminded me of a great Chevalier-Montrachet. A wine of extraordinary depth of flavor, vinosity and class, thanks to penetrating but perfectly harmonious, lipsmacking acidity. Quite dry but with wonderfully ripe fruit. Very firm and youthful on the finish, but already displays explosive flavor. A great vintage for Krug.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspWS 94 (6/2000): Rich, lush aromas of dried fruit and citrus marmalade, this is Champagne at its most opulent. Honeyed and round on the palate, with fine acidity keeping it focused. Gorgeous now, yet will age well.--Krug vertical. Drink now through 2015.IWC 93 (12/1999): Vinous, minerally nose dominated by toffee and apple. Mouthfilling, quite dry and very intensely flavored, with penetrating yet harmonious acidity. Offers the exotic fruit quality of the vintage but has the minerally, steely spine to handle the very ripe flavors. Very long and firm. Impressively fine for the year. Krug released this wine before the '88.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspWS 94 (6/2000): Rich, lush aromas of dried fruit and citrus marmalade, this is Champagne at its most opulent. Honeyed and round on the palate, with fine acidity keeping it focused. Gorgeous now, yet will age well.--Krug vertical. Drink now through 2015.IWC 93 (12/1999): Vinous, minerally nose dominated by toffee and apple. Mouthfilling, quite dry and very intensely flavored, with penetrating yet harmonious acidity. Offers the exotic fruit quality of the vintage but has the minerally, steely spine to handle the very ripe flavors. Very long and firm. Impressively fine for the year. Krug released this wine before the '88.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspWS 94 (6/2000): Rich, lush aromas of dried fruit and citrus marmalade, this is Champagne at its most opulent. Honeyed and round on the palate, with fine acidity keeping it focused. Gorgeous now, yet will age well.--Krug vertical. Drink now through 2015.IWC 93 (12/1999): Vinous, minerally nose dominated by toffee and apple. Mouthfilling, quite dry and very intensely flavored, with penetrating yet harmonious acidity. Offers the exotic fruit quality of the vintage but has the minerally, steely spine to handle the very ripe flavors. Very long and firm. Impressively fine for the year. Krug released this wine before the '88.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspWS 97 (11/2005): An aristocrat. Big-boned and intense, yet with finesse and complex flavors of coconut, whole-grain bread, ginger, citrus and honey. Waves of flavor saturate the palate and the long finish picks up a mineral and smoke note. Very harmonious from start to finish. Drink now through 2020. WE 96 (12/2004): A full, rich wine, that brings together the Krug style with its vanilla flavors and power with the great 1990 vintage. After 14 years, this wine is developing still, hinting at toast along with flavors of peach, nuts and a touch of honey. It is intense, very much a food Champagne, but still retains freshness and the potential for further aging.WA 95 (10/2005): At its finest, the 1990 Vintage is superb, revealing a slightly oxidized style, but a full-bodied, rustic, rich personality with the body of a red wine, but loads of character.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspIWC 95 (12/2006): Light yellow. Rich and powerful, with leesy pear and white truffle aromas accented by gentle notes of white pepper and cinnamon. Extremely powerful Krug, with rich orchard fruit flavors, a velvety texture and warm, rich, inviting notes of brioche and creme brulee Finishes with intense pear and peach flavors and lingering notes of smoke, iodine and toffee. One of the most concentrated Champagnes I tried this year.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspIWC 95 (12/2006): Light yellow. Rich and powerful, with leesy pear and white truffle aromas accented by gentle notes of white pepper and cinnamon. Extremely powerful Krug, with rich orchard fruit flavors, a velvety texture and warm, rich, inviting notes of brioche and creme brulee Finishes with intense pear and peach flavors and lingering notes of smoke, iodine and toffee. One of the most concentrated Champagnes I tried this year.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Krug.aspIWC 93 (12/2008): Bright yellow with a strong bead. Toasty citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by buttered toast, mineral and yeasty qualities. Fleshy pear and peach pit flavors are gently firmed by juicy acidity and pick up a note of floral honey with air. Brighter citrus notes gain volume on the spicy and impressively long finish. Delicious now, but I'd bet on this gaining complexity with another seven or so years of age. Incidentally, in September I drank a bottle of the 1990 Cuvee Angeline Brut that I bought on release, and it was superb: ready to drink but in no danger of falling apart.WA 89 (12/2008): Lassalle’s 2000 Premier Cru Cuvee Angeline is a powerful, tightly wound wine redolent of smoke, earthiness, menthol, apricots and licorice. Still quite fresh, this deceptively medium-bodied wine should continue to develop positively over the next few years. This bottle was disgorged on November 26, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JLassalle.aspWS 95 (12/2005): This is intense, concentrated and refined. Peach, honeysuckle, toast and mineral aromas and flavors meld beautifully with the vibrant structure and supple texture. The harmony of all the elements and intensity of flavor make this Champagne a standout. Drink now through 2015. 3,000 cases made.IWC 91 (12/2006): Light yellow. Nicely focused toasty peach, ripe pear and orange pith aromas are gently accented by anise and lees notes. Rich in fresh citrus and dried pear flavors and lifted by bright, harmonious acidity and tangy minerality. Deepens on the finish, picking up a buttery note and a hint of peach, showing impressive concentration and length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ARLenoble.aspIWC 95 (12/2006): 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.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MoetChandon.aspIWC 95 (12/2002): Wonderfully subtle, complex aromas of white flowers, acacia honey, minerals, nuts and mushroom, with musky and leesy nuances. Oily, rich and smoky but with terrific verve and lift. Quite substantial and chewy for a young D.P. but not at all heavy. Yellow plum and strong soil tones in the middle and on the palate-staining finish. Offers a rare combination of richness and finesse. WA 94 (12/2002): This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.WS 90 (11/2003): Exotic, with ripe candied fruit character (black currant and citrus) and biscuit notes that unfold on an open yet firm structure. Lingers subtly on the finish. Drink now through 2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MoetChandon.aspIWC 91+ (12/2003) Aromas of baked bread, crystallized ginger and spices; showed a tart berry hint with aeration. Dense and brisk, with flavors of orange peel, apple and spices. Possesses a tight core of spicy fruit and considerable inner-mouth energy, but comes across as a bit youthfully disjointed today owing to slightly clenched acidity.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PierreMoncuit.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PierreMoncuit.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Mumm.aspWA 92 (12/2008): The 1999 Brut Millesime is a dramatic, large-scaled Champagne that sweeps across the palate with remarkable density in its fruit. The wine shows superb length, with chalky notes that linger on the finish. This richly-textured, full-bodied Champagne will offer highly pleasurable drinking now and over the next few years. 1999 is the first vintage for this bottling, which is 42% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay and 29% Pinot Meunier, disgorged in January, 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.WS 89 (11/2010): Light and frothy, with flavors of green apple, pear, honey and smoke. Well-integrated, with a fresh, modest finish. Drink now through 2014. 50 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoPaillard.aspIWC 89 (12/2002): Subtle aromas of orange zest and ginger spice. Dry, bright and elegant, with aromatic flavors of orange oil, pear, quince and fresh nuts. Tactile but fairly light-bodied. Finishes with very good persistence and cut.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrunoPaillard.aspBH 92 (10/2007): A mature nose features notes of moderate yeast influence, baked orange peel and hints of brioche set off against lush and round flavors that possess real depth and excellent length on the citrusy finish. For my taste, this has arrived at full maturity though it will certainly hold here for up to a decade. In sum, given the simply superb quality that Clos des Goisses routinely delivers, I would call the '97 a very good rather than exceptional vintage for it. Drink 2007+.IWC 90 (12/2005): Light gold color, with a fine mousse. Pungent aromas of apple, poached pear, cherry pit, blond tobacco and loamy earth, lifted by a topnote of bitter lemon. Offers very good depth on the palate, showing concentrated flavors of apple pie, singed orange and buttery toffee. This boasts good energy on the back, which enlivens the wine's deep, maturing flavors. A very successful and vinous Champagne from this difficult vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Philipponnat.aspWS 90 (12/2011): Lightly juicy, with notes of kumquat, biscuit, mineral and green pear, framed by a firm backbone of racy acidity. Tightly knit, with a moderate finish. Disgorged June 2010. Drink now through 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Philipponnat.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Pommery.aspWS 96 (11/2000): A laser beam. Beautifully focused, intense and densely flavored with lime, honey and chanterelles in butter. So rich it's almost too much, but the vibrant acidity keeps everything in check and driving through the long finish. Drink now through 2010. 700 cases imported.IWC 95 (12/2000): Multidimensional nose of lemon, apple, minerals, nut skin, mushroom, honey, toffee and coffee. Tiny bubbles. Powerful, rich and solid as a rock, with strong mineral underpinning. Great concentration and structure. Finishes with almost painful intensity and remarkable persistence. Extremely expressive on the nose, but still evolving in the middle palate and likely to be long-lived.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Salon.aspCW 92-94 (5/2010): This opens up with a knockout nose of juicy oranges and honey drizzled on white toast. It is still very youthful, though clearly starting to turn on its seductive charm. After the wonderful nose, it would be easy for the palate to let you down, but the wine belies expectation with flavors of lime and orange in addition to juicy acidity. Creamy dough, gentle white toast, and hints of honey with beeswax on the palate…this wine is utterly delicious right now, and will continue to evolve and drink at an extremely high level for a long time. Killer juice for the price.WA 90 (2/1997): Taittinger's 1990 Brut may be the finest vintage Champagne I have tasted at this level for Taittinger (keep in mind that their luxury cuvee, Comtes de Champagnes, is not yet released). It seems obvious that the quality of the 1990 Champagne vintage is going to be remarkable, and the world-wide demand will be unprecedented. The message - buy them now!WS 90 (12/1998): A fresh and vibrant Champagne, with fresh dough aromas, bright lemon and butter flavors and a lively texture that seems to propel the flavors to a lingering finish. Delicious. Drink now through 2003.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taittinger.aspIWC 95 (12/2006): Green-gold. Vibrant, youthful, precise aromas of green apple, Meyer lemon and dusty citrus zest. Racy and taut on the palate, with a strong mousse and impressive focus and concentration to the tangy apple and citrus flavors. Juicy, palate-staining finish of striking purity. This is clearly an outstanding Champagne but needs some more time in bottle.WS 93 (12/2006): There's richness to offset the vibrant structure of this 1996. Shows toast, candied berry, lemon zest and mineral flavors. Balanced, ending with a chalky sensation around the gums. Still very youthful, with a long life ahead. Drink now through 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taittinger.aspCW 95-97 (1/2009): This Champagne is what a Rose should look like – a dark leaning shade of pink salmon with very active tiny bubbles and a beautiful mousse. The nose is full of fresh picked red strawberries mixed with biscuit dough, flowers, and touch of juicy orange sweetness. It is young, vibrant, and just plain great to smell. Excellent acidity leads the palate into an attack of strawberries and ruby red grapefruit. A wonderful balance of sweetness to acidity makes this a pleasure to drink while a backdrop of biscuit makes it even better. This is a brilliant wine that straddles the line of richness and elegance as I wish many more would. The finish is long with red citrus fading into a doughy cream texture that just goes on and on as your mouth cannot stop watering. This is destined to be a great one and shows all that can go right in 1996. It is elegant yet powerful; a flavor packed drink that is ready to go now & should change into a red & creamy exotic beast with time. IWC 95 (12/2003): Pale orange-pink. Knockout nose combines wild strawberry, blood orange, minerals and earth, along with a whiff of maple syrup. Wonderfully intense and penetrating, with concentrated flavors of strawberry tart and toast shaped by vibrant acidity and mineral spine. Unusually serious, structured rose from a great vintage. But it also boasts fabulous fruit.WS 92 (11/2004): Rich and ripe, with a vibrant structure, this exhibits plenty of berry and spice flavors, plus a chalky mineral intensity. It's harmonious, elegant and persists nicely on the finish. Drink now through 2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taittinger.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taittinger.aspIWC 89+ (12/1999): Pale orange-gold. Initially a bit tart on the nose and palate, but opened quickly to show rich, smooth fruit flavors, thorough ripeness of fruit and plenty of palate presence. Ripe, lingering back end. Big, dinner-table Champagne that should benefit from time in bottle. WS 89 (10/1999): A complete and full-flavored rosé from a great year, showing all the elements we like--ripe fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, complex aromas and a lingering finish. Drink now through 2005.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWS 92 (12/1998): A generous, buttery-tasting Champagne that's beginning to show an attractive maturity in its intricate flavors. Medium-bodied, quite dry, but smooth in texture and distinctive for its mineral, butter and caramel flavors. Drink now through 2000.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWA 95 (12/1994): No tasting note._x000D__x000D__x000D_WS 94 (12/1993): Like a wild horse. Tons of potential. It's extremely exuberant and lively. Full bodied with masses of lemon, toast and apple character. It shows great acidity and long finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWA 90 (12/1994): (no note).WS 86 (12/1996): A big, generous Champagne with expansive aromas of butterscotch and satisfying flavors of almond, vanilla and apple. Mature, ready to drink.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWS 92 (12/1998): Assertive but not overt, this has toasty, nutty, buttery aromas and flavors, quite a dry balance, bright acidity and a broad but firm texture. Should develop even more flavor with time. Drink now through 2003.IWC 92 (12/1998): Yeasty, vinous, pinot driven aromas of red berries and earth. Large-scaled and mouthfilling, with excellent intensity and subtle notes of apple, lemon and toast. Has a perfumed quality in the mouth. Subtle and very long and nicely balanced for the vintage.CW 87-89 (4/2009): Classic Grande Dame nose of bold and nutty citrus, but the palate can't quite keep up. There is a nice spicy nuttiness on the palate, but the fruit has faded and the Clicquot boldness I love doesn't really shine through in this wine. 1989 was a vintage that saw quite a few top cuvees taste best as youngsters. This is in that group.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWS 92 (12/1998): Assertive but not overt, this has toasty, nutty, buttery aromas and flavors, quite a dry balance, bright acidity and a broad but firm texture. Should develop even more flavor with time. Drink now through 2003.IWC 92 (12/1998): Yeasty, vinous, pinot driven aromas of red berries and earth. Large-scaled and mouthfilling, with excellent intensity and subtle notes of apple, lemon and toast. Has a perfumed quality in the mouth. Subtle and very long and nicely balanced for the vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWS 92 (12/1998): Assertive but not overt, this has toasty, nutty, buttery aromas and flavors, quite a dry balance, bright acidity and a broad but firm texture. Should develop even more flavor with time. Drink now through 2003.IWC 92 (12/1998): Yeasty, vinous, pinot driven aromas of red berries and earth. Large-scaled and mouthfilling, with excellent intensity and subtle notes of apple, lemon and toast. Has a perfumed quality in the mouth. Subtle and very long and nicely balanced for the vintage.CW 87-89 (4/2009): Classic Grande Dame nose of bold and nutty citrus, but the palate can't quite keep up. There is a nice spicy nuttiness on the palate, but the fruit has faded and the Clicquot boldness I love doesn't really shine through in this wine. 1989 was a vintage that saw quite a few top cuvees taste best as youngsters. This is in that group.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspIWC 96 (12/1999): Rich, multidimensional, highly aromatic nose of pear, red berries, apple, honey, toast and spice. Extremely rich and concentrated, with its medium to full body leavened by bright citrus notes and compelling minerality. Great inner-mouth aromas. Conveys an impression of powerful yet remarkably fine raw materials. The spicy finish offers exceptional persistence and richness. WA 95 (10/1998): I highly recommend the Veuve Clicquot 1990 La Grande Dame. It is exquisitely rich and accessible, yet bursting with potential.WS 90 (10/1999): Assertive and buttery style, dry and bold in flavor, but with the lively effervescence and toasty finish for balance. Drink now through 2002.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspIWC 96 (12/1999): Rich, multidimensional, highly aromatic nose of pear, red berries, apple, honey, toast and spice. Extremely rich and concentrated, with its medium to full body leavened by bright citrus notes and compelling minerality. Great inner-mouth aromas. Conveys an impression of powerful yet remarkably fine raw materials. The spicy finish offers exceptional persistence and richness. WA 95 (10/1998): I highly recommend the Veuve Clicquot 1990 La Grande Dame. It is exquisitely rich and accessible, yet bursting with potential.WS 90 (10/1999): Assertive and buttery style, dry and bold in flavor, but with the lively effervescence and toasty finish for balance. Drink now through 2002.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.aspWS 93 (11/2002): Striking in flavor and profile. A graceful, well-toned rosé, full of berry, autumn leaves and spice notes enmeshed in a rich texture, all supported by lively acidity. Stylish and beginning to mellow, with a long aftertaste of berry confit. Drink now through 2006. IWC 92 (12/2001): Salmon-orange with a pale rim. Deep, smoky aromas of strawberry, pear cider, cinnamon, earth and maple syrup. Very rich in the mouth, but also shows excellent verve for a wine with such volume; superripe flavors of strawberry, rose petal, iron and earth. In texture and size, this comes across more like a red wine than a rose Champagne. Spicy finish is long and gripping.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeuveClicquot.asp