Skip to page content

Reviewers

K&L Email Alerts

Home

Staff Favorites - Heather Vander Wall

Heather Vander Wall | Send Email | Subscribe to My Sommelier Service

Reviews

Drappier "Carte d'Or" Brut Champagne

Review Date: 03-26-2021

I recently got to revisit this lovely Champagne, and I'm sorry to say it had been a couple of years since I tasted it last. It is more stunning than I remember. A champagne on the richer side, with great depth of nutty, lees-y character, complementing the fresh red berry fruit and bright crisp acidity. If you are a fan of classic, balanced brut Champagne that tends towards the nuttier, richer style, this is the wine for you.

Price: $44.99

JS: 91

BH: 90

WS: 90

Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne

Review Date: 12-18-2020

If you ask any K&L staff member for a champagne recommendation, this is most likely the bottle they will instinctively reach for. Why? Because this is the wine that time and again has graced our own tables, marked our celebrations, and found its way, more often than not, into our weekly wine diet. This is undeniably one of the best values for true champagne that we offer. The wine is both approachable and layered, with distinctive toast and brioche notes complementing the orchard fruit on the palate. Whether you need some bubbles for your dinner tonight, you want to gift a friend with something special, or you're celebrating with your family, you really can't go wrong with this wine.

Price: $37.99

2010 Lynch-Bages, Pauillac

Review Date: 10-08-2018

This wine is just perfectly balanced. Although 2010s tend to be tannic and structured, this is a great example of the poise and balance that can be achieved in the vintage, and the amazing aging potential. Even though this was decanted for hours, it still showed very young. I'd love to taste this in about 10 years time. The first elements of savory development are just starting to creep in around the primary fruit, and the hard edges of tannin are just softening, but the overwhelming impression is one of power, structure, balance, and potential.

Price: $249.99

2009 Pontet-Canet, Pauillac

Review Date: 10-08-2018

It's difficult to be original in a review on such an excellent wine from such an excellent vintage, but I did want to say that this wine is all that you'd expect and more. Tasted recently, the wine is just beginning to evolve some lovely savory components. The fruit is still luscious and the tannin silky. Although it certainly has more in store for its life, it was drinking beautifully after being open for several hours. The finish is endless.

Price: $299.99

Wiston Estate Brut West Sussex England

Review Date: 03-26-2018

As a big fan of sparkling wine generally, I am always eager to see what different regions bring to the table. Lately, I have fallen in love with the truly fabulous wines coming from England. Wiston Estate is one of the top producers there, and this NV Brut is a great example of the unique quality of English sparkling wine. The wine feels quite dry on the palate with lively acidity and heavily laden with chalky minerality. On the palate the fruit is surprisingly round, with pleasant apricot and nectarine dominating. Well worth putting a bottle or two aside for your next sparkling adventure!

Price: $39.95

DC: 96

WE: 95

VN: 92

Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne

Review Date: 02-02-2018

You may know that this is one of K&L's best-priced Champagnes, but more than that, it is one of the best wines at this price from any section in the store. Although I love the other wines from Baron-Fuente, I find myself coming back again and again to their Grande Reserve. It's classic Champagne: using all three varietals to achieve a perfect balance of crisp, clean minerality, toasted brioche notes, and creamy orchard fruit. This is precisely what I'm looking for when I want Champagne, and at this price, it's easy to drink Champagne regularly!

Price: $29.99

JS: 90

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes

Review Date: 10-10-2016

Don't miss the two words "Vieilles Vignes" in the name of this wine. The lovely Blanc de Blancs of Boulard Bauquaire owes much of its complexity and depth to the 70-year-old vines from which the wine is made. Like a classic Blanc de Blancs, this wine shows elegant, stony aromas that are rather austere at first, but on the palate, the depth of flavor is phenomenal. Not only is there an impression of full, rich, apricot fruit and even some red berry elements, but the drive of the acidity takes a position here very well integrated to the whole. This wine is hardly lacking in body and richness, but it is not due to the boldness of a red grape, rather it is all in the old vine power.

Price: $44.99

Fallet-Dart "Grande Sélection" Brut Champagne

Review Date: 06-20-2016

For those of you excited about varietal character in your Champagne, this is a great wine! Showing plenty of red fruit from the Pinot Noir dominance, this wine is richer, with nutty texture and excellent follow-through on the palate. I generally lean towards Chardonnay-based Champagnes, but this wine might be changing my mind. The elegant Pinot Noir character shows through with such purity and finesse, it easily rivals the elegance of a blanc de blancs. I will definitely be stocking up on these!

Price: $37.99

Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne

Review Date: 02-04-2015

Lovely rose champagne from one of our favorite producers! With a pale coral color, this is a light bodied rose with hints of wild strawberry, vanilla, clove, and a gorgeous, creamy texture. Certainly one of my top rose champagne picks!

Price: $42.99

Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne

Review Date: 02-02-2015

Elegance and complexity combine to make this an incredibly intriguing champagne. Delicate white flower and toasted almond/hazelnut on the nose give way to soft pear and a hint of vanilla on the palate. Gorgeous now, but I'm excited to see how this wine develops in the next few years!

Price: $44.99

More Favorites

Heather Vander Wall is also a fan of the following items. To become a fan of Heather Vander Wall, click here to join Heather Vander Wall's Personal Sommelier Service.

2017 Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay ($59.99)

2016 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($54.99)