95 points Wine Spectator: "A mature Champagne from a great vintage. This is lean, yet mellows nicely to a toasty bubbly flavored with lemon and candied ginger. It still has its racy structure and is beginning to take on a smoky note. The long finish evokes roasted hazelnut, smoke and mineral. Drink now through 2023." (11/08) Our Notes: This wine was first released in 1997, but a portion was held back and recently disgorged. It is composed of 1/3 Chardonnay and 2/3 a combination of Pinot Noir and Meunier. From a vintage that is fast becoming my pick for... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood

This super rare bottling is made with some of the nearly extinct, native varietals of Champagne. It is composed of 40% Meslier, 40% Arbanne and 20% Pinot Blanc. I think it is the best of the excellent Ariston portfolio, and it was my favorite Champagne from my 2009 trip. The nose has only hints of exoticism, the over all impression is of rich cream and toast, but underneath is a hint of pine and exotic white fruit from the old varieties. On the palate the Champagne makes for a double take: it is very rich and textural, but finishes with a laser beam of c... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This is spectacular rose- perhaps the best non vintage rose that I have ever had, and a great argument for the blenders art. It is composed of 14% Meunier, 24% Chardonnay and 62% Pinot Noir. It is part of that Pinot, that makes up 5% of the blend in total that makes the wine so special- vinified as red wine and barrel aged, it comes from Bollingers old estate vineyards in Ay and Verzenay. Concentrated yet completely effortless, this barrel fermented gem has everything one could want from a rosé Champagne. The power is in the wine, but always takes a back... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

This Champagne started in 1875, thanks to Emile Marguet, who since 1883 has tended his best vineyards of the Cote des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, in preparation for the arrival of phylloxera. Today, this domaine's top bubbly is the Cuvee Maxime, made only in years that merit it! 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Bonville is sold out of this vintage in 750's, so I guess we will have to drink it from magnum! The 2002 vintage is fantastic for the Cotes de Blancs wines, with much in common with the great 1990 harvest. The Bonville family owns 50 acres of Grand Cru vineyards and uses exclusively estate fruit in this wine. This Champagne is a great example of how much more wine you get for less money compared to a big name non-vintage Champagne when the export brokers, import companies and distributors are taken out of the deal. This is 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from ... Read More » 

Inventory: Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

The famous yellow label. According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The NV Brut offers up attractive notes of smoke, tar, rich ripe pears and flowers in a medium to full-bodied style. There is a good measure of persistence..." (12/08) 

Inventory: Hollywood Redwood City

This is 100% Chardonnay from the walled Clos of Cazals in Oger. In the past, fruit from this vineyard was joined with that of Mesnil sur Oger for a stupendously good Champagne. Then it occurred to Cazal that its very own Clos might make wonderful and wonderfully original bubbly! Brilliant, luminous, with notes of citronella, hawthorn, rose and violet with apple, pear and citrus on the palate. The bubbles on this one are as fine as fine can be, and the finish brings in subtle cedar and oak. A distinctive style, but one that will find wide appeal! 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City

While the renowned 1996 vintage Brut from Fleury has taken much of the acclaim, the 1995 is not to be overlooked. Even at this point, the 1996 is still tight while the 1995 expands upon the palate with bright, tart cherry fruit with hints of mandarian oranges when it is first opened. In the background, stone fruits, apple butter and nutmeg spice. As an added bonus, Fleury Champagne is biodynamic and has a long history of "green" farming methods. The entire estate was converted to biodynamics by 1992. "We leave the earth to our children," has been the say... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Champagne always tastes better out of magnum. This is pure vintage 1998, but it is not labeled as such. Paul Vincent Ariston says that his 25 year-old vines reflect the vintage, but the Prestige, made from vines averaging 60 years, reflect his terroir. He feels that putting a vintage date on this wine would be an insult to his best vineyard plots. It is composed of 50% chardonnay, 25% pinot noir and 25% meunier. This was one of the best bottles from my 2005 trip, and we drank two just to make sure! It has fantastic Brouillet black cherry power, and finis... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse San Francisco

Bruno Lemoine of Fleury packed this in, along with his Doux and regular Brut of the same vintage for our two-city Champagne tasting event. Tasting three vintage Champagnes, identical except the dosage, is a rare treat for me and a first for many that came to our tastings. Fantastically full-bodied, bone dry at one 3.5 grams of sugar per liter, and with contrasting flavors of mushroom and chalk, I think this wine has it all. 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

Champagne Fleury has been around since 1895, releasing their first bubbly in 1929. The vineyards themselves are located on steep slopes that have a calcareous clay soil and see ample amounts of sun, so the grapes have an outstanding ripeness. Continental and oceanic climates combine for cool mornings and nice bursts of heat in the afternoons. Fleury was one of the first vineyards to start converting to biodynamics, too, beginning in 1989 and completing the process for all of their vineyards by 1992. This is a high dosage Champagne, but do not think for a... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood Main Warehouse Redwood City San Francisco

92 points Wine Spectator: "Very fragrant, boasting rose, violet, red berry and peach aromas and flavors. Opulent, even creamy, with underlying acidity that freshens the finish and a subtle aftertaste of fruit and spice. Drink now through 2012." (11/09) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light pink with an energetic mousse. Restrained red berry and citrus aromas offer striking clarity and precision, with a light talc quality contributing to the impression of energy. A wonderfully focused lightweight, offering impressively brisk berry ... Read More » 

Inventory: Hollywood