2002 Marguet Pere et Fils Grand Cru Brut Champagne

94 points from Burghound: "A presently restrained but beautifully complex and classy nose where the chardonnay aromas definitely are in evidence leads to pure, intense, detailed and equally complex flavors have just the right amount of effervescence and a fine bead. This is a seriously lovely effort and it’s one of the rare examples that, even though it is quite young, can be enjoyed now or held for up to another decade. 94/2012+" K&L's notes: "This is a very exciting 2002, and one that no serious fan of Champagne should miss. The blend is 70 % Chardonnay and 30 % Pinot Noir from old vines that Benoit sourced from grand cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. The wine is aged in the bottle on the yeast for more than 5 years. It has excellent balance and surprising power- tasting it blind I guessed that it had more than 50% Pinot Noir. It has fantastic black cherry Pinot Noir fruit, savory intrigue and quite a lot of minerality on the extremely long finish. This Champagne is one of the strongest finishers of any of our stock, with a real "peacock tail" that is almost stronger after swallowing it than when it sits on ones tongue. The 2002 should age effortlessly well past 2012. -Gary Westby, K&L