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By: Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/24/2023 | Send Email
I have to stop being surprised by the excellent quality of this super well priced champagne. This fantastic bottle is aged for three years on the lees and has great honest toast from the aging process, as well as great refreshment from the high percentage of estate-grown vines used in the blend. I love this Champagne for its friendly, open-knit personality and its easygoing refreshment, but it has more than this for those who want to take the time to get to know it... It is a serious bottle of Champagne! Don't let the low price fool you!
Top Value!
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By: Philip Roufail | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/11/2023 | Send Email
The Baron-Fuente "Grand Reserve" Brut Champagne has so many stellar staff reviews to its credit over the years it's hard to know what to add to the conversation. First off, it's a steal. Since Baron-Fuente is one of our long standing direct import champagnes, the pricing literally can't be beat. The average price for this fabulous bubbly is $38. We sell it for $24.99 (and we're the only west coast retailer who carries it!). Second, it's delicious! The majority Pinot Meunier gives it a medium body that is fruit forward, but balanced with racy acidity and toasty notes. The "Grand Selection" should dispel any notions that a champagne's price is indicative of its quality. This is a top notch champagne that should encourage you enjoy it as the French do -- every day with everything!
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By: Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/2/2022 | Send Email
As the lowest cost Champagne that we have, this can safely be called a budget entry into that wide and effervescent world. A double whammy of being easy on your wallet while satisfying your palate makes this a no-brainer buy for people looking for a little bit of bubbly. Clean and toasty with a classic nose. Apple and pear on the palate with a finish that has lemon zest and hints of stone fruit. This is an incredible value for a Champagne of this caliber!
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By: Dejah Overby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/28/2022 | Send Email
This has a lovely freshness to it that blends flavors of citrus, under-ripe tropical fruit, and dried ginger in the finish. This is mostly Pinot Meunier has enticing florals and for me this is a special cuvee that lends a cherry note that is delightfully playful on the palate. Finishing dry overall, and a great aperitive for the beginning of a meal or a toast.
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By: Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 3/16/2022 | Send Email
This is one of the lesser-known classics, though I've really loved this Champagne house for a while now. The Grande Reserve consists of 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir, and Baron Fuente uses 40% reserve wines for this bottling ensuring a lot of complexity develops. It also spends three years on the lees to develop a level of yeasty, toasty flavors that's just right for me. The nose opens with light cream and musty yellow pears with additional orchard fruit notes of peach and apricot. There's nice lemon acidity and a whisper of smoke and flint. The palate is pleasantly tart with both apple and pear, and this Champagne has fantastic texture. This Champagne's profile hits most of those classic Champagne aromas and flavors making it very approachable and perfect for crowd-pleasing at any event you might be hosting.
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By: Lilia McIntosh | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 10/6/2021 | Send Email
It's practically impossible to find better value that this Champagne! Slightly toasty with delicious brioche and a bit of hazelnut note, it's just perfect champagne for family gathering and large parties. It definitely has crowd pleasing profile and show immense complexity at the same time. Try a bottle and then stock up for the upcoming holidays. You will not regret it.
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By: Tim Telli | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 10/1/2021 | Send Email
Champagne for $25? Come on now, it's a no-brainer. The long list of reviews below mine tell you all you need to know about this wine. It's just a terrific deal for a Champagne of this quality. A crowd-pleasing style that hits all the right spots. It's a best seller for a reason and not just because of the price.
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By: Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email
This is the best value I've ever seen from Champagne. This flagship from western Marne producer Baron Fuenté is aged for a full three years on the lees, giving it a richness unheard of under $25. It has expressive flavors of apricot, Gala apples, and honeysuckle with a touch of spice and herbs and a rich toasty creaminess on a finish that just keeps going and going. What a value for the quality!
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By: Lauren Seward | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/16/2020 | Send Email
Don't let the price fool you! This is one of the best deals in our entire Champagne collection and is THE go-to for K&L staffers looking for a last-minute bubbly. A Muenier-forward blend from far-western Champagne that spent 3 years on the lees, this bottle is toasty and nutty on the aromatics, with a fruity palate and very balanced acidity. Looking to spice it up at your next party? Consider purchasing this in magnum format - it is even better and was aged for an extra year on the lees.
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By: Jennifer Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/15/2020 | Send Email
This champagne is one for toasting! Having aged 3 years on the lees (4 years for magnum size) the toasty nut flavors shine through and hit my taste buds dancing. Mad with 40% reserve wines, the liveliness and acidity leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your meal. Delicious for any occasion. Cheers!
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By: Muriel Sarik | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/13/2020 | Send Email
This is the best value champagne we have and it is absolutely delicious. I serve this a lot at home and it never seizes to amaze me how complex it is. Whether I'm cooking, eating or mingling this champagne keeps grabbing my attention to all its flavors and textures
The added bonus is that we have 3 different sizes 375ml, 750ml and 1.5lt.
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By: Stephanie Vidales | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/12/2020 | Send Email
Baron Fuente's Grand Reserve is a K&L staple that you should have in your fridge all the time. It's full-bodied with stone fruit, apple, a hint of toast and finishes dry. It's aged 3 years on the lees, double the aging required for Brut Champagne bumping the quality up even more. This is by far one of our best Champagne deals in the store, and makes the best party wine for any occasion.
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By: Chris DePaoli | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/11/2020 | Send Email
Putting the grand in "Grande Reserve," this is dollar for dollar one of the best value bottles we carry, not just within champagne, but K&L as a whole. The low price doesn't do justice to how good this stuff is, with broadening orchard fruit and limestone backed with Scarborough fair notes and a touch of Sandalwood. As appealing a party bubble as it is at the cost, don't avoid sitting with it for a while, as it opens up more and more as you look for more complexity.
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By: Elsa Baez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 10/14/2019 | Send Email
With 3 year aging on the lees and 1/3 reserves used to make this bottle, the Baron Fuente Grande Reserve is by far the great value champagne anyone will enjoy! On the nose there's good amount of lees-y and toasty notes and subtle bright pear undertones. Bright acid, ripe green apples mid-palate and mineral undertones finishes off this delicious bottle of bubbles. It is seriously a steal for a great quality of bubbles!
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By: Miles Philippe | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/8/2019 | Send Email
An all-star for the price! The main driving notes here are in the ‘pear’ category, with lovely apricot-like accents. Because of the 3 years of aging sur-lie, the yeast notes on the nose are reminiscent to Pain au Levain. Will do great poured on its own for a party, or served on the dinner table with just about any meal!
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By: Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
There's a reason there's so many staff reviews backing up this wine. This review is another rock in the quarry but I thought I'd throw my two cents in and be in good company. Easy drinking, crowd pleasing with white peach skins on the nose with a light note of bisquit. The palate mirrors the nose but with a great tart acidity and sweet tangerine peel. Do yourself a favor and go for the magnum on this one (Shhh, don't tell anyone).
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By: Andrew Tobin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
The Baron-Fuente family has been working in the vineyards of champagne long before the region started producing sparkling wine. The years of experience have lead to the production of some amazing wine at every price point, and the Grande Reserve is no exception. A blend of 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Noir, makes for a warm and round nose with notes of honey, sweet dough, and hazelnut. On the palate though it is bright, with a biting acidity, and notes of soft cherry. This is a beautiful bottle for any occasion!
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By: Cameron Hoppas | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/5/2019 | Send Email
This champagne over-delivers. With three years on lees, The Baron-Fuente "Grand Reserve" is perfect for the champagne aficionado constantly pursuing a soft creamy texture. Frankly, this highly refined wine is an incomparable value.
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By: William Beare | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/5/2019 | Send Email
Enough good things simply cannot be said about Baron Fuente. I first took home a bottle not long after starting with K&L to experiment with champagne cocktails. It seemed an easy choice-- being the most affordable champagne on a price/quality scale. I found a small panel of friends compassionate enough to sit down and accept free booze, and we began by tasting the champagne on its own before mixing. Not much was accomplished in the way of mixology that night-- because we all sat, gob-smacked, discussing the sheer elegance and drinkability of this top value bubbly. Candy apples, golden delicious cider, and a touch of wild sour-cane fill the nose and palate. And if this is a deal-- the magnum offering (priced with no large-format premium) is an absolute steal, and the clear choice for your next large gathering.
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By: Rachel Alcarraz | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/5/2019 | Send Email
With twice as much aging on the lees then required, the Grand Reserve has a rich toasted nose with scents of brioche and broad inviting earthiness. Mostly Meunier brings soft elegance and fineness along side deep fruit characters by adding depth and complexity to the wine. A bit of red apple fruit and fresh sweet citrus carry the warm palate from start to finish.
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By: Shaun Green | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/5/2019 | Send Email
If you've made it to here you already know most of the staff are huge fans of this amazing bargain. True Champagne at this price can make one doubt, but one glass will prove it to you. It's no cheap knock off, this is the real deal!
Top Value!
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By: Jordan Stone | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/8/2018 | Send Email
Pretty apple and tart peach with ginger, almond skin and some saline.Broad on the palate with a light feel. 10% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay & 60% Munier. 100% Malolactic fermentation. A pretty Champagne at a reasonable price. Perhaps a second bottle?
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By: Christina Stanley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
Behold, Baron Fuenté Grande Réserve! This wine is easily one of the best values K&L has to offer. With a cépage that is primarily Meunier, the palate is clean, light and slightly spicy, with flavors of crisp, green apple, and a slightly nutty finish with a hint of caramel. The wine spends 3 to 3.5 years on the lees, which creates a fabulous breadth on the palate, not to mention that finish! Persistent and charming!
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By: Cliff Spinola | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
Looking for a place to start in the Champagne category? Look no further! Thanks to the efforts of our fabulous Champagne buyer Gary Westby, we are able to bring in this great expression of the variety that won't break the bank. My go-to Champagne for every occasion; be sure to have a few bottles on hand at all times!
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By: Sal Rodriguez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
An impressive Champagne by any standard! At this price, it would be hard NOT to purchase it by the case! Bright, fresh, and floral. The wine has a nice mineral tone throughout, and a citrus tone on its lengthy finish! A seriously incredible value!
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By: Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
Consistently my favorite go-to bubble for it's freshness, deft touch and biscuity aromas, the Fuente has always punched well above its fighting weight. Much like Golidlocks, I put Fuente in my "Just Right" category. It hits all the marks of balanced fruit, doughy yeast and crunchy acidity to give me everything I want in Champagne and for sub-$25 it even qualifies as daily drinker (or couple times a week drinker). The Grande Reserve is always satisfying from whatever angle you approach it and for sheer value, cannot be beat.
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By: Heather Vander Wall | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/2/2018 | Send Email
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!
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By: Blake Conklin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 8/10/2017 | Send Email
You probably won't find a good quality champagne at this price anywhere else, and on top of that, this champagne is actually fantastic! You want to bring champagne to a party, celebration, or dinner party, but don't wanna spend more than 25 bucks? Then this is the champagne for you!
Top Value!
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By: Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 3/10/2016 | Send Email
Surprisingly, for such a blend of “dark” grapes, this is very light in color—almost a light straw. On the nose it starts out light and pretty with aspects of fresh-cut flowers and bread dough. In the mouth it has a tight bead with very well-balanced flavors of apples (both green and gold), lemon curd and white cake, in a lighter style that finishes very cleanly. Ten grams of dosage per liter make this a perfect aperitif bubbly.
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By: Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/25/2015 | Send Email
"Value Champagne" doesn't begin to do this bottle of bubbly justice. Baron Fuente brings all of the class and elegance of the Grand Marque Champagne brands to your table for such a reasonable price (and with more flavor and finesse!). The aroma wafts out of the glass like freshly rising bread finished in a lemon and tangerine zest. The wine strolls gracefully balanced down your palate and finishes with a clean and friendly flourish that brings you right back to the glass wanting more. This is a remarkable bottle of Champagne, especially when you consider it's only 24 bucks.
Top Value!
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By: Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/18/2015 | Send Email
The best priced Champagne in our store and an amazing offer especially with the upcoming holidays. This beautiful Grande Reserve has an amazing mid-pallet that is toasty and full with a hint of almond and dried fruit. This makes it ideal as a Champagne to serve with dinner, it has enough weight to enjoy before and with food. Fantastic finish and flavor make for a truly beautiful Champagne and with the price you can afford to pick up several.
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By: Greg St. Clair | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 7/15/2015 | Send Email
A broad, creamy, texturally rich Champagne, lots of leesy complexity, yet remarkably well balanced, and for a song of a price. Only because we import this directly can you get prices like this with quality as well!
Drink from 2015 to 2017
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By: Kyle Kurani | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 7/10/2015 | Send Email
This bottle of Champagne does so many things for me. It offers the ability to use Champagne in many more settings--from parties to toasts--and it brings quality bubbles into the budget of many more customers. At $23 dollars a bottle, there is so much in this bottle. fresh and vibrant citrus notes, hints of navel orange and white peach greet you, with a light and effortless bead. It finishes with a touch of bread dough and Gala apple, rounding out the palate and leaving you wanting just one more glass. In the end this offers us the chance to drink Real Champagne at a price that so many more people can afford--including us here at the K&L!
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By: David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 4/25/2014 | Send Email
Gwah?!? $24 champagne that taste great! The French must be pissed. Fruit tart candies, slight brioche,leesy on the palate are evident, but not cheesy. Wonderful texture and great freshness. An inexpensive champagne with a wonderful personality.
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By: Mari Keilman | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/29/2012 | Send Email
This delicious Champagne is composed of 60% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir & 30% Chardonnay and has been aged three years on the lees. Pinot Meunier is always characterized with upfront floral and fruity notes and that is exactly what jumps out of the glass with the Grand Reserve. Loaded with tons of ripe, fresh apple and carmalized citrus, this cuvee conveys how powerful and full-bodied Pinot Meunier can be while simultaneously having a clean and elegant finish.
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