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By: Diana Turk | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/24/2018 | Send Email
Incredibly, a magnum of Baron-Fuente is priced lower than some bigger name 750 ml bottles of Champagne – the value is almost unbelievable! Concentrated fruit with a hint of spice, luxurious toastiness, and creamy finish, this Meunier-based Champagne is both expressive and easygoing, with more pronounced acidity in this larger format. And while there’s technically better aging potential to the 1.5L, it’s tough to keep this cellared when it’s so exciting (and affordable) to pop at a party.
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By: Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/14/2018 | Send Email
This is the best value I've ever see from Champagne. The quality from this flagship of Marne producer Baron Fuente is unbelievable for the price. It has beautiful expressive flavors of apricot, Gala apples, and honeysuckle with a touch of spice and herbs and a rich, subtly toasty creaminess on a finish that just keeps going and going. What a value on such a crowd pleaser!
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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: Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/7/2018 | Send Email
There is only one thing that everyone in Champagne agrees on, that is their wine tastes best out of a magnum. There are several reasons for this, but rest assured that it is true. Getting to taste Champagne side by side out of different sizes always confirms this, also who doesn't want to show up at a party or event with a large format Champagne? So here we have the best-priced magnum Champagne you will see and it delicious! The extra aging on the lees shows up as big rich yeasty notes with tons of breadth and complexity. There is a lovely golden pear and vanilla note here as well as a dry and long finish. Spectacular bubbles.
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By: Rachel Alcarraz | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
There are many delicious Champagnes at $49, but there are very few in magnum at $49! Baron Fuente ages their magnum over a year longer than their 750s--which are aged twice as long as required--so you are getting a solid 4+ years of lees contact in the bottling. It has the same great richness and toasted brioche that we love from the 750, but being a larger format, that oxygen aging has been delayed. This brings a beautiful freshness and longevity to the wine and really makes the magnums ready for aging!
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By: Cliff Spinola | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
This was the bottle I brought to my Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve parties last year. There's something about Champagne in a magnum that just screams celebration! There's also a reason it tastes more refined than its counterparts in smaller formats. Longer aging on the lees adds levels of depth and complexity to Champagne that is worth the price difference -- and in this case, that is not much! A $50 1.5L bottle of Champagne is truly worthy of a celebration.
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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 its freshness, deft touch and biscuity aromas, the Fuente has always punched well above its fighting weight. Much like Goldilocks, 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. The magnum is the most ideal of Champagne formats as the wine lays a little longer on its lees before disgorgement, offering even more perfume, toast and spiced layers. I always grab a magnum or two to have on hand for instant party needs when those few extra guests inevitably make the rounds.
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By: Christina Stanley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
Of all the formats of the Baron Fuenté Grande Réserve, this one is my favorite. With the most time on the lees, the wine is mineral driven, complex and dry, with a broad palate and toasty, savory and slightly green aromatics. This is always a big hit at events and celebrations.
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