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By: Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/18/2023 | Send Email
Incredible quality and quite the bargain for a prestige cuvée, Coutelas' "Cuvée 1809" is entirely barrel fermented and aged for an exceptionally long 8 years on its lees. The flavor profile is complex, intriguing and delicious: white flowers, lychee/citrus fruit, honey and almonds with delicate sourdough toast and minerals. The richness is totally balanced by freshness and a long, crisp finish, making this difficult to keep a group from emptying the bottle in quick fashion.
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By: Chelsea Herholdt | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/14/2023 | Send Email
You can taste the Champagne history in this bottle. The cork is uniquely held in place by an almost forgotten method dating back to the 1800s, making it a unique looking bottle already. What matters more though is what's under that cork - a Champagne that spent time in small barrique, blended to perfection, and a whopping 8 years on the lees. We're used to seeing prices climb well over the $100 mark for such a beautiful wine 10 years in the making, not here. The value packed into this bottle is a lovely surprise. This will be sure to impress all Champagne lovers, from the novice to the nerd.
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By: Morgan Laurie | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 8/21/2018 | Send Email
This Champagne is made entirely of the 2012 harvest, although not designated a vintage Champagne. A 70/30 blend of Chardonnay/Pinot Noir, this is done in exclusively barrique providing a rich, spiced nose. Notes of spice cake, honey baked apples, roasted lemons and almond brittle on the nose lead into a rich, slightly toasted palate with a crisp vein of acidity to keep things balanced. Incredibly delicious and fantastic for a gift or special occasion!
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By: Christina Stanley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 8/21/2018 | Send Email
Named for the year of the house was founded, the 1809 Brut Champagne from Angelique and Damien Coutelas represents the history of the House with grace and refinement. Blended from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fermented in barrique, "1809" offers aromas of delicate almond and golden delicious apple, and a soft, plush texture balanced by leesy, salty minerality.
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By: Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/5/2015 | Send Email
This stunning all barrel fermented blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir has the length and finesse to compete with the finest Champagne in the store. Angelique Coutelas ties the top of every one of the 3000 bottles they produce of this with twine- a rewind to the methods of 200 years ago in Champagne. She is one of only three of four people left in the region that knows the technique and has one of the ancient machines for this process! The Champagne is subtle, compelling and loaded with long mineral driven drive!
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By: Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 4/21/2014 | Send Email
This great Champagne is the zenith of cuvées from winemaker Damien Coutelas and his wife, Angelique, who ties the corks down, in the traditional method, without a wire cage. No malolactic fermentation and aged on the cork for eight years. Low dosage gives this beauty a long, chalky finish with minerals and spice. A clean clay nose leads to a mid-palate of truffles, smoke and yeast. This is a serious Champagne for those of you who are looking for something that is extremely high quality and unique. I tasted the upcoming releases in Champagne recently and they, too, will be keeping with the fine quality of this current release. So, collectors will not need to fear any quality changes down the line. This sparkler is worth every penny.
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By: Steve Greer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/1/2012 | Send Email
Like an aged Meursault or a fino sherry this Champagne shows bruised apple, olive brine, salinity and chalky minerality with lots of acidity with a great mouthfeel. Damn.
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