N/V Cedric Bouchard, Champagne Brut Inflorescence - La Parcelle:
Blanc de noir, aged in stainless, 80 months on the lees, organic farming, low yields, indigenous yeasts and, although this is N/V, it is all 2002 fruit. 12.5% alcohol.
About $90, retail.
I have had a lot of very expensive and/or highly touted champagnes and bubbles, and, while I like most of them, none have made a lasting impression - not the Krug line-up, not the small grower stuff, not the hotsy-totsy cuvees, not the off-the-wall stuff and not even aged bottles.
But this . . . oh my! It is indescribably delicious.
So, no description.
But I will say that this impressed me as the finest wine I have ever tasted. And Diane felt the same.
I bought six for those moments special to us.
We will savor each; ‘promise.
Best, Jim
(BTW, I looked for this in a lot of places and no one else has this exact bottle. They may have other vintages, cuvees or Bouchard bubblies made from different grapes but only Rare Wine in Sonoma has this bottle - and they have 27 left, as of today.)