Rating: 89/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator on 11/30/01

Rating: 90/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 162 on Dec-05

Community Tasting Notes (average 90.1 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 12 notes)

Bright gold with a delicate, lively bead. Toasty pear, quince and Meyer lemon on the nose, with sexy floral and spice notes adding complexity. The floral element builds with air and repeats on the palate, which features gently sweet orchard fruit flavors and notes of honey and buttered toast. Spices and flowers dominate the long, sappy, strikingly focused finish. This wine's marriage of power and energy is impressive.

In too many of the wines reviewed here, those with special denominations and higher prices have failed to share why they are more costly. Not so, this wine. Its extra notes of baked bread are layered comfortably on top of crisp, vital, somewhat austere but always energetic fruit in the nose, and it follows with a fine-grained, pinpointy mousse and older, yet solid and continuous flavors. We liked both Gosset efforts and applaud the value they offer.

西井さん披露宴、帝国ホテル大阪にて。華やかで柔らかでしっかりとした葡萄の香り。優しく心地良い泡。僅かに甘みを伴なった絶妙な葡萄本来の旨みと綺麗なフィニッシュ、丁寧につくられたであろう想いまで伝わるような果実味は余韻も充分。美味しい料理とともに落ち着いた席で味わってこそ際立つ品格の良さ。伝統と歴史すら感じられる、これぞシャンパーニュ。美味かった。

RP 91