Edition Nov/Dec 2009

2000 LENOBLE GRAND CRU BLANC DE BLANCS : 91 POINTS

($66) Vivid yellow with a frothy mousse. Suave, expansive aromas of tangerine, Meyer lemon, white peach and minerals, plus a slow-building leesy quality. Very fresh and focused, offering tangy citrus and pit fruit flavors given lift and spine by zesty minerality. Melds depth with energy, finishing with very good grip and lingering minerality. Delicious now but balanced to age.

2000 LENOBLE GENTILHOMME BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT : 92 POINTS

($89) Bright gold. Nectarine, poached pear, lemon rind, anise and honeysuckle on the complex, mineral-inflected nose. Deeply concentrated but energetic and precise, offering creamy orchard fruit flavors and notes of buttered toast and spicecake. A nervy citrus note adds definition to the impressively long, sappy finish. Made from fruit from the grand cru village of Chouilly, this wine is balanced to age.

2004 LENOBLE ROSE BRUT : 90 POINTS

($53) Light, bright pink. Mineral-driven aromas of red berries and citrus fruits, with notes of talc and white flowers adding complexity. Tightly wound and focused, offering incisive wild strawberry and ruby-red grapefruit flavors and a strong undercurrent of minerals. Extremely youthful, with strong finishing lift, cut and clarity. This is energetic enough to work with delicate seafood dishes.

2002 LENOBLE ROSE BRUT : 92 POINTS

($53) 85% grand cru chardonnay and 15% premier cru pinot noir) Light, orange-hued pink, with a delicate bead. Redcurrant and blood orange aromas are complemented by notes of talc and allspice, with a mounting floral quality. Very fresh and focused on the palate, which offers tangy citrus and red berry flavors and a strong undercurrent of minerals. With air a note of bitter cherry skin comes up and adds a serious quality. Finishes with impressive clarity, grip and tangy persistence, repeating the blood orange and cherry skin notes.

PRINTABLE VERSION

Edition 2007

Light peach skin color. Spiced apple and poached pear scents are deep and gently smoky, with a light brioche quality adding richness. Fleshy pit fruit flavors project a dry, firm personality, picking up subtle cinnamon and honeysuckle nuances with air. Offers a nice blend of ripeness and energy, and finishes with spicy bite and good persistence.

Yellow-gold. Smoky orchard and citrus aromas are deepened by peach skin and baked bread qualities. Zesty citrus flavors complement deep pear and apple, with exotic baking spices adding interest. Finishes with impressive smoky length and cling.

Light yellow with a steady bead. Deep, toasty aromas of smoky poached pear and floral honey, lifted by sexy baking spices. Dense and chewy but surprisingly energetic, with leesy pear and yellow plum flavors. Finishes with gentle grip and excellent persistence. This is drinking extremely well right now. This bottling is a blend of 1990, 1995 and 1996 wines from a single site in the grand cru Chouilly.