Gaston Chiquet 'Cuvée de Réserve' Brut

92

2020-04-30

Disgorged in February 2019 after 84 months sur lattes, the NV Brut Cuvée de Réserve from Gaston Chiquet is showing well, offering up a classy bouquet yellow orchard fruit, warm biscuits, hazelnuts and peach. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming, it's deep and layered, with a sweet core of fruit and an ultra-refined mousse. While it's hard to resist today, such is the wine's inherent generosity, a few more years on cork will be rewarded with even greater complexity.

91

2013-08-29

Spice and floral notes enliven this fresh, well-cut sparkler, showing hints of green pear and white peach, with a touch of honey. Firm and tangy, with a moderate finish. Drink now. –AN

92

2012-01-31

(45% pinot meunier, 35% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir, mostly from 2004 but also including bits of 2002, 2001 and 1998; disgorged 12/08/09): Light gold. Pungent scents of dried pear and peach pit are lifted by a tangy orange zest nuance. Vibrant on the palate, showing pungent blood orange and orchard fruit character and a late jolt of ginger. Finishes clean, nervy and impressively long, with lingering notes of honeysuckle and chalk.

92

(a blend of one-third each of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot
meunier, all from the ’95 and ’96 vintages). A fresh but not necessarily youthful nose evidences the complexity and nuanced
aromas that arrive with a certain amount of age with baked apple and dried rose petal aromas introducing rich, delicious and
detailed flavors that possess a lemony character and are supported by moderate effervescence and excellent finishing
complexity. This is lovely and it has arrived at an inflection point where it could be drunk now with pleasure though for my
taste, I would continue to hold it for another 2 to 3 years. 92/2011+