Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/490558
64 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2015 Château de Bligny NV Grande Réserve Brut Assemblage: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir "Soft and pretty exotic spices on the nose, mandarin orange and red fruits on the palate." —Caroline Styne, Partner and Wine Director of AOC/Lucques/Tavern "Broad shouldered and giving on the palate with ripe apple, Bartlett pear and limestone." —Jerry Garbus, Partner and Wine Director at MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite "Delicate, mineral and persistent with a slightly autolytic note." —Roberto Loppi, Sommelier at the Montage, Beverly Hills "It is rare that an intro cuvée speaks to me right from the beginning; versatility is one of the great skills Champagne has and when you find one that can speak to you through the crowd you put a ring on it, at least for the night." —Jared Hooper, Wine Director for Faith & Flower Château de Bligny NV Blanc de Blancs Assemblage: 100% Chardonnay "White floral notes, ginger and white pepper on the nose; higher-toned on the palate with just a touch of guava and pineapple." —Jeff Anderson, Beverage Director at Craft "Linear and focused, with expressive minerality and a bright, Meyer lemon- like acidity." —Sean van Straatum, Sommelier at L'Ermitage "Streamlined and sleek, with great balance, minerality and a briny freshness." —Scott Young, Director of Operations for Abigaile/Little Sister/Wildcraft/Dia de Campo "Crisp, bright and vervy, with nuances of lemon-thyme and limestone. A clas- sic example of a blanc de blancs." —Kimmy Wade, Wine Buyer for Son of a Gun Château de Bligny NV Clos du Château "Cuvee 6 Cépages" Assemblage: Equal parts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Petit Meslier, Arbane and Pinot Blanc "Unique! Fantastic for récoltant-manipulant quality, this wine is a true vision of blending at its best. Sommelier 'Wine of the Year'!" —Joy Cushing, Wine Director at Church & State "Developing notes of baked yellow apple, poached pear, very ripe Meyer lemon and toasted brioche. Slightly smoky on the finish, the minerality and rustic components of this wine are sublime." —Laurie Sutton, Sommelier for Shutters on the Beach "Roasted hazelnut nose with crème fraîche, tart yellow cherries, white raspberries and desiccated lemon. Subtle black-walnut earthiness and damp chalk salinity." —Diane Pandolfini, Wine Director for Redbird at the Vibiana "A very complex nose, with notes of Madagascar vanilla, honeydew melon and bruised apricot. An excellent example of the possibilities of well-made grower Champagne." —Joel Caruso, Sommelier at Pizzeria Ortica Château de Bligny NV Grande Réserve Rosé Assemblage: 50% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 15% Coteaux Champenois Rouge "Beautiful orange-raspberry color, dried rose petals on the nose with very tiny bubbles on the palate." —Henri Marquis, Sommelier at Superba Snack Bar "Incredible array of aromas; poached pear, strawberry and sandalwood on the nose with lanolin, cherry nougat and tangerine on the palate." —Meridith May, Publisher/Editorial Director of the SOMM Journal "Clean, earthy and complex with a nose of roses and herbs; wonderful acidity and balance." —Szymon Piechaczek, Sommelier at Terranea Resort "Tangerine zest, strawberry and grapefruit with balanced acidity and alcohol." —Diego Ruiz de Porras, Sommelier at The Beverly Hills Hotel Stewart Prato, Southern California French Import Manager for American Wine & Spirits; Meridith May, Publisher/Editorial Director of the SOMM Journal; and Jerry Garbus, Partner and Wine Director at MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite. Joel Anthony Caruso, Sommelier for Pizzeria Ortica; Joy Cushing, Wine Director at Church & State; and Laurie Sutton, Sommelier at Shutters on the Beach. Scott Young, Director of Operations for Abigaile/Little Sister/Wildcraft/Dia de Campo; Jean Rémy Rapeneau, proprietor of Château de Bligny; and Diane Pandolfini, Beverage Director for Redbird at the Vibiana. Château de Bligny Champagne is imported by Shaw-Ross International.