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"Due to the high demand for this wine, it is often released quite young . . . . made of equal parts chardonnay and pinot noir, as usual, with 30 percent of reserve wines from 2004. I often find notes of exotic fruit in the 2005 vintage, and this is no exception: aromas of guava, mangosteen and Asian pear mingle with darker notes of plum and black cherry. The bright acidity on the palate holds the ripe fruit in check, and while there's a distinctly earthy undertone here, I feel the minerality could emerge further . . . at only eight grams per liter this is already quite low for a standard brut. At any rate, it's delicious and offers good value for the money." Peter Liem |