AR Lenoble : Les Aventures Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

A full-throttle, barrel-influenced bubbly, featuring coffee, toffee and roasted hazelnut flavors accented by vanilla and woodsy notes. This is complex and creamy, leaving a mouthwatering impression on the long, butterscotch aftertaste. Drink now through 2012.

Deep straw. Idiosyncratic nose melds spiced apple, ginger, mace, toffee, pistachio and macadamia nut; shows some distinctly mature notes that verge on oxidative. Then fresher in the mouth than on the nose; a distinctly buttery, creamy blanc de blancs with sound framing acidity. The toffee note repeats in the mouth and on the aftertaste.

Bright medium yellow-green, silver reflections; fine mousse. Nuances of butter brioche, walnut, orange oil, dark mineral tone, fine yellow tropical fruit, fresh yellow apple. Juicy and complex with notes of peach and orange, finesse, rich acidity, discreet blossom honey, lemony touch, salty minerality on the finish, very good length. Lots of development potential, has class.

Light golden colour and fine bubbles. The nose has some ripeness and maturity, a hint of roasted notes, yellow fruit, apricot and candied citrus. The palate is creamy and vinous with hints of pastry, almond, vanilla, citrus a nicely creamy mousse and long lingering finish

Wonderfully refined, with an extremely delicate mousse and a broad range of flavors. A well-crafted gastronomic champagne.

The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Les Aventures is made in a richer, more oxidative style than some of the wines in this lineup. The Aventures is a rich, weighty wine that continues to gain depth and volume in the glass. The aromatics show the early signs of evolution making this a delicious, complex wine to drink now and over the next 6-8 years, give or take. Considering its body, the Aventures is probably best enjoyed at the dinner table. This is Lot L 102863605, disgorged October 7, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. These new releases from Lenoble have all been disgorged recently. Not surprisingly, many of the wines are still tight and in need of at least a few more months on the cork. Importer: Atherton Wine Imports, Menlo Park, CA; tel. (650) 328-6639