{"title":"Vintage in Focus | 2008 Champagne","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"2008-gonet-medeville-champagne-grand-crumesnil-sur-oger-champ-dalouette-750ml-bottle","title":"2008 Gonet-Medeville Champagne Grand Cru Mesnil-sur-Oger 'Champs d'Alouette' 750Ml Bottle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2008 Extra Brut Champ d'Alouette Grand Cru is a pure Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger that spent 14 years on lees. The nose is savory with both fresh sour cream and melted butter. Evolution is evident in a touch of fresh white field mushroom and salty white miso creaminess. The palate is a marvel. There is not a wrinkle, just youthful brightness that expands palate and mind by virtue of its super-fine, creamy mousse. What must have been austere depth has metamorphosed into a picture of salty, luminous elegance. This is not about fruit, although lemon figures in that freshness, this is about profound chalk and its salty, primal pull. Exquisite, long, memorable.\u003cbr\u003eDosage is 4gr\/L. Disgorged: July, 2023. \u003cstrong\u003e96 pts. - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Randall's Fine Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42371554771124,"sku":"08GONETALOUETTE750","price":330.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/1261\/1508\/files\/Gonet-MedevilleMarch24_4.png?v=1709690835"},{"product_id":"2008-bollinger-vintage-champagne-r-d-750ml-bottle","title":"2008 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 750Ml Bottle","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2008 Champagne R.D. Extra Brut is chiseled, powerful, and packaged with a chalky mineral texture. Made from 70% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, with 3 grams per liter dosage, it pours a bright straw yellow hue, while its aromatics are more mineral-tinged and feel a touch more noble and upright in character. Aromatically, it opens to notes of toasted almond, preserved Meyer lemon, brothy saline, and vibrant fresh fruit. Displaying tension and grace, it has the richness of Bollinger but is more upright, with an electric mineral energy that courses through the finish, which lasts for days. Mouthwatering and long, it’s a stunner. It needs more time to harmonize all its components, but this is a wine to cellar for the ages, and I think this is going to be a vintage of RD we talk about for a very, very long time. Cellar it if you can and drink 2026-2056. Disgorged December 2022. \u003cstrong\u003e98 points - Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen I was tasting Bollinger's brilliant Grande Année in this vintage, I was trying to imagine how good the 2008 Extra-Brut R. D. would be, as the style of the vintage seems almost perfectly adapted to this cuvée. Four years later, we have the answer, and the wine is brilliant. Disgorged in 2022, it's more reserved out of the gates than the dramatic Grande Année was on release, unwinding in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, orange peel, freshly baked bread, subtle hints of fino sherry, wet stones and macadamia nut. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit that's animated by racy acids and a refined pinpoint mousse, concluding with a bone-dry finish. Extremely harmonious and full of youthful energy, it's the finest R. D. of the decade and one that will richly reward a bit of additional age on cork. In style, the most obvious comparison is with the 1996, but the 2008 is more integrated and harmonious on release. These bottles were disgorged late last year with three grams per liter dosage. \u003cstrong\u003e98+ - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2008 vintage is characterised by its remarkable precision and opulence. The assembly of this 2008 vintage is composed of 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay. A total of 18 crus can be find in the blending, mostly Aÿ and Verzenay for Pinot Noir and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant for Chardonnay. The fermentation is entirely in oak barrels. Bollinger R.D. is sold just a few months after being disgorged, with a very low dosage known as “extra brut”, at just 3 grams per litre. The recent disgorgement guarantees the remarkable freshness of the wine. An old vintage, with a very low dosage, that has been disgorged just prior to release: R.D. is a wine that has always been ahead of its time and embodies Madame Bollinger’s visionary spirit. The combination of the long wait during the ageing process and the immediacy of disgorgement enables the harmonious contrast between the different temporalities of R.D. Today, Bollinger R.D. 2008 is lively and exceptionally complex, taking us on a journey outside time. Hazelnuts, with all their freshness and generosity, are the perfect ingredient to echo a wine of such splendour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wine glimmering with golden reflections. Enticing aromas of marzipan, stewed apricots, honey and breadcrumbs accompany fresh notes of bergamot. A rich, precise mousse. Citrus notes are followed by flavours of Mirabelle plums and vine peaches. A very vivaciours wine which unfolds to reveal exceptional complexity. Notes of fresh hazelnuts and salinity combine to create an intense, everlasting finish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Randall's Fine Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42546014552244,"sku":"BLGRRD750","price":595.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/1261\/1508\/files\/2007BollingerRD_8387518e-448a-4ab4-8f3d-3c29c108178a.jpg?v=1702613679"},{"product_id":"pre-arrival-nv-laurent-perrier-grand-siecle-iteration-26","title":"NV Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle Itération #26 750Ml Bottle","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis top of the range Laurent Perrier is always a beautifully deep, powerful and ageworthy champagne, but this #26 is a very special and rare release based on two super vintages. Is it the best ever? You’ll have to judge for yourself! - Randall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling - Top 100 Champagne - No.1! \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees.” \u003cstrong\u003e100 points! – James Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Randall's Fine Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42581576646836,"sku":"NVLRNTPRRGRNDSIECLE26750","price":420.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/1261\/1508\/files\/KumeuRiver_7.png?v=1705989145"},{"product_id":"pre-arrival-2008-alfred-gratien-cuvee-paradis-brut-rose-750ml-bottle","title":"2008 Alfred Gratien Cuvée Paradis Brut Rosé 750Ml","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 120%; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; color: rgb(242, 8, 8);\"\u003eThis is a thoroughbred Champagne in its origins and in its expression.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 120%;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px; font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; color: rgb(242, 8, 8);\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eChampagne Alfred Gratien has always reminded me of Krug in some ways, and in particular a visit to Krug many years ago. Catherine Seydoux, one of the Krug family,  said that Gratien was similar to Krug in many ways, not the least of which is the total barrel-fermentation in the 1000 old 228lt barrels, no MLF and long ageing in bottle. This is a deep, powerful and serious “Prestige Cuvée” with nice age and a long way still to go. Cheers, Randall.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 120%;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px; font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003e'The 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Paradis, a blend of 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir from premiers and grands crus, was vinified in small oak barrels without malolactic fermentation and spent 13 years on lees. Subtle cream and caramel-dipped rye bread notes with an overtone of cherry express themselves on the exquisitely youthful nose. The palate offers beautifully salty rye sourdough depth and texture, creamy yet taut, with an absolutely fine mousse that foams away with tiny, insistent bubbles lending vivacity and creaminess. This immensely gastronomic Rosé boasts lasting length, real cut and superb freshness.' \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px; font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal;\"\u003e95 points - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 120%;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px; font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px;\"\u003eIt’s a beautifully complex wine, with savoury, spicy orange peel, cedar, dried herbs, pear and apricot fruit, as well as some sour cherry. There’s a lot of richness, with toast and spice, but also a nice fresh citrus drive, with real complexity and energy, as well as a bit of grip. The dosage covers the high acidity without smoothing things out too much. The finish is long and spice-laden. This is a remarkable wine\u003cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003e. \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eI’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be this good, but it’s serious, gastronomic and really complex, up with the best rosé Champagnes from all the famous names. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 points - Dr. Jamie Good, Wine Anorak \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(233, 233, 233); background-color: rgb(242, 8, 8);\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: rgb(233, 233, 233); background-color: rgb(242, 8, 8);\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DK9p8icqMTZ\/\"\u003eCLICK HERE\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e for Dr Goode's Insta Vlog\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"line-height: 120%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px; font-family: Raleway, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal;\"\u003e'[..] Shows the power and concentration of this wonderful vintage.'\u003cstrong\u003e Anthony Howard, Jancis Robinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Randall's Fine Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44000961527988,"sku":null,"price":239.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0561\/1261\/1508\/files\/Alfred_Gratien_Cuv_e_Paradis_Brut_Ros.png?v=1754281884"}],"url":"https:\/\/randalls.net.au\/collections\/vintage-in-focus-2008-champagne\/champagne.oembed","provider":"Randall's Fine Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}