Refined and creamy, with delicate acidity that finds fine balance with the layers of poached apple and pear, lemon cake, ground ginger, smoke and almond cream flavors. Very elegant. Drink now through 2020. 28,000 cases made.

Tense and crisp, this is a balanced food-friendly Champagne. It is dry, and its apple- and citrus-like acidity has rounded out with some bottle age. The acidity cuts right through to give the wine a great lift of freshness on the finish.

Light yellow with a powerful, frothy bead. Gentle orange and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by toasty lees and sweet butter. Plump and creamy, with supple poached pear and soft citrus flavors deepened by buttery brioche and given vibrancy by gentle clove and cinnamon. I prefer the verve and clarity of this bottling to the Grande Reserve this year.

The NV Brut Excellence is a pretty, expressive wine that makes a good introduction to the house style. Clean veins of minerality support the fruit in this mid-weight, attractive wine. Pears, flowers and sweet spices are nicely layered into the finish. This is Lot # L0418110. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.