Essi Avellan: Deep golden color. Yeasty nose, with oxidative bruised-apple notes, honey, and a spicy touch. Powerful mid-weight palate, with an accentuated acidity and a medium-length. Tart red fruit and toast on the palate. The parts are not fully integrated, and the wine lacks some finesse. 16

Michael Edwards: Deeper, more evolved color than [Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs]; loosely knit fruit; near full maturity. 16

Tom Stevenson: The best mousse of the tasting so far: very soft, tiny bubbles, yet persistent in the mouth. What a lovely, lively, mature Champagne this is. 18