Essi Avellan: Deep golden. Soft and deep beautifully biscuity nose, with ripe red apple, vanilla, and baking spices. Big, tart palate with voluptuous, succulent fruitiness and plenty of power. Linear and fleshy at the same time—feels lighter than it really is due to the extreme acid line. Unusual but it works. A fruity, intense, long finish, full of energy. A long way to go for this one. 18.5

Simon Field: Straw to lemon coloring, with an attractive nose of early-morning patisserie and apple blossom. The palate has energy, flinty acidity, and a real sense of purpose; dosage hitherto a little disharmonious; totemic of the vintage maybe. 16

Tom Stevenson: Medium lemon color. All acid and no fruit for now. I’m sure the Heidsieck & Co Monopole 1907 must have been like this at one time. Wait another 60 years? Scored for today! 14 (29 months post disgorgement, tasted 2014; 12.5%; 3g/l dosage; 13mg/l total SO2)