98 points and 'Top 100 French Wines of 2017 (#27),' Jeb Dunnuck: "One of the most classic examples of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon I could imagine is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Spottswoode. This blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot is a truly heavenly, classic wine built for the ages. Offering beautiful notes of black and blue fruits, graphite, exotic spices, violets and spring flowers, with a touch of earthy, damp river rock-like minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, stunning purity of fruit, perfect balance, building tannin, and a great, great finish. While a number of 2013s have closed down at this point, this still offers beautiful freshness and purity, yet will ideally be given another 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoyed over the following 3-4 decades. Do you want a sure bet in awesome, age-worthy Cabernet from northern California? Buy this wine. Drink: 2022-2062. (12/29/17)"
97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The NV Extra-Brut Aÿ La Côte Faron (2014) is positively stunning. A vertical, explosive Champagne, the Côte Faron saturates the palate with huge fruit and even more imposing textural depth allied to intensely mineral notes that possess unrelenting energy. In some years, the Côte Faron can be a big, ample Champagne, but in this release it is decidedly chiseled, with pulsating energy driving the red berry fruit, chalk, white pepper, mint and crushed rock flavors. La Côte Faron was the prototype of what have since become six lieu-dit bottlings. The 2014-base version is one of the very finest I have ever tasted. Disgorged: March 11, 2021. Drink: 2023-2035. (Nov 2021)"
96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "I drank a bottle of the January 2018 disgorgement of Selosse's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru La Côte Faron from my cellar, and it showed superbly—especially several hours after opening. Wafting from the glass with aromas of buttered toast, ripe pears, quince, mirabelle, honeycomb and white flowers, it's full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with an enveloping core of ripe, textural and generously patinated fruit, succulent acids and a broad, saline finish. Formerly the cuvée Contraste, this bottling is drawn from a perpetual reserve established in 1994. Drink: 2020-2028. (Mar 2021)"
96 points Richard Juhlin: (100% Pinot Noir; Oct 2013).
95 points Decanter: "Sweet and sour in character, green-tinged strawberry and redcurrant fruit aromas with notes of wild honey, fragrant roses and spiced mince pies. Hedonistic, pure pleasure. Crumbly texture reminiscent of demerara sugar. 1,700 bottles produced. Disgorged February 2016. Drink: 2017-2032. Alcohol 12.5%. (Jul 2017)"
94 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "...an absolutely beautiful bottle of bubbly. The cépages is 100% pinot noir, and the wine was aged 6 years on its lees prior to disgorgement and release. The bouquet is a beautiful blend of white peach, smoke, bread dough, dried flowers and a beautifully complex base of soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and an utterly refined example of Aÿ fruit (wines from this village can sometimes be a bit more broad-shouldered in style, without quite this same elegance), with a lovely core of fruit, crisp acids, delicate mousse and outstanding length and grip on the focused and beautifully complex finish. This is already drinking marvelously well, but should age long and gracefully. 2013-2030. (Jul/Aug 2013)"
*** Peter Liem (ChampagneGuide.net): "...La Côte Faron seems to offer a more multi-layered, more multi-faceted experience, showing an incredible vitality and enormous dimension of flavor. Of the three versions released as La Côte Faron (after changing the name of the cuvée from Contraste), this one feels the most precise in its expression, unfolding on the palate with powerfully resonant depth and kaleidoscopic complexity--not only is this currently the greatest example of Aÿ, it's one of the greatest wines currently being made in the Champagne region. Last tasted: 4/13."
97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The NV Extra-Brut Aÿ La Côte Faron (2014) is positively stunning. A vertical, explosive Champagne, the Côte Faron saturates the palate with huge fruit and even more imposing textural depth allied to intensely mineral notes that possess unrelenting energy. In some years, the Côte Faron can be a big, ample Champagne, but in this release it is decidedly chiseled, with pulsating energy driving the red berry fruit, chalk, white pepper, mint and crushed rock flavors. La Côte Faron was the prototype of what have since become six lieu-dit bottlings. The 2014-base version is one of the very finest I have ever tasted. Disgorged: March 11, 2021. Drink: 2023-2035. (Nov 2021)"
96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "I drank a bottle of the January 2018 disgorgement of Selosse's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru La Côte Faron from my cellar, and it showed superbly—especially several hours after opening. Wafting from the glass with aromas of buttered toast, ripe pears, quince, mirabelle, honeycomb and white flowers, it's full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with an enveloping core of ripe, textural and generously patinated fruit, succulent acids and a broad, saline finish. Formerly the cuvée Contraste, this bottling is drawn from a perpetual reserve established in 1994. Drink: 2020-2028. (Mar 2021)"
96 points Richard Juhlin: (100% Pinot Noir; Oct 2013).
95 points Decanter: "Sweet and sour in character, green-tinged strawberry and redcurrant fruit aromas with notes of wild honey, fragrant roses and spiced mince pies. Hedonistic, pure pleasure. Crumbly texture reminiscent of demerara sugar. 1,700 bottles produced. Disgorged February 2016. Drink: 2017-2032. Alcohol 12.5%. (Jul 2017)"
94 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "...an absolutely beautiful bottle of bubbly. The cépages is 100% pinot noir, and the wine was aged 6 years on its lees prior to disgorgement and release. The bouquet is a beautiful blend of white peach, smoke, bread dough, dried flowers and a beautifully complex base of soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and an utterly refined example of Aÿ fruit (wines from this village can sometimes be a bit more broad-shouldered in style, without quite this same elegance), with a lovely core of fruit, crisp acids, delicate mousse and outstanding length and grip on the focused and beautifully complex finish. This is already drinking marvelously well, but should age long and gracefully. 2013-2030. (Jul/Aug 2013)"
*** Peter Liem (ChampagneGuide.net): "...La Côte Faron seems to offer a more multi-layered, more multi-faceted experience, showing an incredible vitality and enormous dimension of flavor. Of the three versions released as La Côte Faron (after changing the name of the cuvée from Contraste), this one feels the most precise in its expression, unfolding on the palate with powerfully resonant depth and kaleidoscopic complexity--not only is this currently the greatest example of Aÿ, it's one of the greatest wines currently being made in the Champagne region. Last tasted: 4/13."
| Product SKU | 322245 |
| Producer | Selosse |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Champagne / Sparkling Blend |
| Designation | Blanc de Noirs |
| Vintage | NV |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | White |
| ABV | 12.5% |
| Ships To |
