Gismondi quite liked this and “pointsed” it 90. Yeah, OK, whatever; he’s gotta keep up with his colleagues who found it similarly “over the 89 point hump.” We found it, well, a little austere, lacking in depth, mineral forward, cucumber hits the palate in an unusual not invigorating way, mediocre effervescence. Glass half full it makes a wonderful French 75 but a little on the ho hum side as a sipper. From our perspective, it doesn’t hold a candle to the (four dollars cheaper) Bernard-Massard Brut which we love and which has been our go-to sparkler for over a year.
We were attracted to it for the Mauzac, unusual to say the least, but not entranced or seduced. Another odd thing is that the weekend of AG’s review the Calmel J was in six BC Liquor stores. Total. Pretty slim pickings in advance of the holiday season.
Price: A more or less reasonable $29 before taxes at BC Liquor.
Market Liquidity: Brunch yes, birthday no.
Say what you think