2018 LeClerc Briant 'Millesime' Extra Brut Champagne, France   

Produced with 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and the rest Meunier, the 2018 Champagne Millésime Extra Brut was vinified and raised for 9 months in barrels. It sees 3 grams per liter dosage and was disgorged in March 2023. It pours a rich, youthful yellow hue and is forward in its expressive notes of toasted oak spice that are very assertive and joined by notes of toasted croissant, orange marmalade, white pepper, and ripe red berries. Full-bodied, it has a lush and pillowy mousse and a fantastic texture, filling the palate with ample fruit, a chalky texture, and a rounded and fleshy personality. Although at first it feels as if its oak is not well-integrated, it impresses me more as it opens and is approachable in its ripe fruit now.