Alfred Gratien Brut Champagne

Fresh-tasting and creamy, with a hint of oak adding complexity. Apple, peach and grapefruit flavors prevail, with nervy acidity driving the finish. Echoes spice and butter on the finish.

Pale gold. Lively aromas of lemon and orange zest, with deeper pear and melon qualities and a hint of vanilla. Sappy and precise in the mouth, offering citrus flavors that gain flesh and sweetness with air. Finishes with very good clarity and tangy persistence.

Fresh fruit flavors and lovely acidity make this appetizing. Dry in style, bracing in texture, with complex spicy nuances that linger on the finish.

Aromas of spiced lemon, pear and mint. Brisk and spicy in the mouth; the strong acidity, in conjunction with bracing flavor of preserved lemon, gives this wine great vibrancy. Rather tightly wrapped. Shows lovely finishing sweetness as well as a hint of youthful bitterness.

The NV Brut is a wonderfully elegant, classy wine laced with perfumed fruit that carries through to the finish, where smoke and toastiness add further layers of complexity. This mid-weight Champagne is an impeccable wine at the non-vintage level. Disgorged: June, 2008, (not indicated on the label). Anticipated maturity: 2009–2013. This is an impressive set of wines from Alfred Gratien. The wines are notable for their sheer class and refinement.

Firm yet accessible, here’s a medium-bodied Champagne with bread, apple and a hint of coffee. Balanced, with a lingering finish. Drink now.

A very lean, dry style that focuses on its acidity and green fruits. This makes it a style that needs good bottle aging — the sample tasted was too young. But for those who like dry, crisp Champagnes, this is beautifully made.

Strong mousse. Fresh, floral aromas of apple, mint, toast and cumin. Lively and intensely flavored; concentrated and round. An attractive middle-of-the-road style, with enticing ripeness of fruit and moderate dosage. Finishes with good length.

A firm-textured, lively tasting brut that combines fresh citrus notes with a crisp texture and a clean finish. Drink now through 2000.

The light, persistent mousse carries an understated aroma of hazelnuts and cream. It’s soft and velvety on the palate, this it finishes dry and slightly tart. A clean, simple and integrated wine.