1979 Noble Champagne Grand Cru Brut

98 POINTS: It's hard to expect any more from a Champagne of this age. Lanson's remarkable Noble Collection 1979 hails from one of Champagne's greatest vintages of the period, selected from Côte des Blancs Grand Crus for the 70% Chardonnay and Verzenay for the 30% Pinot Noir in the blend. Immaculately preserved at the maison after disgorgement, the 1979 retains a persistent mousse and shows no signs of tiring. With soaring, powerful aromatics of cooked lime, coffee, sweet toasted nuts and an complex smoky and petrol-like tones, this is still an utterly pristine and complex Champagne, with sweet citric persistence, dried fruit intensity and phenomenal energy.