Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4

100 POINTS: A blend of three vintages—2013, 2014, and 2015—sourced from both Premier and Grand Cru villages including Chigny-les-Roses, Verzenay, Rilly-la-Montagne, Verzy, Ludes, Mailly-Champagne, and Ville-Dommange. This 100% Pinot Noir is an absolute triumph in expressiveness, perhaps most especially that of texture. Achieving the purest form of integration between stunningly beautiful acidity and warm toastiness after seven years in the cellar; it’s at once sumptuous and bright with aromas of cherry compote, vanilla bean and an almost cave-like minerality settle on the palate; where rich citrus-candied lemon rind and orange rinds; in live sunlight along with hints of buttered toast. The finish is long with dark chocolate on the velvety silky finish. Impossible to describe it in almost to diminish its complexity. Just 7,328 750-milliliter bottles were produced.