This was an excellent tasting of Terry Theise’s champagnes (the specialist in small growers). The prices range from $35 to $90, roughly. Vilmart and Geoffroy really stood out. There were also six relatively inexpensive sparkling wines from elsewhere (the Gysler and Schloss Gobelsburg were the two Theise wines). My bottle scores are on the conservative side for this tasting, as many of the wines were too cold, making judging extra challenging. - Jack

1998	Aubry	Le Nombre D’or, Sablet, Brut, Blanc de Blancs	Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Chard. Quaffer. Very acidic center with a smooth finish. Lemons.	2-4?
NV	Aubry	Brut, 1er Cru	Bubbly, yeasty.	1?
1998	Aubry	Aubry de Humbert, Brut 1er Cru	Very pale. No. Acids on finish.	1
1998	Aubry	Le Nombre D’Or, Campanae Veteres Vites	Yeast on nose. Medium bubbles. Happy to drink. Acidic finish.	2-3+
NV	Aubry	Brut Rosé	Sandwich bread nose.	1
2000	Aubry	Sablé Rosé Brut, 1er Cru	Acidic. Tart. Not to my taste.	1-2
NV	H. Billiot	Brut Reserve, Grand Cru	Frothy, too much mousse. Acidic finish. Very pale color.	1-2
1998	H. Billiot	Brut Grand Cru	Food Friendly. Very acidic finish.	2-3
NV	H. Billiot	Cuvee Julie	Golden Raspberries with lemon center. Needs food.	1
NV	H. Billiot	Cuvee Laetitia, Brut	Sugar on nose. Very yeasty and bubbly center. Bright lemony finish.	3+
NV	H. Billiot	Brut Rosé	Ripe black pulms. Amazing nose and palate. Really interesting.	2-3
NV	Chartogne-Taillet	Brut, Blanc de Blancs	Tart hard minerally center.	3?
NV	Chartogne-Taillet	Cuvee Ste. Anne, Brut	Very Bubbly. Something I don’t like. High acids.	1?
NV	Chartogne-Taillet	Cuvee Fiacre, Brut	1999. Really acidic, very pale. Really long finish.	2?
1999	Chartogne-Taillet	Brut	Thin center. Plain	1?
NV	Gaston Chiquet	Blanc de Blancs D’Ay, Grand Cru	Smooth golden. Tart. Really great with food.	3
1997	Gaston Chiquet	Bland de Blancs D’Ay, Grand Cru	Warm honey and peaches.	3-4
NV	Gaston Chiquet	Carte Verte, Brut	Corked/Off Bottle
NV	Gaston Chiquet	Cuvee de Reserve	Balanced acidity. A lot of yeast in center. Probably good flat.	1-2
1998	Gaston Chiquet	Carte D’Or, Brut	Green plums? Slightly floral.	1
1997	Gaston Chiquet	Special Club Brut	Tastes unoaked. Chardonnay characteristics. Good acids.	2?
NV	Fleury	Fleur de l’Europe, Brut	Really frothy. Weird perfumey center. Jasmine? Strange	1-3
1998	Fleury	Cuvee Robert Fleury	White wine characteristics/complexity. Frothy in mouth.	2-3
1996	Fleury	Brut	Yeasty candy. Sweet egg bread. Sweet – too sweet.	1?
NV	Fleury	Fleur de L’Europe Rosé Brut	Tart. Light salmon. Tart center with high acids.	2
NV	Julien Fouet	Cremant de Loire	Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc. Green grapes on nose. Tart green grape center.	2+
NV	Julien Fouet	Cremant de Loire Rosé	Cabernet Franc. Very light pink color. Tastes like rosé wine. Rosé wine finish.	3+
NV	René Geoffroy	Cuvee de Reserve, Brut	We loved the style of all of his wines! Good center characteristics. Slightly bitter finish. Needs Food!!	4-6
NV	René Geoffroy	Cuvee Selectionnee	From 30 year old vines. 80% PN/20% Chard. 2000. Good even center. Balanced.	3-4
NV	René Geoffroy	Cuvee Volupte	Very very old vines. 80% Chard/20% PN. Very very interesting. Complex center. Fruity.	3-4+
NV	René Geoffroy	Brut Rosè	100% PN. Lots of mousse. Smells like rosè. Yum.	3-6
NV	Pierre Gimonet	Cuis, 1er Cru, Brut	100% Chardonnay. Slightly bitter finish that I don’t like. Very clean finish. Wines from Gimmonet were all fresh, crisp and clean – and bright but not that much depth.	2-3
1998	Pierre Gimonet	Cuvee Oenophilie, Extra Brut, 1er Cru	Slightly yeasty, minerally.	1-2
2000	Pierre Gimonet	Cuvee Gastronome, Brut, 1er Cru	Thin center. Clean long finish.	1?
1999	Pierre Gimonet	Fleuron, Brut	Yeast on nose. Blend of Grand and 1er Cru. More golden color. Subtle. White wine finish.	3-4
1998	Pierre Gimonet	Special Club, Brut	Minerally.	3?
1998	Pierre Gimonet	Vintage Collection (Magnums)	Slight sweetness on nose. Great balance. The best of all.	4-6
2001	Gysler	Scheurebe Sekt Bundle of Scheu (Rheinhessen)	White wine elements. Long finish.
NV	Marc Hebrart	Cuvee de Reserve, Brut	Mousse-y, smooth center.	2+
NV	Marc Hebrart	Selection, Brut	Green grassy, herbal elements.
1999	Marc Hebrart	Special Club	Granny smith apples! Nose and finish green and tart. Joanne likes!	1-2
NV	Jean Lallement	Brut Grand Cru	80%PN/20% Chard. Rich full center. Good! On lees for 8 mons. 1998/99	4-6
NV	Jean Lallement	Reserve, Grand Cru Brut	80%PN/20% Chard. Oldest vines older than 30 years. Awesome nose.	4
NV	Larmandier-Bernier	1er Cru Brut, Blanc de Blancs	Muscat grapes on nose. Fresh sweet green grapes. Screams fresh grapes.	2?
NV	Larmandier-Bernier	Terre de Vertus, 1er Cru, Extra Brut	Bright acids, watery. Acidic Finish.	1
2000	Larmandier-Bernier	Cramant, Vielles Vignes, Grand Cru Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs	Creamy, bright, acidic. Some minerals.	2
1998	Larmandier-Bernier	1er Cru Brut, Blanc de Blancs	Creamy thin acidic center. Some minerals with an acidic finish.	1?
NV	Larmandier-Bernier	Brut Tradition	Interesting, weird berry thing with yeast. Jack liked.	3-4
NV	A. Margaine	Cuvee Traditionelle, Brut	90% Chard/10% PN. Hint of eastern spices on nose. Needs food. Slightly tart bitter finish.
1998	A. Margaine	Special Club, Brut	100% Chard. Brioche nose. Yeasty and thick center. Surprisingly good.
NV	A. Margaine	Brut Rosè	87% Chard/13% PN. 2002. Bright rose color. Watery center. Not to my taste.
NV	A. Margaine	Demi-Sec	Pale color. Sweetness on center. Slight sweetness and some bitterness on finish.
NV	Jean Milan	Brut Carte Blanche, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs	Clean bright acids. Good.	1
NV	Jean Milan	Brut Speciale, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs	Has 1yr more on lees than the Carte Blanche. Honey and herbs. Good. Pleasant.	1
2000	Jean Milan	Terres de Noel, Grand Cru Brut, Blanc de Blancs	White wine characteristics, complexity. Sweet.	2-3
1998	Jean Milan	Cuvee Symphorine	Served too cold. Golden berries on center. Interesting.	?
NV	Jean Milan	Cuvee Tenderesse, Sec, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs	Herbs and sweetness. Good	2?
NV	Jean Milan	Cuvee de Reserve	Wow! White chocolate with a hint of nutmeg. Interesting.	1?
NV	Jean Milan	Rosé Charles de La Milaniere	Bright deep rose color. Strawberry on nose. Dried strawberries. Interesting. Almost a burnt sugar finish.	3+
NV	Pere Ventura	Cava, Brut, Nature Tresor	Yeast and rose petals on nose. Really dry. Unexpected finish certainly drinkable.	1 – for the nose
NV	Pierre Peters	Cuvee Reserve, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Le Mesnil	Fresh Baguette nose. Yeasty bready center. Good.	1
1998	Pierre Peters	Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru Brut	Medium yeasty. Ok White wine characteristics/complexity. Hmm	2+
1998	Pierre Peters	Cuvee Speciale Brut, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Le Mesnil	Acidic, golden	2-3
NV	Schloss Gobelsburg	Brut Reserve, Riesling	Foamy. Sweet. Jack likes. Good acids on finish	2-3
NV	Tissot	Cremant du Jura	Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. Sugared rose petal nose. Light rose. Floral center.	2
1999	Varnier-Fanniere	Grand Vintage, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs	Slightly sweet first notes. Almost anise on center.	2-5?
NV	Vilmart	Cuvée Grand Cellier	70% Chard/30% PN. Almost chemical nose. Floral Slightly candy center. Good. All wines tasted were too cold. Water but long finish.	3
1999	Vilmart	Grand Cellier D’Or	80% Chard/20%PN. Slightly savory honey nose. Yellow herbs. Pollen notes on center. Nice character.	3
1997	Vilmart	Coeur de Cuvée	Really interesting. Complex. Slightly gold berries. Good acids. Good.	4-6
1997	Vilmart	Cuvée Creation	Golden currants on finish. Good acids.	3?
NV	Vilmart	Cuvée Rubis (Rosé)	Jack loves this!	6+
1998	Vilmart	Grand Cellier D’Or Rubis (Rosé)	60% PN/40% Chard. Paler flesh color. Tannic. Raspberry jam finish. Also really good with food.	3-5+

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