Part One: Nine Champagnes Wil Bailey wants you to know
Our Champagne portfolio at The Wine Company represents 60 selections with a nice offering of the most capable Récoltant-Manipulants as well as an enticing selection of the most illustrious boutique houses to be found – not to mention the additional 70+ sparkling wines from outside of Champagne.
Choosing can be daunting.
Wine Company Portfolio Director Wil Bailey has selected nine standouts that have made a particular impression to suggest to you as highlights for you to consider in time for the holidays.
We hope you come to love these wines every bit as much as we do!
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Henriot Blanc de Blancs
“I feel like Henriot is unfortunately stuck in the middle of Champagne purgatory between the really cool and tiny growers we work with and the gigantic Grande Marque houses who make and sell millions of cases a year. Henriot only makes 50,000 cases of wine a year which puts their production on par with a large grower. The commitment to quality is superb, and while they make a lot more Brut Souverain it is the Blanc de Blancs which I drink at home most. This wine is the standard by which I believe Henriot should be judged and appreciated.”
Below are the accounts that have purchased Henriot Blanc de Blanc in the last 12 months, listed alphabetically. Call ahead to confirm availability.
Lake Wine & CheeseMinneapolis
612-242-0073
Kowalski's Uptown Market
Minneapolis
612-377-3448
Butcher & The Boar
Minneapolis
612-238-8888
Falls Liquor
Minneapolis
612-729-5498
Haskell's - Minneapolis
Minneapolis
612-333-2434
Brent Harms
Saint Paul
Thomas Liquor
Saint Paul
651-699-1860
Coborn's - Sartell
Sartell
320-252-0603
Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs “Special Club de Collection” 2008 “There is a reason there are two Gimonnet wines on this short list of nine – I freaking love the Gimonnet wines! In fairness I am a sucker for any great Blanc de Blancs, and the 2008 Special Club is all that and a bag of chips. While I am ALWAYS a Gimonnet Special Club drinker and buyer you should note that in rare superlative vintages Didier declares a “Special Club de Collection”. This 2008 is designated as a collection wine. I can only agree.”
Below are the accounts that have purchased Pierre Gimonnet Special Club in the last 12 months, listed alphabetically. Call ahead to confirm availability.
New Scenic Cafe
Duluth
218-525-6274
Sunfish Cellars
Lilydale
651-552-5955
The Wine Market
Mendota Heights
651-452-9463
Lake Wine & Cheese
Minneapolis
612-242-0073
Wil Bailey
Saint Paul
Thomas Liquor
Saint Paul
651-699-1860
Angela Kallsen
Saint Paul
Top Ten Liquors - Woodbury
Woodbury
651-501-1199
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Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs “Oenophile” 2008
“Ok, this is the most personally exciting Champagne I have tasted in many years. Oenophile is the tiny “non dosé” bottling of Gimonnet’s Cuvée Fleuron which he makes only in top vintages as the archetype of the sum of his best Côte des Blancs vineyard holdings. I am NOT generally a big fan of Brut Nature wines as I usually feel that a modest 2-3 grams of sugar would have made the wine both more enjoyable and more interesting. In a great vintage like 2008, I clearly stand corrected by Didier Gimonnet and the Oenophile – which for the record I liked far more than the dosed Fleuron 2008…”
Below are the accounts that have purchased Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blanc “Oenophile” in the last 12 months, listed alphabetically. Call ahead to confirm availability.
The BeaneryAitkin
218-927-7811
Apple Valley #3 - 157th St W
Apple Valley
952-953-2555
France 44
Minneapolis
612-925-3252
Hennepin-lake Liquors
Minneapolis
612-825-4411
Stinson Wine, Beer & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-789-0678
South Lyndale Liquor
Minneapolis
612-827-5811
North Loop Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-338-5393
Samples - Taylor Stein
Saint Paul
Wil Bailey
Saint Paul
Angela Kallsen
Saint Paul
Nicholas Livingston
Saint Paul
Brent Harms
Saint Paul
Ann Avant
Saint Paul
Solo Vino
Saint Paul
651-602-9515
Julie Bollig
Saint Paul
Bj Thorkelson
Saint Paul
Mchugh, Mike
Saint Paul
Cellars - Woodbury
Woodbury
651-738-8110
