Pale yellow-gold. Deep, pungent nose offers an array of orchard and citrus fruit qualities, along with notes of iodine, minerals and toasty lees. Chewy and impressively concentrated, with excellent clarity to its pear and orange flavors. The toasty quality gains strength with air and carries through an impressively long, spicy, floral finish. Very impressive, especially for a release from what is widely considered a so-so vintage for Champagne. -- Josh Raynolds