An energetic bouquet opens on perfectly ripe orchard fruit of freshly cut pears and bergamot, framed by chalky limestone that signals both precision and depth. The palate is brisk and composed, moving effortlessly with clarity and drive before settling into a long, saline finish. Expressive, balanced and deeply satisfying.

The nose is energetic and lively, with strawberry and raspberry in cream, flaky salt, and violet, all harmonizing delicately. The palate is precise, showing wild strawberry, raspberry, soft florals, and a subtle salty-stony core, while hints of spice lie just beneath the surface. It benefits from time to fully come together in bottle but is approachable now with aeration.

This expression embodies grace, with aromas of fresh pear, white peach, jasmine, and violet framed by a subtle vein of pulverized seashell and chalk. The palate is guided by mouthwatering acidity and fine mousse, carrying citrus oils and crushed stone with quiet precision into a long, elegant finish. Proper aeration allows the mineral edges to open fully, delivering an irresistible and finely tuned sip.

The 2016 Champagne Cristal is chalky and pristine, with a crystalline nature and notes of white peach, fresh citrus blossoms, and bright salinity. Tasted for the first time last year, it captures a precise and focused energy that’s unmatched. It boasts the energy and tension of 2002 and the precision of 2008. The wet-stone minerality of fresh chalk texture is profound, opening with medium body, showing pinpoint mousse, and sustaining a weightless energy through the long finish. This is not an obvious wine on opening, but it is by far one of my favorite wines of the year. It is going to require some patience, but it is worth stashing away and should have fantastic longevity. Drink 2027-2050.

The 2018 Champagne Starck Brut Nature Rosé pours a pale salmon color, and coming from this early-ripening vintage, it’s very fruity upfront, with ripe red berries, orange, grapefruit, and refreshing spice. Twenty percent of the blend includes cold-soaked Pinot Noir, and the result is a gorgeous, medium-bodied wine with more richness in its texture; the Pinot adds another dimension, and the mousse is more integrated into the wine. It has a more approachable nature than the Blanc edition of the Starck and is going to drink well now or over the coming 10-15 years.