This year marked the end of my wine studies, after three years focused on production and marketing. To celebrate this final chapter, a group of close friends and I decided to organize one last serious tasting — something to mark the occasion properly. Every bottle came from our personal cellars, saved for special moments like this one. Everything was tasted blind. Here’s a recap of what we opened.

Marc Hébrart – Clos Léon A rich, dense Champagne, probably better suited to the table than as an aperitif. Still a bit young at this stage — it could easily spend another 5 to 10 years in the cellar. Promising but not yet fully expressive.

Lassaigne – Brut Nature 2014 A beautiful wine, though slightly reduced on opening with some lactic notes. It definitely benefits from a decant. With air, it became tense and fluid, showing citrus-driven freshness and great energy. A serious Champagne with aging potential.

Élise Dechannes – Essentielle Much more accessible and generous than the previous two. Round, with red fruit notes — easy to drink and very suitable as an aperitif. Less complex, but full of charm.

Hélicon – Frénésie 2021 From Constantin Vellis. Still marked by oak, with some youthful intensity. This one was probably opened a bit too early — there’s solid structure and potential, but it needs time to find balance.

Dagueneau – Pur Sang An iconic domaine, now run by the son. I’ve had mixed feelings about the new generation (especially regarding the prices), but this was a great surprise. A Sauvignon Blanc with rare freshness and a striking level of energy. A real standout.

Bouchard – Chapelle-Chambertin A beautifully aged Pinot Noir from a lesser-known domaine. Delicate floral notes, especially dried rose, and a sense of balance that suggests it’s at its peak right now. A lovely expression.

Bouchard – Le Corton In contrast to the Chapelle, this was more concentrated and youthful. Still fresh, with hints of sap and herbal notes — likely some whole cluster involved. A powerful Pinot with strong aging potential.

Famille Gauthier – Clos Nouveau The highlight of the tasting. Blind, everyone thought it was a concentrated Pinot from a warm vintage. In fact, it’s a Cabernet Franc by Rodolphe Gauthier, with incredibly precise élevage. It combines finesse, texture, and length, and could easily age for 20–30 years. Already excellent in its youth.

Gonon – Saint-Joseph 2021 A reference in the northern Rhône. This 2021 shows both elegance and depth, with tapenade notes and a great mouthfeel. Despite the challenges of the vintage, this wine showed impressive balance and concentration.

Forget – Domfront Poiré To end on a lighter note, a pear cider by Jérôme Forget, made from acid-rich local varieties. Only 4% alcohol, but remarkably delicate and clean on the palate. A fresh, uplifting way to close the tasting.

I hope you enjoyed reading this recap as much as we enjoyed living it. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday :)