Rated: 89 by Josh Raynolds, Nov/Dec 06
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Pale gold with a lively bead. Sweet hazelnut and marzipan notes complement the ripe pear, peach and yellow apple aromas. Fresh acidity frames the round orchard fruit flavors, giving this Champagne good energy and focus. Finishes on a buttery note, with very good length.

Kacher wrote: "The Lamiable family has been in champagne since 1929 & at this domaine since 1960. This is a grower-made (r.m. = récoltant-manipulant) wine, which means that all of the grapes used here are family owned. The estate is located in the Grand Cru Champagne village of Tours-sur-Marne. Jean-Pierre Lamiable, a sports medicine physician and his daughter Orianne Crépeaux-Lamiable follow his father and Uncle as winemakers at this small estate which dates back to 1600. The family owns six hectares in total (approximately 15 acres) – 4.5 hectares are devoted to Pinot Noir and 1.5 hectares are planted to Chardonnay. Their vineyards are all in the grand cru band, planted on limestone and chalk soils (no clay). Vineyard sites include ;Les Meslaines (vines 50 – 60 y/o), Clos de Goesse (vines 35-40 y/o), Ambuyères and Bouzy. This non-vintage bottling of Brut Grand Cru is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay • The dosage is 8 g/l. • The wines are kept sur lie for 18 months (the law only requires 15 months) • One-third of the wine from each harvest is kept for base wine in following years • Two to four barrels used – no new oak."

Here’s something completely different. This pretty sparkling pink is made from Cab France and is bone dry. Light and ethereal it may be but don’t let that fool you. It can easily pair with food… try some Asian flavors with it.

This is probably one of my favorite sparklings under $20. It’s extremely difficult to find a champagne (much less a decent champagne) for under $20 so this is your best best. Coming from the neighboring area and using a traditional method Domaine Ehrhart turns their organic Chardonnay into an extremely viable sparkling for under $20. I think only a pro would notice that it is not from Champagne.