When tasting the range from Fallet-Dart earlier this year, we were struck by how much the 2016 Extra Brut Millesime departed from the style of the other wines, which while beautifully fresh and vibrant in their own right, seemed more defined by deep, vinous complexity. The 2016, on the other hand, is almost shockingly energetic and finessed, so much so that I gave an audible exhale after my first taste. This is pure Extra Brut cut and verve, made all the more compelling by the stunning balance of the vintage. The aromatics are incredibly perfumed and lifted, dominated by intense, lemony citrus, heady florals, and the raciest minerality you’d hope to find in a Champagne. The faintest suggestion of autolytic sur lie character is there, but you may not even pick it up, so head-spinning is the purity of the other elements. The palate is likewise supremely well-constructed and energetic, with super-fine mousse giving a foundation to tart lemon flavors that verge slightly toward orange pith, with green apple and pear playing around the edges. The minerality is every bit as striking as on the nose, and the texture is wonderfully lithe and full of tension and the way through a lengthy finish that shows hints of briny iodine and sea spray. Like all the Fallet-Dart wines, this one does a stupendous job of capturing the very best features of its vintage.
93 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Champagne Buyer (Sep 2025)
Partly vinified in wood, this crisp, dry Champagne has a squeezed lemon juice aroma, just hinting at toastiness. The wine is still fresh, a light touch of yeast against the bone dry citrus and white fruits. Drink now.
91 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2024)
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