• 1998 Launois Pere et Fils Blanc de Blancs Brut Sable - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger (4/24/2005)
  This champagne was a very pale gold in color with a fine mousse. On the nose it had some hazelnut notes with a deep flavors of pear, hazelnuts and minerals. It definitely had the flavor profile of good Blanc de Blancs. It had very focused flavors and a style that was reminiscent of vintage Salon. It is definitely medium weight and would not be the best match for strongly flavored foods. With medium acidity and should age well although I think it's probably not a long-term ager (10+ years from vintage). It had the strangest looking cork with a plastic insert in the bottom of a rather large cork. Altogether an awesome buy (thanks K&L) at $34.99 (!).
  
  Below are notes on the wine and producer from Gary Westby at K&L -
  This is the legendary vintage Sable from Launois, the wine that I had heard so much about and the one that brought me knocking on their door. It has always been too tightly allocated for me to get any for the US market, until now. We have received a windfall of this very special Champagne, and I am not sure we will ever be able to get it again. It is 100% Chardonnay from Launois top estate plots in Mesnil, Cramant and Oger and instead of being 6 atmospheres of pressure (carbonation) it is slightly under 5. Just like with the non-vintage Sable, this is almost undetectable by the amount or size of the bubbles, but completely changes the flavor profile of the wine. This Champagne has all the minerality and length of vintage Launois but with more ripe golden pear fruit that reminds me so much of top notch Meursault.(93 pts.)

• 1998 Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Sable - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (6/28/2006)
  Fine Whites and mostly Cali Reds (Castle Hill Restaurant; Austin Texas): This was a very good bottle of champagne. Texturally it was more creamy than a previous bottle with ripe pears, brioche and mineral flavors. Its flavor profile and style were similar to Salon. It's really too bad there isn't more of this to be found in the USA as it was an amazing deal for the quality. (93 pts.)

1998 Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Sable - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (5/19/2007)
WIML93,NOWA,NOWS

Tasted May 19, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light to medium mousse. Light sherry notes with plenty of dough, pears and hazelnut. Flavors of pears, yellow apples and a bit of underlying minerality. Medium to almost bright acidity with a medium to full bodied presence on the palate. Drink or hold. (93 pts.)