Aromas of buttery pasty, orange oil, pear and sweet spices introduce the NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru Le Bout du Clos, disgorged early this year and based on the 2016 vintage. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and enveloping, it's suave and seamless, with a generous core of fruit, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. - William Kelley

The NV (2018) Extra-Brut Ambonnay Le Bout du Clos is a wild, complex wine. A touch of reduction suggests aeration will help this show at its best. Kirsch, mint, white pepper, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco stain the palate. The blend of Pinot Noir with some Chardonnay is magical here. The Bout du Clos is a Champagne of extreme and total finesse. Dazzling. Disgorged: January 27, 2025. -- Antonio Galloni