Charles Orban Champagne Cuvée Speciale Vintage 2008

David Lawrason

This pours bright, luminous, deep yellow gold, signaling its maturity. It displays a very complex, mature, rich and detailed nose of barley sugar, straw, peach/pineapple fruit, candied lemon and a hint of mushroom. It is medium weight, full flavoured, almost creamy yet brisk. There is some nutty bitterness on the finish. Flavours hit outstanding, never quit length resulting in the rating. It is idiosyncratic to be sure but so intense and complex.

WineAlign

Wine Enthusiast

Natalie Maclean

Fragrant with ripe apple, citrus zest and mineral aromas and flavours; dry, crisp and clean on the palate with a fine, persistent mousse and beautifully balanced acidity. Nicely structured. Chill and enjoy.

Din VinGuide

Masser af nedfaldsfrugt i duft og smag. Den lange andengæring skjuler sig bestemt ikke. Flot mousse og masser af intense frugtnoter i smagen. Flot dybde og en lang, moden afslutning. En anelse tung men velegnet til mad.

John Szabo, Master Sommelier

This is a very mature, biscuity, toasty, maple syrup and curry/fenugreek-scented champagne in the old English style, complex and satisfying in the genre. Roasted nuts, dried fruit and wheat toast continue to expand on the palate, while the mousse is creamy and well integrated and the finish lingers on admirably. A highly complex and evolved style all in all, at or near-peak I'd say, for fans of this idiosyncratic but much admired style.

Michael Godel

Great development and evolution but far from the end is where this 2008 Champagne finds itself at the (12-plus) year mark from vintage. Toasty with stir-fried ginger and a hint of tropical herbs, a fresh chiffonade that refreshes the oxidative and umami moving parts of this lovely wine. That golden toast is really something and as this moves through the glass a more distinct set of spice notes emerge. Galangal, turmeric and cardamom especially. Exotic stuff.

Ekstra Bladet

Modne frugter i duften. Masser af autolysis karakter i smagen med hengemte ferskner, røde æbler og blomsternoter. Flot mousse og balance. Meget intens og til tider en bullerbasse i udtrykket. Spændende vin.

Vinhulen.dk

Gylden. Duften er ret intens og ret kompleks med æble, fersken, brioche, karamel/smør, hvid blomst og en spids af træ. Smagen er frisk, livlig og kraftfuld med æble og fersken, brioche og karamel/smør og en flig af træ og floralt touch, sprød syre og fin mousse. Champagnen slår virkelig med halen og imponerer kraftmæssigt og via sine mangfoldige smags- og duftnoter. Sprød og ung og på alle måder herligt velfungerende oplevelse. Kan med fordel gemmes et par år for lige at runde helt.

Vivino