House of Arras NV Brut Elite Cuvee 1801

96 POINTS

Lisa Cardelli - Winepilot

A blend of 61.9% Pinot Noir, 29.2% Chardonnay, and 8.9% Meunier, the base wine comes from the 2018 vintage. For a Brut style, the dosage is quite low at only 3.13 g/L, leaving very little to the imagination. The nose opens with gentle notes of pan brioche and warm butter, followed by heartening aromas of lemon curd, meringue, grilled cashews, smoked grapefruit, and hawthorn. The palate is enriched by a fine and persistent perlage whose unbroken chain of bubbles holds court, contributing to an overall impression of freshness and chalkiness. A curled lees character of bread crust and fresh dough unfolds like a peacock’s tail into citrus and green fruit tones. It culminates in a sublimely elegant and vibrant finish, making this an NV Brut that punches well above most others on the market.

94 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion

A blend of 54/36/10% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier, dosage 3.7g/L, acidity 6.9g/L, tirage four years. Pale straw in the glass with a fine, energetic bead and mousse. Characters of green apple, white peach and grapefruit pith with hints of crushed stone, brioche, dried shiitake, clover blossom and meadow flowers, lanolin, cream, oyster shell, proving sourdough, struck flint and sea spray. Taut, stony and graceful, it cuts a precise path across the palate with softly spiced oatmeal and fresh brioche, a curl of umami and a glorious mineral cadence.

93 POINTS

DWWA 2026 - Decanter World Wine Awards

Fine bubbles with brioche, green apple and meringue aromas; restrained, stylish and zesty. A savoury, full-bodied style with stony minerality. Award: Silver - DWWA 2026

93 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

Heady notes of lemon curd, apple skin, toast and nuts flow to a palate that comes thick and fast with prickly fizz, crunchy acidity and apple and lemon notes to a toasty finish. It's dry overall with lemon pith acidity and gently round texture, presenting itself as an excellent and versatile food pairing bubbles.