Wishing you a sparkling new vintage. Full of good health and daily celebrations. Thanks for reading my blog.
Archive for December, 2009
Happy New One!
Champagne Recommendations
Champagne can be likened to religion – the more you believe, the more you get out of it. It’s part
drink, part imagination: the better your imagination; the better it works.
Champagne is quite austere and not really a fun, fun drink, if you know what I mean. But I love the delicacy, the purity, the refreshing tingle, the experience – and how it marks and celebrates a moment.
These are my favourite Champagnes picks: Piper-Heidsieck and Nicolas Feuillatte for their refreshing and delicate feeling. Lovely aperitif. Pol Roger for elegance and charm. Mumm ‘Carte Classique’ for the suggestion of sweetness and romance. And when I pretend I’m Donald Trump, I pour the rich and exotic Louis Roederer. I prefer to drink Champagne without food. But! It is wonderful with slivers of parmesan cheese, caviar, smoked salmon, oysters and chocolate. Salty things bring out its best side.
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne, France 537605 $49.95
Mumm ‘Carte Classique’, Champagne, France 308064 $53.95
Pol Roger Brut Champagne, France 51953 $59.60
Louis Roederer Brut Champagne, France 268771 VE (Vintages Essentials) $67.95
More $ Bubbly
Do you get more when you pay more for bubbly? Not really. But the wine often feels more elegant, and the occasion may require a fancier label or gesture.
Niagara’s cool climate and soil structure are ideal
for producing classic-style Sparkling. Such as Ch. des Charmes which has the high-pitched note and pure quality of Champagne. Quality bubbly.
Chateau des Charmes Brut, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario 145409 $22.95
Henry’s Brut Rosé is a mix of challenging austerity and delicate flavours. Refreshing, stimulating and inspiring the imagination. Perfect.
Henry of Pelham Brut Rosé ‘Cuvee Catharine’, VQA Niagara 4051 $29.75
Despite its hot climate, California produces very elegant Sparkling wines. Mumm Napa combines tart refreshment with sourdough flavours that create a hugh desire for food. Topnotch aperitif.
Mumm Napa Brut ‘PRESTIGE’, California 265678 $27.75
Everyday Bubbly Recommendations
DOUBLE the FUN with EVERYDAY BUBBLY
This is the season to pop open the bubbly. Too many people avoid sparkling wine the rest of the year because they think that the occasion doesn’t warrant it. Which is a lot like waiting till your friends are dead to say how much you love ‘em. Do it now. Not the entire bottle – just a glass a day – to celebrate the day. Buy a champagne stopper – refrigerated, open sparkling wine keeps well for 4 to 5 days. The two great everyday sparkling wines are Prosecco from Italy and Cava from Spain.
Val d’Oca Prosecco delivers wonderful mineral zest and refreshment – dancing between purity and drinkability. An everyday bubbly that’s sure to liven up your after work mood. A consistent best-in-class for over a decade.
Val d’Oca 08 Prosecco Brut, Valdobbiadene, Italy 340570 $16.30
Cava is the official term for sparkling wine from the Catalan region of Spain. They use the traditional Champagne method of second fermentation in the bottle so there’s a yeasty tang which adds to the refreshing experience. Cava is very everyday and affordable. And Segura Viudas is one of the best value wines in the world. Period. It should be the first thing in your shopping cart.
Segura Viudas Brut, Spain 158493 $14.95
Wolf Blass is a master at creating wines with great drinkability and his bubbly has the just-right feeling for parties and celebrations. Refreshingly crisp with lovely delicate flavours. French styling with the Aussie sense of fun. Good stuff.
Wolf Blass Brut ‘Yellow Label’, Australia 649996 $17.95
Also recommended:
Colio Estate CEV 08 Sparkling ‘Lily’, VQA Ontario 509083 $14.85
(Also check out ‘Lily’ Pinot Noir red sparkling $16.45)
Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio, California 106088 $12.95 (not quite so dry as the others recommended here)
