Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Feb 272014
 
 JCB No. 65 Brut 2006 by Jean-Charles Boisset, French Sparkling Wine, CA, $60 (S) – Rating 92

A beautiful and expressive Blanc de Noirs Crémant de Bourgogne. The nose is soft, offering aromas of honeycomb combined with floral notes. Soft and round on the palate with balanced acidity. Creamy and well-integrated flavors of vanilla, ripe pineapple and other tropicals. A long toasty finish. Enjoy with  soft cheeses or creamy apps. Don’t wait for a celebration to experience. Buy This Wine

Dec 162013
 
J Vineyards & Winery Brut Rosé NV, Russian River Valley, CA, $38 (S) – Rating 91

Don’t wait for a celebration to enjoy this elegant and crisp rosé sparkler blended of 66% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay and 1% Pinot Meunier. A beautiful salmon color with a nose of raspberry, strawberry and brioche yeast. Juicy acidity precedes notes of strawberry, raspberry and a bit of bright cherry. Raspberry and toasty yeast on the finish. Pair with anything creamy or go out on a limb with fried chicken. Buy This Wine

Jul 282013
 
2008 Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé, North Coast CA, $42 (S) – Rating 92

Now that’s what I’m talking about! So delicious and decadent. A salmon colored blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay sourced 39% from Napa, 36% Sonoma, 21% Mendocino and 4% Marin. Plenty of flavor yet elegant both in color and on the palate. A soft nose of strawberry and cranberry gives way to a crisp mouth-feel offering tart flavors of strawberry and cranberry with hints of spice, toasty yeast and sour cherry on the finish. Perfect food pairing acidity. Don’t wait for a celebration to enjoy this sparkler. Buy This Wine

Mar 252013
 
2011 Giordano Prosecco doc, Sparkling Wine, Veneto, Italy, $15 (S) – Rating 90

This is one Prosecco that should not be relegated to a mixer or mimosa. A crisp floral nose with notes of lemon and orange peel. A near perfect level of effervescence with a soft mouth-feel yet mouthwatering acidity.  Dry flavors of citrus with hints of tangerine and lime are enhanced by notes of yeastiness. Buy This Wine

Jan 122013
 
J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée 20 Brut NV 25th Anniversary, Sonoma, CA, $26 (S) – Rating 92

The J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée 20, is in my opinion, one of the consistent great values in CA sparkling wine and the 25th Anniversary offering is no exception. Crisp and intriguing with a nose of apple, citrus and brioche. An elegant and full mouth-feel offering flavors of red apple, pear and minerality with a hint of sweet yeastiness and notes of caramel. The food pairing possibilities are limitless. Buy This Wine