Over the past year, I’ve been lucky to try sparkling wine from around the world through various trade tastings. I’d like to share my favourite sparkling wines with you from 2013, so that you can enjoy them too for the holidays and of course New Year’s eve. Cheers!
French Champagne
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A selection of Champagne de Venoge on ice Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial NV, France ($71.99) – Off dry (demi sec) with very light light creamy bubbles. Citrus with a hint of orange and some herbal/green tones. Although I am not a fan of sweeter wines, I quite enjoyed this champagne.
- Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Brut 1999 – This is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. Nice apple and vanilla aromas. Medium body with agressive small bubbles. Ripe red delicious apples and apple pie spices. Round mouth feel but complemented with a higher level of acidity. Long finish.
- Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Rose Brut 2003 – This is also a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. Light copper orange in colour with a light strawberry nose. More strawberries on the palate, followed by apples. Small agressive bubble with some creaminess. Very nice.
- Champagne de Vonage Blanc de Noirs N/V (SPEC $75) – A blend of two red grapes 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. A deeper golden colour in the glass. Yeast and nuttiness on the nose. Full body, dry with medium sized bubbles, slightly creamy. On the palate up front was citrus and yeast, followed by flowers and oak. Very good quality!
- Champagne de Vonage Rose Brut N/V (SPEC $73) – A blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Meunier. To make this rose a little red wine is added to the base white wine, that results in it’s orange-copper colour. Light strawberry and oak aromas. Tiny bubbles, almost creamy on the palate. High acidity, bring red cherries and candied cherries flavour followed by oak and red apples.
- Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, NV, France ($69.95) – Hazelnuts and bread on the nose. I quite liked enjoying the aroma of this wine. Quite complex flavours with hazelnuts and yeast up front. Citrus on the mid palate. Tiny, soft bubbles on your tongue.
Other Sparkling Wines
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Gray Monk Odyssey White Brut 2011 Grey Monk Estate Winery Odyssey White Brut 2011 ($24.99). This sparkler is made with Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay Musque, and Riesling grapes. Very light bread and white peach aromas. Light creamy bubbles with a waxy edge, citrus flavour. Dry and elegant.
- Blue Mountain Brut NV sparkling ($23.90). This sparkler is a favourite for many BC residents. Always quality that you can count on. This wine had a nice citrusy, yeasty nose. High acidity, with nice bright lemony flavour and some yeasty notes. Small aggressive bubbles and some bitter peach pit on the finish.
- Krone Borealis Cuvee Blanc 2008, South Africa ($26.99 SPEC). In South Africa, they call their sparkling wine method “Methode Cap Classique“. This sparkler is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, and has a nice toasty nose. Light body, dry with a large bubble. Red delicious apples with some oak on the finish. Very nice.
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Francis Ford Coppola Winery Sofia Blanc de Blanc 2011 Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sofia Blanc de Blanc, 2011. This sparkling wine is fun in the glass. I really enjoyed it, and bought some to share with friends. It is made in part with the Muscat grape, which always gives you a nice orangy aroma and flavour in the glass. This wine was no exception. Orange and stone fruit on the nose. High acidity with aggressive bubbles. Off dry. Rose petals, orange, and stone fruit flavours. Enjoy it now!
In case you need more inspiration for sparkling wines that I have recommended last year, plus info about caviar, read my Caviar and Champagne for New Years Eve post here.
