Random and recent sparklers
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 4:22 pm
After being back in the states now for almost 6 months I've found a friend or two who enjoys trying a fine wine with me every now and then. One happens to be partial to sparklers and my experience with these wines has more than doubled since we've started hanging out. So here are some random notes from the last 2 months or so:
Champagne Thienot, A Reims France Brut 12% (self imported)
Deep straw almost golden yellow. Nose of perfume like flowers and tons of fruit. Vanilla. Butter dough cookies. Tastes follow nose, a citrus undertone on the palate. Lighter bodied. Tighter and lost flavor and intensity with time in the glass. More citrus as it developed into the night.
L. Mawby Blanc de Blanc Brut Leelanau Peninsula Sparkeling Wine Methode Champenoise 170 of 2978 Bottles 12 % Vol. (Michigan Wine)
Middle deep straw yellow color. White fruit and bread dough on the nose, also a little stony minerality. Seemingly devoid of fruit on the palate, bread and minerality follow the nose. Creamy palate feel. Nice wine.
Champage Duval-Leroy BRUT 12 % (from memory) $32
Thin and citrusy. Very low on body. Drops like a rock after the finish. Prefered the Mawby over this. Fruit was better as the Veuve.
Veuve Clicquot Brut, yellow lable (From memory)
Uninteresting and pretty devoid of taste. Small amounts of bread dough but I noticed no real amount of fruit. Decent finish and body, just nothing to support.
Freixenet Brut CAVA, Cordon Negro. Bottle fermentation
No real discernable fruit, but enough to make this wine enjoyable. Nice body and ok finish. A decent party quaffer (which is what we used it for).
Barefoot Bubbly Premium Extra Dry California Chardonnay 'Champagne'
Tight, far too much acidity and lacking any kind of fruit, body or character. Also used as a party aperitif, but I will definitely not be buying it again.
Gruet Brut (Albuquerque, NM)
We ordered a half bottle of this at a restaurant in Ann Arbor (Eve) and we really liked it. It had some great minerality and almost a spicy fruit characteristic that I really enjoyed. It was one of my favorites of all the sparklers that I've tasted since I've been back. Has anyone else heard of this wine or had it? KZ?
Champagne Thienot, A Reims France Brut 12% (self imported)
Deep straw almost golden yellow. Nose of perfume like flowers and tons of fruit. Vanilla. Butter dough cookies. Tastes follow nose, a citrus undertone on the palate. Lighter bodied. Tighter and lost flavor and intensity with time in the glass. More citrus as it developed into the night.
L. Mawby Blanc de Blanc Brut Leelanau Peninsula Sparkeling Wine Methode Champenoise 170 of 2978 Bottles 12 % Vol. (Michigan Wine)
Middle deep straw yellow color. White fruit and bread dough on the nose, also a little stony minerality. Seemingly devoid of fruit on the palate, bread and minerality follow the nose. Creamy palate feel. Nice wine.
Champage Duval-Leroy BRUT 12 % (from memory) $32
Thin and citrusy. Very low on body. Drops like a rock after the finish. Prefered the Mawby over this. Fruit was better as the Veuve.
Veuve Clicquot Brut, yellow lable (From memory)
Uninteresting and pretty devoid of taste. Small amounts of bread dough but I noticed no real amount of fruit. Decent finish and body, just nothing to support.
Freixenet Brut CAVA, Cordon Negro. Bottle fermentation
No real discernable fruit, but enough to make this wine enjoyable. Nice body and ok finish. A decent party quaffer (which is what we used it for).
Barefoot Bubbly Premium Extra Dry California Chardonnay 'Champagne'
Tight, far too much acidity and lacking any kind of fruit, body or character. Also used as a party aperitif, but I will definitely not be buying it again.
Gruet Brut (Albuquerque, NM)
We ordered a half bottle of this at a restaurant in Ann Arbor (Eve) and we really liked it. It had some great minerality and almost a spicy fruit characteristic that I really enjoyed. It was one of my favorites of all the sparklers that I've tasted since I've been back. Has anyone else heard of this wine or had it? KZ?