Suggestions for Sparklers & Stickies

I'm going shopping soon for our next wine club gathering, and I'd love to get suggestions for interesting sparkling and dessert wines. Since our budget is somewhat limited ($20 per person, we're expecting about 15-18 people), we'll probably only include one champagne, five other sparkling wines, and two dessert wines. 2 bottles of each??

Anyway, let me know what you like and I'll research and see if it's available in my area and if I can work it in, price-wise.

Thank you in advance!

K

[David M. Bueker]

As far as sparklers I would ensure that you find the Roederer Estate Brut NV from California. It's good wine and great value. In DC you should also be able to find a top Moscato d'Asti (e.g. Spinetta).

How sticky do you want the stickies?

Since you say "interesting," here's two that come to mind. For a sparkler, try Gruet, Blanc de Noirs, Brut, New Mexico NV. For a dessert wine, try Banfi's Florus Moscadello di Montalcino. Both under $20 (although the Moscadello is an imp, i.e., 500ml).

As far as sparklers I would ensure that you find the Roederer Estate Brut NV from California. It's good wine and great value. In DC you should also be able to find a top Moscato d'Asti (e.g. Spinetta).

How sticky do you want the stickies?

Thanks, David. I would really love to introduce them to a Sauternes, but I don't know that I'll be able to given our budget. But I'm thinking along those lines. No port. Maybe banyuls. Icewein? I'm not very well versed on what all is out there.

I would really love to introduce them to a Sauternes, but I don't know that I'll be able to given our budget..

I'm sure you could find some cheap Sauternes but 'sticky' PX might give better QPR. And also give you more alcohol so you don't need as many bottles!

Loire stickies are also better QPR than Sauternes but at your price range of roughly $20 per bottle I'm not terribly excited about those options.

PX however would fit right in.

[David M. Bueker]

Actually if we're trying to get dessert wines on a budget then I would go for some of the inexpensive bottlings from Chambers and Rutherglen in Australia.

Actually if we're trying to get dessert wines on a budget then I would go for some of the inexpensive bottlings from Chambers and Rutherglen in Australia.

Like this?

R.L. Buller & Son Fine Tokay - 375ml

Category: Dessert Product Code: 9683
Grape Varietal: Other Country: Australia
$15.99
95
Robert Parker


Description:
The dark-amber-hued Premium Fine Tokay offers sumptuous notes of spice box, Christmas pudding, figs, brown sugar, and molasses.

This blend represents the newest bottled offerings from this Rutherglen producer, an area that produces spectacular fortifieds, especially the Muscats and Tokays (actually Muscadelle). Its freshness, good acidity, soaring aromatics, and unctuous flavors must be tasted to be believed.

Other suggestions:

Sparkling
Prosecco di Conegliano from Veneto, Italy
Cava (not a wine I've enjoyed, but it's cheap!), Spain
Lindauer, NZ
David's suggestion of Moscato d'Asti is very good, but don't slot it in the middle of the other sparklers. Either have it as an aperitif, or as a transition to the sweeties.

Stickies
Plenty of good value sweet wines around
See earlier wine focus on Sherries - maybe a Pedro Ximanez
Rutherglen Muscat from Australia
Late bottled vintage (LBV) Port

regards

Ian

For dessert wines, sticky buns might be a decent but cheap & cheerful food match

I'm sure you could find some cheap Sauternes but 'sticky' PX might give better QPR. And also give you more alcohol so you don't need as many bottles! PX however would fit right in.

Great suggestion, Rashaan! I'm finding a half-bottle of the 1927 Alvear for $19.99 at the Wine Specialist in GT, which is about $2 cheaper than Calvert Woodley. I'm actually finding quite a few interesting things on their website. Have you ever been?

Consider Bonny Doon Vin de Glaciere. Its an inexpensive US dessert wine and most people love it.

Tom T.

Other suggestions:
David's suggestion of Moscato d'Asti is very good, but don't slot it in the middle of the other sparklers. Either have it as an aperitif, or as a transition to the sweeties.

I agree, and think it would make a great transition wine given the theme.

Thanks, David. I would really love to introduce them to a Sauternes, but I don't know that I'll be able to given our budget.

In which case, perhaps consider Monbazillac? Monbazillac is just south of Sauternes, in Bergerac, and produces wines with the same blend and in the same style as Sauternes, which compare very favorably at half the price. Grande Maison's Cuvee de Anges is a very good, very reliable one, that goes for around $25 (for a full bottle). I suppose you could also consider Cadillac (which is actually Bordeaux), but I haven't had any, and can't recommend one.

I'm finding a half-bottle of the 1927 Alvear for $19.99 at the Wine Specialist in GT, which is about $2 cheaper than Calvert Woodley. I'm actually finding quite a few interesting things on their website. Have you ever been?

No, I've never been. So many shops, so little time..

[David M. Bueker]

Kyrstyn,

That Buller sounds like just the ticket! It's exactly the kind of thing i was thinking of. The 1927 Alvear (not really a 1927 - that's the year the solera was started IIRC) is a good one too, but not different enough from something like the Buller to justify having both at the same event.

Kyrstyn,

That Buller sounds like just the ticket! It's exactly the kind of thing i was thinking of. The 1927 Alvear (not really a 1927 - that's the year the solera was started IIRC) is a good one too, but not different enough from something like the Buller to justify having both at the same event.

Ah, glad I mentioned it then, because I was thinking of getting the two of them. Also, thanks for the clarification on the year...I figured it wasn't a vintage, but I had no idea what the number represented.

Elk Run Vineyard has some sweet wines that were better than I expected. They should be available locally. I think their website can let you know where. If it turns out that you want some but can't find it, let me know and I can pick some up for you and delivery it over a lunch hour, if practical. http://www.elkrun.com/wines_dessert.html

(This is a Mount Airy, Maryland winery, which might be a plus for your group.)

Elk Run Vineyard has some sweet wines that were better than I expected. They should be available locally. I think their website can let you know where. If it turns out that you want some but can't find it, let me know and I can pick some up for you and delivery it over a lunch hour, if practical. http://www.elkrun.com/wines_dessert.html

Jon, thanks so much, that's really sweet of you to offer! I'll certainly let you know if we decide to lean that way, and if I'm unable to find something locally. You and I had a "conversation" once before about these wines:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11066&p=89515&hilit=elk+run#p89515

Availability might be a little dodgy, but the 'Cave Spring', bottling of their' Indian Summer' Reisling would be a stunning wine at twice the price (around $20). That is from Niagara Canada if you are wondering.

Banfi makes a decent cheap sparkler that tastes more like something from southern France than it does like a Prosecco.

You could try a Vin Santo for dessert -- another good value sticky is Villa la Selva. It should meet your price criteria, and while it is not as balanced as a Sauterne, there is a lot of bang for the buck and it is great with tiny biscotti!

http://www.alberta-liquor-guide.com/LC/ ... SPC=337907

Ruth, I see a Cave Spring I S Riesling here but does not appear to be a sparkler.

You could try a Vin Santo for dessert -- another good value sticky is Villa la Selva. It should meet your price criteria, and while it is not as balanced as a Sauterne, there is a lot of bang for the buck and it is great with tiny biscotti!

Vin Santo...I think you posted something recently on that topic, and I recall it making me want to search it out as I've not tried it before. Thanks for the suggestion!

Bob, I think Ruth was probably suggesting the reisling as one of the stickies?

It's always difficult for me to reco wine's from afar when availability in your area might be a problem but I'll give it my best shot in any case.

Sparkler's

Deutz Malborough Cuvee NV (NZ - generally pretty reliable, not overly expensive)
Freixenet Cava Cordon Negro Brut (Spain - I've served this masked on numerous occasions, it punches well above its weight and people are generally shocked how reasonably good sparkling wine can be made for less than 10 bucks a bottle!)

Champagne

The cheaper end of the French Champagne market can be very hit and miss but two NV's that I've tried recently that impressed -

Louis Roederer Non Vintage (delivered great complexuty at a reasonable price for me)
Moet & Chandon Non Vintage (in good form here at the moment and not overly expensive)

Fortifieds

That Buller's mentioned earlier is a reasonably good wine but don't let those Parker points sway you. Bob is way too easily seduced with these sweet fortifieds and much too generous with his scores. Because a little of these Rutherglen Muscats or Toakys goes a long way, try and find Morris's Old Premium Muscat or Old Premium Tokay. I pay around AUS$50 a 500ml bottle here which would equate to about US$30. The other Rutherglen's of great value are the Seppelt Rare Tokay DP59 and Rare Muscat GR113 (both 500ml bottles). Roughly the same price and perhaps only a point less on my scorecard but worthy ambassadors at such an occasion. If you can find any, buy one of each style to highlight the incredible lush and complex raisaned flavours of the muscat and the similarly-etched toffeed flavours of the tokay. 30ml of each will be just fine.

Stickies

One Australian sweet wine that stands head and shoulders above the rest that should be readily available is the De Bortoli Noble One - a luscious botrytised Semillon that drinks well as a youngster. Current vintage here is 2006. I haven't tried it. It should cost about US$30 for a 750ml bottle.

Hope you can find any of the fortifieds and that sticky.

Thanks much to all for your suggestions so far. I feel much better prepared to go shopping now!

Bob, I think Ruth was probably suggesting the reisling as one of the stickies?

Yup, maybe the sparkler is cellar-door sale only. I do not think it is around here in AB-land!!

Bob, I think Ruth was probably suggesting the reisling as one of the stickies?

Thanks Krystyn, the Cave Spring is a stickie -- I was not very clear!

ruth