Tasting Notes, Dec. 7, 2019; Sparkling wines

Hubert Clavelin Brut-Comté, Cremant du Jura, NV

Jura, FR

Regular Price $21.99

Sale price $17.99

To the east of Burgundy lies the mountainous region of Jura, with a history as long as Burgundy, yet with only scant acknowledgement of the quality of the wines. Hubert Calvelin and his sons grow Chardonnay in a high elevation limestone riven vineyard and produce a Crémant du Jura that outshines any Crémant de Bourgogne made.  

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne, NV

Reims, FR

Regular Price $99.99

Sale price $74.99

Established in 1 729, Ruinart is the first and oldest Champagne house still in existence. Long known as a ‘Chardonnay’ house, this example of 100% Chardonnay, beautifully illustrates the house style of elegance and style over power and weight.

Pinon Brut Non Dosé Vouvray, 2015

Loire Valley FR

Regular Price $39.99 

Sale price $31.99

The Pinon family has been making wine in Vouvray since 1796 and the winery is now run by father and son team, Francois and Julien is decidedly ‘turn back the clock’ fashion. Rather than acquiring more acreage and planting more vines, the goal is to express the terroir, vintage and quality of Chenin Blanc from their holdings in the Vallee de Cousse. This is one of two sparkling wines produced, of riper, later picked grapes, which allows for the lack of sugar added to this non-dosage wine. Its bright and fresh and crisp and incredibly satisfying.

Gruet Brut Rosé, NV

Albuquerque, NM

Regular Price $19.99

Sale price $15.99

The story goes that Gilbert Gruet, while visiting the Southwest US in ‘83 was taken with the ideal conditions and decided to open a sparkling wine house in New Mexico. The winery was run and developed by Gilbert’s son and daughter, and continues to make very good and good value sparkling & still wines from grapes grown in New Mexico and elsewhere in the Southwest. This wine, of 100% Pinot Noir, is bright, friendly and delicious and among the best value American wines on the market

Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut, 2012

Anderson Valley, CA

Regular Price $59.99 

Sale price $47.99

L’Ermitage, Roederer Estate’s special Tête de Cuvée, is a sparkling wine made only in exceptional years from pre-selected, estate-grown grapes. Carrying on the tradition of Champagne Louis Roederer in France, Roederer Estate produces its sparkling wines in the traditional French méthode traditionelle and adds oak-aged reserve wines to each blend. L’Ermitage debuted with the 1989 vintage.

Cleto Chiarli ‘Centenario’ Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro

Modena, IT

Regular Price $14.99 

Sale price $11.99

Long before Cella Lambrusco ruined Lambrusco for a generation of Americans, Cleto Chiarli was perfecting this full and rich, semi-dry sparkling wine from the grape Grasparossa to pair with the diverse cuisines of Emilia-Romagna. This bottling was first released in 1960 to celebrate the hundred year anniversary of the winery, still owned and operated by the Chiarli family. If you don’t like Lambrusco, you just plain don’t like wine.