Tasting notes, Sparkling wines; July 13, 2019

Villa Sandi ‘Il Fresco’ Prosecco, NV

Treviso, IT

Regular Price $16.99 

Sale price $12.99

There’s an ocean of Prosecco out there and most of it is awfully mediocre. This one, on the other hand, is pretty good. It’s not overly sweet, it’s fresh and crisp, and it’s inexpensive. Sure, the package is pretty hideous, but it’s what’s inside that counts.

Hubert Clavelin ‘Brut-Comte’ Crémant du Jura, NV

Jura, FR

Regular Price $22.99 

Sale price $17.99

100% Chardonnay from high elevation limestone vineyards, secondary fermentation in the bottle…sounds like Champagne, right. Well, it tastes like Champagne too, it just doesn’t cost like Champagne. (ok, it’s not nearly as yeasty or as rich as Blanc de Blanc Champagne, but it’s a third of the cost, people!). 

Antech ‘Tradition’ Brut Blanquette de Limoux, NV

Limoux, FR

Regular Price $21.99

Sale price $16.99

Limoux is the birthplace of sparkling wine, with the first bubbles produced some 150 years before Dom Perignon began making sparkling wine in Champagne. Made from 90% Mauzac, 5% Chenin Blanc and 5% Chardonnay, this wine is fresh, bright, and dry with crisp apple-ly flavors dominating. Not really Champagne flavored, but an excellent sparkling change of pace.

François Chidaine ‘Le Chenin d’Ailleurs’ Brut, 2016

Limoux, FR

Regular Price $19.99 

Sale price $15.99

2016 was a devastatingly short vintage in Loire, so Chidaine purchased organic Chenin Blanc grapes from Limoux for this wine. The grapes were crushed in Limoux, then shipped to Montlouis for fermentation and bottling. With zero dosage, this wine is bone dry yet with characteristic Chenin Blanc richness.

Mont Marcal Cava Rosado Brut, 2017

Cataluna, SP

Regular Price $19.99 

Sale price $15.99

This is a delightful blend of Garnacha, Pinot Noir and Trepat full of fresh cherry aromas and flavors, gentle bubbles and crisp acidity. It’s delicious and thirst quenching and food friendly. Really, if you only have one rosé this summer, it should be this one.

Champagne Gatinois Grand Cru Brut Rosé

Ay, FR

Regular Price $63.99

Sale price $49.99Made of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay, this is classic rosé Champagne. Subtle dark cherry and strawberry aromas intermingled with floral and baking spices, the wine tastes elegantly of cherry clafoutis and finishes richly and dry. It’s a beautiful wine to pair with fish or veal or fowl. Or with dessert.  Or on its own.