Sparkling Wine Tasting

Random notes. The non-vintage sparking wines were mostly about texture - were the bubbles aggressive? did it feel sharp or creamy. The vintage 2002, Deutz was noticably refined, understated, and interesting. Not much notes here as a I started getting toasted. Something about Champagne.

1. Cabriz, Dao, Portugal, non-vintage, 12% alcohol, Espumante Bruto style, $15




2. Bodegas Raventos I Blanc, Peneds, Spain, 2005, 12% alcohol, Brut Cava




3. Borgo Magredo, Gravel Del Fruili, Italy, non-vintage,11.5% Prosecco, extra dry $13.

4. Ariola, Emilia, Italy, non-vintage, Lambrusco style, $13.

Fresh, fruity, kind of like Beaujolais. Good every day.

5. Mumm Napa, Napa Valley, CA, non-vintage, 12.5%, Brut $20.

House style. Creamy, full, round.



6. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Reims, France, non-vintage, 12%, Brut style, $45.
Yeasty.

7. Deutz, Ay, France, 2002, 12%, Rose, $75

Age, delicate, strawberry, richer wine.



winemaker's notes:

The 2002 Brut Rosé is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes. Eighty percent of the grapes come from the Montagne de Reims area, and the remaining 20 percent are grown in the Marne Valley. The specific style and color is obtained by the addition of 9% of red wine, whose Pinot Noir grapes come from two plots on the Aÿ hillside called "La Côte" and "Meurtet"—both having perfect exposure. After 4 years ageing in our cellars, its aromas have perfectly blended, and the Brut Rosé has a very subtle nose and a palate that shows remarkable power.

The color is a deep salmon pink, with its brightness heightened by fine and lively bead. The nose is fine and expressive, with seductively fruity aromas. The wine shows harmoniously on the palate from the start to the finish, with flavors of raspberries and wild cherries. The texture is rich and silky. It is clearly a vintage with ripe and healthy grapes that have plenty of concentration and style. Its finish shows quite delicious flavors.

This is particularly recommended for drinking with a meal. It would go perfectly with salmon in a mushroom sauce, beef carpaccio, duck with blueberry sauce, lamb cutlets, or a number of young, creamy cheeses such as Chaource or Brillat Savarin.
critical acclaim:

"The 2002 Brut Rose is simply beautiful. Well articulated aromas and flavors emerge with notable class as this fresh, vibrant Champagne grows in the glass. Medium in body, the wine possesses outstanding length and a silky, refined finish. The Rose is made with the addition of 8% still Pinot from Ay. This is a terrific effort. "

92 Points

The Wine Advocate

"Pale salmon hue with a persistent mousse. Inviting scents of raspberry and pear with secondary nuances of ginger and allspice. Sweet, juicy flavors of cider, raspberry and pomegranate. Impressions of vanilla in the creamy close."

93 Points

The Wine News

"100% Pinot Noir. Almost obvious in its cherryish cast to lightly candied, lightly citrusy aromas with surprisingly quietly stated autolysis impressions, this wine is foamy and frothy with fairly big bubbles and a full, juicy flavor profile. It is a very enjoyable quaffer."

89 Points

Connoisseurs' Guide

"Light pink. Suave, understated red berry and mineral scents are impressively precise. Clean, bracing and fresh, with deep but poised redcurrant and raspberry flavors and excellent persistence. I like this elegant style."

91 Points

International Wine Cellar

"A vinous style, with emphasis on the vibrant structure. The flavors evoke whole-grain toast, ginger and dried berry, with a smooth texture and a chalky sensation on the finish. Drink now through 2010. 280 cases imported."

89 Points

Wine Spectator


8. Moet & Chandon, Nectar Imperial, Espernay, France, non-vintage, 12%, demi-sec style, $48.

Remember - wine sweeter than the food.