Quality French sparkling wine that doesn’t cost as much as this month’s electricity bill
This has been the most odd and puzzling year for sparkling wine in the blog’s history. I’ll write more about that tomorrow in the New Years’ bubbly post, but know that quality and prices have been all over the place – pricey wines that were flat and flawed, and cheap wines that were just the opposite.
The Cote Mas Crémant de Limoux Brut NV ($13, purchased, 12%) is a perfect example. The producer makes a lot of inexpensive wine, sparkling and still, and I’ve yet to figure out why some are terrific and the others make me crazy .
The Mas is in the former category. It’s an extremely bubbly sparkling wine from Limoux in France’s Languedoc, and when I say bubbly, I mean bubbly. In fact, one tasting note calls it crunchy, which probably isn’t far off.
But there is much more going on than fizz. Look for lots of bright green apple fruit from the chardonnay in the blend, as well as a little minerality from the chenin blanc. In all, it’s full and round and the finish seems to go on forever. It isn’t subtle, but why does it need to be?
Highly recommended. Drink this on its own, to toast the New Year, or with a holiday brunch.
Imported by Taub Family Selections