Tag Archives: sparkling wine

Fourth of July wine 2023

super hero miniatures
Yes, using this picture again — how could I not, what with superheroes battling premiumization?

Fourth of July wine 2023: Four bottles offering value and quality for Independence Day

It will be a hot Fourth o July in Dallas this year, and not just because of the holiday. We’re in one of our 100 degree stretches as I write this. So enjoy these selections, as well as the blog’s summer and porch wine guidelines in mind since it’s so hot.

These four wines will get you started:

• Castello di Gabbiano Chianti 2020 ($8, purchased, 13%): Old-fashioned Italian red —  both in style and price — that is heavy in the mouth with sour cherry fruit and dry tannins? What more does one need for smoking pork? (And a tip o’ the WC’s fedora to Frankie Celenza, who reminded me about this wine. Imported by TWE Imports

• Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc 2021 ($13, purchased, 13%): if you can find this French sauvignon blanc for $10 or $12, buy a case. It’s a classic everyday wine — crisp, fresh, and stony. Highly recommended. Imported by Virtuoso Selections

• Cote Mas Aurore Rose 2021 ($9/1-liter, purchased, 12.5%): This French pink is past inconsistent; some vintages taste like bad red wine, and some are as terrific as this one. Provencal in style, so barely ripe berries, stony, and crisp. Highly recommended. Imported by Taub Family Selections

• Charles de Fère Cuvée Jean Louise NV ($9, purchased, 11%): Simple, enjoyable French charmat bubbly that offers tremendous value. Given the silly prices for even the most ordinary sparkling wine, this is a tremendous value. Decent bubbles, some stone fruit and lemon. Imported by Boisset America

Photo: TFNY18_074c” by BAS Photog is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

More Fourth of July wine:
• Fourth of July wine 2022
• Fourth of July wine 2021
• Fourth of July wine 2020
• Wine of the week: Bieler Père et Fils Rose 2022

Father’s Day wine 2023

Father's Day ties
Yet again, the Father’s Day tie picture — the WC does love it.

Father’s Day wine 2023: Quality wine for Dad, because that’s what we do

Once again, wine for Dad for Father’s Day that fits what we do here — price and value, and not silliness or scores or expensive wine for the sake of spending money. And don’t forget the blog’s wine gift-giving guidelines — don’t buy someone wine that you think they should like; buy them what they will like.

Father’s Day wine 2023 suggestions:

• Pedroncelli Sauvignon Blanc Giovanni & Giulia 2022 ($22, sample, 13.9%): Yes, more money than I usually spend, but I love this wine. It’s top-notch, varietally correct California sauvignon blanc — so some grassiness, some lime, and even some tropical. Highly recommended.

• Douglas Green Rib Shack Red 2021 ($12, purchased, 13.5%): Pinotage, baby! Which means it’s South African through and through — full and rich, a bit tannic, and with lots of black fruit (plus the telltale pinotage aroma and some fake oak). Imported by Cape Classics

• VillaViva Rose 2021 ($10, purchased, 12%): Not quite as well-rounded as the 2020, but well worth buying. Still savory, some red berries, some minerality. Imported by Aquitane Wine USA

• De Chanceny Brut NV ($15, purchased, 12.5%): Amazon Fresh private label (as well as Whole Foods). Made with the Champagne method, but with chenin blanc as well as chardonnay and cabernet franc. A bit softer, some lemon fruit, but still lively. Imported by Dropping Wines

More Father’s Day wine:
• Father’s Day wine 2022
• Father’s Day wine 2021
• Father’s Day wine 2020
• Expensive wine 164: Albert Bichot Fleurie La Madone 2019

Mother’s Day wine 2023

Mother and child
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom

Four suggestions — white, sparkling, rose, and red — for Mother’s Day 2023

The blog’s 17th annual Mother’s Day wine post makes me smile — and how often does that happen? The point is that wine is about the people around us, and not boasting about scores or collecting trophies. The blog’s wine gift guide is here.

These Mother’s Day wine suggestions should get you started:

• Pedroncelli Dry Rosé of Zinfandel 2022 ($17, sample, 13.9%): Not the $10 rose it once was, but this California pink remains one of my favorites. This vintage is classic — fruity (zinfandel’s dark berries, believe it or not), oh so fresh and crisp. Not Provencal, but not supposed to be.

• Bodegas Eidosela Neboa 2020 ($18, purchased, 13%):  Let it sit for 30 minutes, and this Spanish white becomes exquisite albarino — savory, salty, a bit of lime fruit, and even some minerality. Imported by Valkyrie Selections

• Steenberg Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc NV ($20, sample, 12.5%): This South African sparkling is not for all tastes, and the price may put some people off. Having said that, it’s quality South African sauvignon blanc that has lots and lots of tiny bubbles. So almost grapefruity, but firmly a Champagne-style wine. Imported by Beck Family Estates

• Forty Ounces Red 2016 ($14/1-liter, purchased, 12%): No, there may not be a lot of this around, and yes, it’s an older vintage. But, somehow, this French red blend is worth drinking — berry fruit, soft tannins, and surprisingly balanced. Imported by Verity Wine Partners

Photo: “CL Society 408: Mother and child” by francisco_osorio is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

More about Mother’s Day wine:
• Mother’s Day wine 2022
• Mother’s Day wine 2021
• Mother’s Day wine 2020
• Expensive wine 165: Roederer Estate Brut NV
• Wine of the week: Broadbent Gruner Veltliner 2021

Expensive wine 165: Roederer Estate Brut NV

Roederer Estate Brut bottle
Roederer Estate Brut NV/$25-$35

Can a $27 wine deliver value? Yes, if it’s this Roederer bubbly

Buy this wine for $27, as I did, and you’ve found one of the world’s great values in sparkling wine.

How can this be, WC, some of you are asking – a $27 wine? Trust me. When I wax poetic about a $27 wine, it’s a value.

Now, some of the reason for this is that sparkling wine prices, including many previously affordable cavas and Proseccos, have gone wacko for reasons I won’t whine about now. Just know that it’s difficult to find a quality bubbly for less than $20 any more. Hence, $27 isn’t as ridiculous as it used to be.

The other thing to know? Roederer makes terrific sparkling wine, and California’s Anderson Valley is a terrific place to make sparkling wine. And it doesn’t hurt that a major Champagne house owns Roederer, so there isn’t much of a learning curve.

This bottle ($27, purchased, 12.5%) is an example of all of that, a blend of more chardonnay than pinot noir. So look for firm, tight bubbles (and lots of them), as well as lots of fruit (lemon, green apple). It’s also very fresh – much fresher than I expected – with a hint of yeast in the back.

Highly recommended, and especially if you can find it for around $25. And yes, this is the perfect wine for The Holiday that Must Not be Named next week.

 

New Year's sparkling wine 2019

New Year’s sparkling wine 2022

Pouring sparkling wine
“Do you think this will be enough for all the people coming tonight? The WC has recommended this wine, after all.”

New Year’s sparkling wine 2022 recommendations in an otherwise problematic year for bubbly

If the 2021 New Year’s sparkling wine post was about shortages, this post is about the opposite — almost too much wine, and too much of that of indifferent quality, and too much of that costing more for no particular reason. How about a $14 rose Prosecco that was intentionally flat and bland and apparently aimed at the Mimosa market? There’s premiumization for you.

Speaking of flat, those of us who don’t buy $75 Champagne may find some of the sparklers we buy without much fizz — again. Three of the last five $15 or so bubblies I bought for this post were flat, and they came from reputable producers. My guess? More problems from last year’s supply chain woes.

Nevertheless, the WC found wine to drink this New Year’s — and that doesn’t cost $75.  As always, keep in mind the blog’s annual wine gift guidelines and our sparkling wine primer.

• Juvé y Camps Brut Rosé Pinot Noir NV ($15, purchased, 12%): This cava is a long-time favorite, even though it is made with decidedly un-Spanish pinot noir. Nevertheless, it is always impressive. Lots of berry fruit, but also a darker, more earthy undertone one doesn’t expect from pinot. Firm bubbles, but not creamy; rather, fresh and long finish. Highly recommended. Imported by Vintus

• Zardetto Prosecco Z Brut NV ($13, sample, 11%): A step up from supermarket Prosecco — hardly sweet, much tighter bubbles, more citrus fruit (some orange, in fact), balanced, and even a little structure. Don’t waste this on a Mimosa. Imported by Winebow

• Casteller Cava Brut Rose NV ($12, purchased, 11.5%): This wine uses a Spanish grape, trepat, instead of pinot noir, and you can taste the difference. It’s dark, almost caramel, and my even have some earth. Plus, berryish fruit and tight bubbles. Highly recommended. Imported by Ole & Obrigado

• Graham Beck Brut MCC NV ($15, purchased, 12%): South African sparkler made in the Champagne style and always a tremendous value. It has tight bubbles, enough fruit so that it’s noticeable (green apples and lemon?), some minerality, and even a little creaminess.  Imported by Beck Family Estates

More about New Year’s sparkling wine
• New Year’s sparkling wine 2021
• New Year’s sparkling wine 2020
• New Year’s sparkling wine 2019
• Wine of the week: Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rose Brut NV
• Enough with the Champagne glass conspiracy already – can’t we just drink and enjoy?

Photo: Maria Orlova via Pexels

Wine of the week: Cote Mas Cremant de Limoux Brut NV

Cote Mas Crémant de Limoux Brut
Cote Mas Crémant de Limoux Brut NV/$10-$25

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

Christmas wine 2022

christmas wine 2020
“Hey, WC. This is the third year in a row you’ve used this picture. Find another one already.”

Four recommendations for Christmas wine 2022

Once more, the blog’s Christmas wine suggestions, whether for a last minute gift, something to drink when you just want a glass over the next couple of weeks, or for a holiday dinner. Keep our wine gift giving tips in mind — and don’t overlook the blog’s 2022 holiday gift guide (blog subscriptions, hint, hint).

These wines will get you started:

• Alma Brut NV ($6, purchased, 11.5%): The blog’s Arizona correspondent raves about this Total Wine private label, which comes from Brazil. So, because he rates it so highly — and he makes good sense — it’s here even though we try to avoid private label. Look for some decent bubbles and a bit of apple. Imported by Saranty Imports

• Domaine de la Croix Senaillet Mâcon-Davaye 2020 ($18, purchased, 13%): This French white, made with chardonnay, is a touch pricey for a wine from the Macon region. But it’s very well done and a delight to drink. Rich, not oaky, pear and apple fruit, and a bit of stoniness. Imported by Wines with Conviction

• Château Pey La Tour 2019 ($15, purchased, 14.5%): A fairly typical merlot-based red Bordeaux, so softish, what the wine magazines call “perfumed,” and lots of red fruit. Find it for $15, and you have something to drink with prime rib. Imported by Champagnes & Chateaux USA

• Le petit Gueissard Rose 2021 ($10, purchased, 12.5%): How anyone can turn out a pink wine of this quality at this price, given all that is going on in the world, is mind boggling. Some softish cherry fruit from the grenache in the blend, but also structure and character. Highly recommended. Imported by Artisan Wine Selections

More about Christmas wine:
• Christmas wine 2021
• Christmas wine 2020
• Christmas wine 2019
• Wine of the week: McManis Petite Sirah 2020
• Expensive wine 160: Vietti Arneis 2021

Photo: “guardian of wine” by marcostetter is marked with CC PDM 1.0