Tonight we taste 8 different bubblies on the pink side, from Spain, north to Burgundy and Champagne and finally back home to California.

Codorniu Cava Pinot Noir Brut nv
Earthy and coarse - a real disappointment. All Pinot Noir fermented in the bottle tasted, as in methode champenoise. Elaborador in Saint Sadurni d’Anoia in the Penedes 12% $9.99 at Bottle Barn Codorniu

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Rose Perle d’Aurore Brut nv
I had a chance to taste the range of sparkling from Bouillot this year at the Les Grands Jours. This producer shows that good value sparkling comes from other corners of the world. This wine in particular has doughy complexity for its price level, 100% Pinot Noir. Elabore a Nuits-St.-Georges 12% $13.95 at Traverso’s

Domaine Carneros Carneros Brut Rose Cuvee de la Pompadour nv
Crisp and fresh strawberries. P&B in Napa 12% $36 at the winery Domaine Carneros

Schramsberg North Coast Blanc de Noirs Brut 2004
Cheese and other notes that are a bit less than clean with lowish appearing acidity. 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay with some barrel fermentation. P&B in Calistoga 13.1% $28.99 at Bottle Barn Schramsberg

Gloria Ferrer Carneros Brut Rose 2003
This wine has the softer, more plump profile that I associate with their Blanc de Noirs with perhaps a bit less residual sugar. Mostly Pinot Noir and a little Chardonnay. P&B in Sonoma 12.9% $42 at the winery
Gloria Ferrer

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Rose nv
A class favorite for a raft of flavors. Elabore a Reims 12.5% $52.99 at Bottle Barn Veuve Clicquot

Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Rose Brut nv
Floral and candy in a silky profile, with moderate but fairly priced concentration for Champagne. 12% $34.99 at Bottle Barn Nicolas Feuillatte

Egly-Ouriet Champagne Premier Cru Les Vignes de Vrigny Brut nv
This was the show-stopper. In the nose there is loads of brioche, a very complex wine to smell; tasting again in December the mouth has a richness and great complexity as well. This is a wine with great finesse that goes on and on. All Pinot Meunier from le Terroir de Vrigny. The wine spent 40 months on the lees and was disgorged in November of 2007. Elabore a Ambonnay 12.5% $52.49 at Bottle Barn