Nicolas Feuillatte, Champagne, Brut nv
There’s a fruity, round expression to this bubbly. The house delivers moderate but fairly priced concentration for Champagne. The grapes are 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, aged 3 years on the lees. Elabore by the cooperative in Chouilly 12% $28.59 at Bottle Barn Nicolas Feuillatte

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Domaine J. Laurens, Cremant de Limoux, Blanc de Blancs, Brut ,Tête de Cuvée, Méthode Traditionnelle nv There is candied fruit in the nose and a little sense of biscuits. The mouth is a bit hollow, low in concentration and not very acidic. Yet this has proved a good alternative for cheap French bubbly.

Prod in La [...]

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La Morandina, Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2007 The ‘07 is just as vibrantly fresh and full of orange blossoms as the previous vintage. There’s lots of residual sugar and the light body and freshness that you expect in Moscato d’Asti. P&B in Castiglione Tinella 5.5% $20.99 at Traverso’s
Charles Heidsieck, Champagne, Brut Reserve This is certainly a [...]

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This flight shows a nice contrast in approach to the making of pink sparkling in California. The Roederer embraces a high acid framework that is very crisp while the Mumm goes for a softer approach with a more visible hint of RS in the background. Different animals and I like them both.
Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, [...]

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Mumm Napa Napa Valley Devaux Ranch Methode Traditionnelle 2002
There’s lots of citrus with a hint of the zest and a touch of alcohol. The grapes are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the wine was aged 3 years on the lees. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery Mumm
Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Vintage Reserve, Royal Cuvee, [...]

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Mumm Napa Napa Valley Grande Annee 2001
Lots of citrus fruit in the sparkler of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A lighter-bodied sparkling that is fruit driven, rounded and possessing some floral/minty characteristics. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery Mumm

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We’ve looked at different styles of brut sparkling before. This flight illustrates some more contrast in what this word can mean.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Estate Bottled Brut nv
This wine is consistently the personification of green apples - lip smacking delicious for the fan of high acid sparkling that pulls no punches. P&B in Philo 12% [...]

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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% [...]

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This flight pits top wines from Schramsberg in Calistoga and Roederer Estate in Philo.
Roederer Estate Anderson Valley L”Ermitage Estate Brut 2000
This has been a personal favorite balancing the racy house style with the complexity given by time on the lees and oak-aged reserves. Still a great value for the amount and quality of flavor for [...]

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J Russian River Valley late disgorged brut 1997
Smelling of acacia flowers and a bit of bread with brie, the mouth is elegant with richness and a the taste of warm biscuits. P&B in Healdsburg 12.5% $79.99 at Bottle Barn J

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Domaine Chandon etoile Brut
This is true to type with the house style of forward fruit and a soft profile. The fruit source for this wine is 54% from Napa and 46% from Sonoma. After primary ferment this wine was put in the bottle for its secondary ferment in 2001 and aged for 5 years on [...]

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Brut and Natural are words that we use to describe the final dosage or sweetness level of sparkling wine. In France, Natural, Brut Nature or any of the various proprietary names communicating the same, ranges from 0 to 6 g/l. Brut, the next level of increasing sweetness, ranges from 0 to 15 g/l.
Thus there is [...]

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No.1 Family Estate Marlborough Cuvee No.1 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine nv
Crisp and concentrated, like biting into a green apple. As with Blanc de Blancs from Champagne, this is 100% Chardonnay, aged two years en tirage. Owner & winemaker Daniel Le Brun. Produced in Blenheim 12.5% $27.29 at Bottle Barn No.1
Huia Marlborough Brut 2000
A [...]

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Gloria Ferrer Sonoma County Methode Champenoise Blanc de Noirs nv
This is a perennial favorite in my classes. The silky, lowish acid profile combined with the dosage earns this wine many fans. 92% Pinot Noir and 8% Chardonnay, color from the addition of 5-7% cold-soaked Pinot Noir juice added to the base wine, 18 mos [...]

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This flight demonstrates the contrasting taste profiles in the methode champenoise wines of Franciacorta and the tank feremented Prosecco of the Veneto.
Bellavista Franciacorta DOCG Cuvee Brut nv
Fresh and dry, this wine is 80% Chardonnay, with the balance Pinot Bianco and some Pinot Nero with reserve wines. P&B in Erbusco 12.5% $29.95 at Traverso’s Bellavista
Ruggeri [...]

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