Hello mumm
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...
Sparkling brut
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...
Cava cava
Codorniu Cava Reserva Raventos Brut nv Intense gunflint in the nose along with some mustiness. There's some grippy astringency in the mouth. Let's give it the benefit of the doubt and say it has a low level of cork taint. Made from traditional...
Korbel Extra Dry
Extra dry has always been the most confusing phrase on bottles of bubbly. Of course it is not really extra dry as the name implies. Rather it is drier than the sweetest styles of bubbly. Korbel California Champagne Extra Dry nv There's 1.5% dosage...
Night o’ pink sparkling
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...
Back to the land down under
d'Arenberg McLaren Vale The Custodian Grenache 2005 Juicy warm fruit and earthy notes in a supple package. Grown, produced and bottled in McLaren Vale 14.5% $14.79 at Bottle Barn d'Arenberg Torbreck Barossa Valley Woodcutter's Shiraz 2006 The...
In heaven there must be Pinot
This flight of 5, charts 3 vintages and 4 appellations. See the 'Focus on Arlaud' for the last of this flight. Lost Canyon Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Raisins, evolving fruit and warmth show on the...
Focus on Loosen
Dr. Loosen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Blue Slate Riesling 2006 If you love Jolly Ranchers, this is the liquid form, a sweet and tart, delicious value. Qualitatswein, bottled in Bernkastel 8% $12.49 at Bottle Barn Dr. Loosen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Urziger...
Burgundinan Chardonnay
Verget Saint Veran 2006 Minerals and stone fruits to smell. There's plenty of acid for you fans of Chard. without the butter. Long and a good value though the prices are creeping. It's a poor time to be buying Burgundy with dollars. Bottled under...
Pinot stars compete
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Porrets St.-Georges 1er Cru 2005 This is a monopole for Gouges, the legend from Nuits-St-Georges. The wine is quite tight, just a baby, packed with fruit and earthy notes with a tannic exterior. Lay...