Category Archives: Champagne

Dazzling Champagne

Posted on October 23, 2008 by RJ

I had the opportunity to meet with two respected growers from Champagne at the WineWise and Terry Theise tasting today in San Francisco. Both are producers as well, crafting dynamite sparklers, each with their own house style. If forced to … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir | Leave a comment

A touch of sweetness

Posted on October 15, 2008 by RJ

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Champagne, Demi-Sec nv There are floral and candy notes to smell while the mouth has a smooth fruitiness accented by the touch of RS. The grapes behind this wine are 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 15% … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Lightly Sweet | Leave a comment

Good coop

Posted on October 15, 2008 by RJ

Nicolas Feuillatte, Champagne, Brut nv There’s a fruity, round expression to this bubbly. The house delivers moderate but fairly priced concentration for Champagne, as most multi-vintage blends have crept toward $40 and beyond. The grapes are 40% Pinot Noir, 40% … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry | Leave a comment

The diversity that is sparkling wine

Posted on July 23, 2008 by RJ

J, Russian River Valley, cuvee 20 nv Clean, fresh, fruit, tasted at the winery in May. This wine has the zip of fresh green apples. The base wine is from a recent vintage with 25% oak-aged reserves adding to the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Italy, Moscato d'Asti, Muscat, Piemonte, Sparkling sweet | Leave a comment

Sparkling the world over

Posted on July 16, 2008 by RJ

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Moscato d'Asti, Piemonte, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry, Sparkling sweet | Leave a comment

Sparkling brut

Posted on May 16, 2008 by RJ

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Champagne, France, Mendocino County, Sparkling Dry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Night o’ pink sparkling

Posted on May 15, 2008 by RJ

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Blanc de Noirs, Burgundy, California, Carneros, Cava, Champagne, Chardonnay, Cremant de Bourgogne, France, Napa Valley, Penedes, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Sonoma County, Spain, Sparkling Dry | Leave a comment

Comparing Bruts

Posted on March 6, 2008 by RJ

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. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Champagne, France, Mendocino County, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sparkling Dry | Leave a comment

Love that Bolly

Posted on November 20, 2007 by RJ

Bollinger, Champagne, Special Cuvee Brut nv This wine is typically quite complex with earthy notes that are not always embraced by those who favor more fruit-forward styles of sparkling. While I’m a fan of fruit too, I love the multitude … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry | Tagged | Leave a comment