Sparkling Wine - Tasting 12 08 2009

I held my first tasting earlier this week! Six of my friends very graciously agreed to come over to my house on a random Tuesday to drink sparkling wine and indulge in a bit of French cuisine. It was a blind tasting that was intended to give a general overview of the wide range of sparkling wines (it's not all Champagne!) There were definitely some surprise hits! All of the wines were acquired from local Austin merchants such as Central Market, Specs and Austin Wine Merchant. Additionally, all of the bottles were $40 or less.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne N.V. Reims, France
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier Clicquot's signature brut non-vintage is recognized for the world over for its celebratory yellow label. This classically-styled, dry Champagne is a blend of two-thirds black grapes (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) balanced with one-third Chardonnay. It has a clean fresh taste with hints of apple, citrus and light toast. ~$40
Jansz Premium NV Rosé Pipers River, Tasmania, Australia
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
A fine example of what the new wine region of Tasmania has to offer, Jansz is a good bargain as well as being a good quaff. It is light salmon pink in color and offers matching strawberry notes with a nice biscuit quality. Refreshing! ~$20

Ca’ De’ Medici Lambrusco Reggiano Rosso Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Lambrusco None of my friends had encountered a true Lambrusco before. A few decades back, the U.S. market was flooded with overly sweetened wine, ruining the reputation of the DOC until now. Today Lambrusco is enjoying an incredible rebirth! It is very frothy and a deep purplish-garnet color. It has a nice, acidic structure with light black fruit and a tough of earth. I was surprised that my friends liked it as much as they did. ~$14
* Not méthode traditionelle/champenoise but Metodo Italiano - Charmat process

N.V. Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Brut Vertus 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, France
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Located entirely in the Premier Cru Village of Vertus in the Cote de Blancs. This is a classic example of a single grower producer wine - it is a little bit more funky with a strong expression of the producer's terroir. The wine is mostly Chardonnay with a small percentage of Pinot Noir. It is a remarkably dry and crisp. It is lemony, with a nice toasty edge and a structured, mineral back bone. My favorite wine, though the hardest to come by! ~$40
LaMarca Prosecco Veneto, Italy
Prosecco This was the number one favorite wine of the evening! It has a lovely pale, golden straw color. The label on the back promises a wine with fresh citrus with hints of honey and white flowers and it does not disappoint. It is fresh and clean with a slightly honeyed edge. A lovely wine to drink on a weekday or for a celebration! ~$18
* Not méthode traditionelle/champenoise but Metodo Italiano - Charmat process
Bleasdale Vineyards The Red Brute Sparkling Shiraz
Langhorne Creek, Australia
Shiraz
This was the second favorite wine of the evening - a surprise hit. Not one of my friends had had a sparkling Shiraz before. Bleasdale makes an excellent non-vintage sparkling Shiraz called The Red Brute. The wine is not overly bubbly, but has a nice effervescence and a deep ruby color. The palate begins with black fruit, followed with a woodsy, oaky, vanilla finish. The tannic structure supports, rather than detracts, from the sparkling wine. It is an excellent value. ~$20
Avinyo Cava Reserva
Catalan, Spain
Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo The least favorite wine of the tasting. Other reviews promised scents of of apple, pear, and fresh bread. We found it to be flabby and nondescript. I would not recommend. ~$15

Many Thanks to Jessica, Danley, Jayla, Deborah, Dyan and Kari!!!