Sparkling wines (and Champagne for some occasions) are a must-have this time of year.
The question is: Are you getting enough bubble for your buck? There's no shortage of selection. From Spanish Cava to French Crémant, German Sekt and everything in between on the heady ladder up to "Big C" Champagne. While most of us cherish the taste of real bubbles, when reality strikes we're drawn to more wallet-friendly drops. A growing number of sparkling wines taste as good as they look in the glass, put on a festive air and make pretty nice party companions. The Hired Belly knows living with Champagne tastes on a beer budget can be a challenge at the best of times, so here's a quick list to pin to the fridge
or pixel into your iPhone.
Dr. Loosen: easy-sipping bubble in classic Sekt style offers yet one more excuse (if you ever needed it) to drink riesling, with its lively mousse, fresh apple notes and natural fresh fruit-forward style. Think anything spicy. A pretty smart package too (BCLS $16.99, 89 points). Spain makes Cava, arguably the best value bubble around. The more I drink, the more I come back to Segura. The regular Segura Viudas Brut is a very versatile food match. You can drink it with everything from cracked crab to curry. But this time of year, pink is the festive drink. Segura Viudas Brut Rosé: I tasted through quite a few sparkling rosés and found this was a whole lot less cloying than some. Good bubbles, with long-lasting mousse, lively and fruity, with raspberry, cherry and citrus notes. (BCLS $14.99, 89 points).
Prosecco: These days we're all drinking more Prosecco than ever before. Why not? It's affordable and easy to enjoy with all kinds of bites. There's a full range, from affordable organics such as good value organic Villa Teresa Prosecco (BCLS $17.97) to easy-sipping, lively drops like apple and pear-toned Valdo (BCLS $20.99). But Prosecco has also gone upscale recently. Take structured, and nicely mouth-filling Giusti Prosecco Brut: apple and floral notes on top with a good stream of bubbles, creamy and gently citrus on the mouth-filling palate (private wine stores $26-ish. 90 points). Just about everywhere is turning out half-decent bubble these days. Nose around and you can find some great New World deals, such as Pascual Toso Brut. This well-priced sparkling Chardonnay from Mendoza (Argentina) sports a touch of apple, some creaminess and a soft finish. Easy quaffing and easy on the wallet, it's a perfect party wine (Everything Wine: $16.99, 89 points).
Meanwhile, back in B.C., I'm always delighted to taste Okanagan pioneer Blue Mountain Sparkling Brut Gold Label. This crisp and clean sparkler sports a stream of fine bubbles with a toasty nose and mouth-filling mousse with firm apple citrus notes through the mid-palate ($24-$26, private stores, 91 points).
With some flattering imitators but no serious substitutes on the horizon, Champagne still rules.
And while Champagne discounting isn't quite the blood sport here as it is in the U.K., you can find the odd whisper of a deal. Roederer Brut Premier (currently at Everything Wine and BCLS $63.99, $4 off) is a delicious blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, a fruity and floral topped drop with enduring mousse, subtle nutty, citrus and baked apple hints, crisp, quite full bodied with moderate acidity and good length.
As often as not, vintage (as opposed to non-vintage) Champagne is worth a nod and the few extra dollars. For a worthy splurge, head to Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 04. While most Champagne is a blend of different vintages, this is the exception, made only in exceptional years. It jumped out from a lineup of heavy hitters at a recent tasting, with floral, citrus and fruity notes on the nose, followed by a complex, mineral and very focused palate with keen acidity, citrus and stonefruit notes, through a generous and lingering close. Beautiful, gift-worthy package (But you might just want to buy one for yourself, BCLS $81, 92 points). More at hiredbelly.om.
