Happy New Years Eve from the Wine Club Insider!
Wine Club Insider here on New Years Eve 2008!
What better time than New Years Eve to talk about champagne and the other fine bubblys from around the world!
Personally, I found champagne to be an acquired taste. I wasn’t an instant fan, and since my only previous experience with sparkling wine (and I hate to even admit this!) was with such fine vintages as Cold Duck and Baby Duck (as much as I love them, my parents were obviously connoisseurs… not!).
I tried a few of the less expensive (read: “cheap”) so called champagnes, and much the same as drinking your regular “plonk” still wine, it didn’t blow my skirt up, so to speak. But then… ahhh. At the Millenium New Year, I opened a bottle of 1992 Dom Perignon, and I tell you, my eyes were opened!
Though some folks might say that Dom is over-priced/over-rated, I think it is still a great bottle of bubbles, and the ’92 was really awesome.
Okay… I’d seen the light, and now the search was on. Over the next couple of years, though it still wasn’t my top priority, I certainly tried my fair share of sparkles, enjoying many. By the way, www.1-800-wineofthemonthclub.com has a pretty nice club for $49.99/month for two bottle.
Okay… here are some of the snazzy champagnes I loved besides the famous “Dom”:
~ Domaine Merriwether (Oregon): Beautiful, soft champagne. One of the best I’ve ever had, especially for the price.
~ Champagne Duval-Leroy: Nice, beautiful bottle, good depth.
~ Taittinger Domaine Carneros Brut: Velvety. About $20
~ Paul Chenau Brut: This Cava is a Very nice Spanish addition.
~ Mumm’s “Millenium Cuvee:” Excellent. Produced for wine club members for the New Years 1999.
~ Domaine Chandon “Etoille Rose:” This unique wine is a Chard-Pinot Noir blend that is one of my favorites from the marvelous Napa house owned in part by the legendary Moet Chandon.
And now, probably my two faves of the past year or so:
~ Schramsberg “Cremant Demi-sec:” Cremant means “creamy,” and this demi-sec is a sweeter, softer wine using the rare “Flora” grape (a combination of the Semillon and the Gewurtz).
And possibly my favorite champagne ever…
~ Scramsberg “J. Schram:” served at White House dinners, consistently wins taste tests against Europe’s best, this vintage wine from perhaps the USA’s best champagne house is also one of my favorite wines ever. A bit pricey at $100, I could easily drink this every day, but will have to settle for tonight at midnight!
Schramsberg is found at www.schramsberg.com, and you’d be well served to give them a try!
I wish you all the best of the season, and hope you have a safe and happy celebration tonight. Blessings to all of you for a healthy and prosperous 2009, and may all your gifts be wine club gifts!
Cheers,
Wine Club Insider out for 2008!
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