Light golden color with small elegant bubbles. Tangerine, acacia honey and apple blossom on the nose. Crisp and zesty champagne with flavors of Meyer lemon, a little brioche and iodine. A hint of tangerine in the lingering finish. Pair with oysters or drink as an aperitif. WHO: Tarlant WHAT: Champagne
Golden in color with very fine bubbles. Grapefruit, Meyer lemon and a white nectarine on the nose. Delicate yet vibrant wine with flavors of ripe Meyer lemon, kumquat and tarte tatin. Some vanilla notes in the long finish. Pair with lobster thermidor. WHO: Ayala WHAT: Champagne WHERE: Ay, Champagne, France
Lovely salmon color and fine mousse. Strawberries and ripe raspberries and some brioche on the nose. Crisp with great weight. Flavors of ripe red fruit (strawberries, raspberries) and warm brioche, great minerality in the finish leave the palate very clean. Pair with fresh salmon. WHO: Ayala WHAT: Champagne WHERE: Ay,
Light yellow in color. Meyer lemon and apply nose; elegant champagne, with flavors of quince, red apple and Meyer lemon. A little brioche and great mineral notes in the longish finish. Drink as an aperitif or pair with grilled scallops. WHO: Ayala WHAT: Champagne WHERE: Ay, Champagne, France WHEN: NV
Franciacorta has the most demanding standards for any sparkling wine region in the world. They're a substitute for tradition, because the Italian region has been in the bubbles business for only 50 years, which is nothing in Europe. As everybody is thinking about bubbly this week, I decided to take
This funky little can should fool you about what is inside. With less than 1% residual sugar, this is true sparkling wine and not a gimmick. This fruit forward bubbly also comes in a tradition glass bottle, but the straw-adorned travel-size cans add a bit of zestiness to the boring
This peony pink-colored sparkling wine is definitely not produced in the traditional méthode Champenoise (what, no cans in Champagne?). The bubbles dissipate rather quickly after being poured into a wine glass. Best to drink this straight out of the can. Beautiful aromas of roses and grapefruit rise from the glass
As Napoleon is reputed to have said, “Champagne: in roaring economies you deserve it, in recession you need it.” OK, the energetic emperor did not actually say that. (The proper quote, according to legend anyway, is, “Champagne: in victory you deserve it, in defeat you need it.”) But it is