When I was in college, a good friend turned 21 and at her birthday bash at her folk’s house overlooking Lake Tahoe, Cristal Champagne was served. At that moment I realized, in addition to having expensive tastes, there was a big difference between the sparklers I had tried in the past and very good sparklers and champagnes. As time has gone on, I also realized you don’t have to spend a fortune on Cristal or Dom Perignon to toast at celebrations. New Year’s is synonymous with sparkling wines and champagnes. In lieu of a recipe this issue, we chose three terrific sparklers in three different price ranges to ring in the New Year.
Under $10
Lunetta Prosecco (George’s Distributing)
Layman’s Review: A winner for the price. A light fruit taste with a touch of dryness. It was particularly good as the base in mimosa.
Expert Review: Prosecco is unusual in the world as it is almost always used to produce the sparking wine of the same name from Italy’s Veneto region. The wines tend to feature a light orchard fruit tone, recalling white peaches and pears, with bright acidity and light body. Many versions of Prosecco have a touch of sugar that adds fullness to the wine though there is a movement towards producing drier wines, particularly under the Cartizze denomination.
Price: $9.99
Available at: Jug Tree, Montana Liquor & Wine and Uncorked
Under $25
Tasmania Jansz, Non-vintage Rose (RMW)
Layman’s Review: This sparkler was great! My host informed me that it is the No. 1 sparkling wine south of the equator. The taste was dry and refreshing. It would certainly be a hit at a celebration.
Expert’s Review: Jansz Tasmania is situated in Pipers Brook, a wine region so perfect for creating sparkling wine that it has captured the interest of world-renowned French Champagne houses such as Louis Roederer of Reims. With a climate very close to that of Champagne, this region is known simply as “Sparkling Tasmania.” The Jansz vineyards lie in the Tamar Valley at the heart of Tasmanias Pipers River region – the very center of “Sparkling Tasmania.”
Price: $19.99-$21.49
Available at: Markus Foods, Montana Liquor & Wine and Uncorked
Under $40
Duval-Leroy Brut
Layman’s Review: Absolutely delicious! Very bubbly with great flavor and very dry. Compares with some very high-priced champagnes.
Expert’s Review: Duval-Leroy Bruit is made from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes by a century-and-a-half old, family-owned Champagne firm. This blend comes from twenty vineyards around the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs areas in France. It is one of the more modestly priced champagne entries from Duval-Leroy.
In the glass, the non-vintage Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne shows a light honey color, with streams of aggressive bubbles. On the nose, there is a funky yeastiness – fairly intriguing overall.
The palate shows a clean middle, evenly balanced of weight and acids. Flavors are of off-dry pineapple, toast and slight cream. Very clean finish.
Price: $31.49-$37.49
Available at: Jug Tree, Markus Foods, Montana Liquor & Wine and Uncorked