As I mentioned previously, I tasted all three of this week’s French sparkling wines a couple of weeks ago over brunch with J, Pop and SM because J and I are going to be in Argentina for New Year’s. I prepared by stand-by brunch fare of poached eggs over grilled bread with pesto, prosciutto, arugula and red onion, and we had no trouble getting through all three bottles (surprise, surprise).
So, without further delay, here are the results… just in time for you to find out if your local wine retailer has any of these in stock for New Year’s Eve…
The first bottle we opened was the Simonnet-Febvre Cremant Brut Blanc, which hails from the Burgundy region (Chablis, in fact). This sparkler is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and is made via the methode champenoise (Champagne method). It’s very well balanced, with a delicate froth, a nice flavor of ripe pear, and just enough limestone to pull it all together. All in all, a good choice – easy to drink and easy on the wallet at just $16.99/bottle. 3.5 Corks Popped!
We next opened the Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace, which comes from the Alsace region (duh) near the border with Germany. This wine is also made using the methode champenoise. Instead of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, however, it’s made from Pinot Blanc grapes, and it has a distinctly different flavor than, say, a Cremant du Borgogne (such as the Simonnet-Febvre). This wine has an aroma of apples and a bit of citrus, which are both mirrored on the palate. The finish is a bit lacking, and to be honest no one liked this wine as much as the Simonnet-Febvre. It’s a good dry sparkling wine, but at nearly $20/bottle, you can probably find something a bit more exciting. 3 corks popped.
Finally, we popped the cork on the Montaudon Champagne, and everyone loved it. It’s got classic Champagne flavors of apples, yeast and honey, and the hugely effervescent mousse is fantastic. J likened it to drinking a fluffy cloud that melts in your mouth. Yum…. 4 corks popped!!
