Pre Thanksgiving Champagne Tasting at Wine Watch

"Champagne, if you are seeking the truth, is better than a lie detector. It encourages a man to be expansive, even reckless, while lie detectors are only a challenge to tell lies successfully. - Graham Greene

Hopefully it doesn't rain next Saturday night because it's time for our annual Sparkling wine and Champagne tasting here at the Wine Watch!  Rain or shine well be drinking over 50 different Sparklers this evening!

All sparkling wines are not created equal and Champagne along with some of the finer examples of sparkling wines made with this same method established over the last few hundred years in France's northernmost wine region are the only examples of bubbly that you will find on the table tonight.

Champagne is the name of a region and therefore anything inside the boundaries of Champagne can use this name on their label, everything else is just sparkling wine.  The important thing to look for on the label when it comes to sparkling wines outside of the Champagne region is the method of production and if the words, methode champenoise are there were in business, this means that the sparkling wine in the bottle is made with the same standards that are used in the great wines from the Champagne region of France.

The secret to the finest tiny bubbles is that the secondary fermentation that adds the pop to Champagne happens in the bottle that you are serving it out of.  This is a very expensive and labor intensive method, most of the entry level sparklings made with this method spend 3 years aging before they get to the retail shelves.  The top level wines aka "Tete de Cuvee" sparkling wines can see 8-10 years or more in the cellar before release, the current release for most of these top level sparklers like Louis Roederer's Cristal are 2005 vintage or older.

This is our 5th annual Champagne and Sparkling wine tasting at Progresso Plaza and this event has become one of the most popular that we do all year. There will be over 50 Champagnes and Methode Champenoise sparkling wines available to taste this evening and Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will be here serving up a few tasty treats to accompany the bubbles.

We will have stations set up both inside the store and outside in the courtyard to accommodate a maximum of 75 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $45 + tax. Can you think of a better way to start the week-end? For reservations call 954-523-9463.

Champagne Tasting at Wine Watch

Barnaut Brut Rose Bouzy Champagne “Grand Cru”  NV      
Price: $57.00       Sale $50.16          Case $582
(90 Points) Smoky, this austere version shows angular acidity and a firm bead, offering flavors of black currant, pomegranate, licorice snap and slivered almond. Finds balance with food. Drink now through 2015. 100 cases imported. –AN
--Wine Spectator Nov 30, 2013

Pierre Moncuit Hugues De Coulmet Le-Mesnil-Sur-Oger, Champagne NV               
Price: $52.00       Sale $45.76          Case $530
(92 Points) This rich, focused Champagne offers a core of pain d'épices spices, with flavors of apple tart, lemon zest, graham cracker and a touch of crystallized honey. Very elegant, with a restrained energy and a lingering finish. Drink now through 2021. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. –AN
-WineSpectator

J. Lassalle Preference Brut Chigny-Les-Roses, Champagne  NV      
Price: $52.00       Sale $45.76          Case $530
60% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir
Champagne J. Lassalle works with all three varietals authorized in the region (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier) on sixteen hectares of vineyards, all of them premier cru. These tough, hardworking women continue to follow the vinification methods established by Jules in the forties: they use the same wooden basket press he installed in the winery over fifty years ago, pressing and vinifying the individual plots separately. It is one of the rare Champagnes that has been allowed to finish its malolactic fermentation, just like the great whites from the Côte d’Or. Every bottle is riddled by hand, and all cuvées are aged extensively once in bottle.

Dosonon & Lepage Recolte Noire Cote de Bars, Champagne NV
Price: $49.00       Sale $43.12          Case $500
Simon-Charles and Davy are turning out mineral, vinous bottlings of Chardonnay and Pinot
Noir. Fermenting entirely in former Puligny-Montrachet barrels, the champagnes might as well
be Chablis with bubbles for all of their mineral-packed goodness. Dosages are very low (in
some cases as little as 4 grams per liter) and the wines benefit from the restraint. None of the wines is fined or
filtered.

Montand Brut Sparlingl Jura, france NV
750ml - Price: $13.50       Sale $11.88          Case $138
1.5 L - Price: $25.00       Sale $22.00          Case $255

Creamy and smooth, with lingering aromas, freshly baked bread, golden delicious apples and Meyer lemons - harmonious.
--w ww.francoismontand.com

Gruet Blanc De Noir New Mexico NV
Price: $19.00       Sale $16.72          Case $194
The rich and toasty character of our Blanc de Noirs is balanced and superb. Aged for two-year minimum, the palate is developed and shows rich complex flavors. The amazing berries aromas and the creamy texture play a leading role and create a great finesse. Winemaker's Note: A fine salmon color, aggressive mousse and a lovely fruity wine with plenty of immediate charm and toasty aromas. There is also an explosive juicy flavor of raspberry.
-www.gruetwinery.com

CHIARLI BRUT ROSE SPUMANTE V S Q N/V Emilia-Romagna
Price: $17.00       Sale $14.96          Case $

J Ordonez Botani Sparkling Muscat Malaga, Spain  2012
Price: $19.00       Sale $16.72    Case $193.80
floral bouquets using  bunches of jasmine, have been sold in the streets of Malaga . Each flower is inserted carefully one by one, to form a perfect cluster.  Sparkling Botani reflects every detail of an honorable tradition with centuries of existence. Each bunch of grapes is picked by hand to create a sparkling wine so vibrant that it explodes on the palate and fills the glass with exotic floral aromas.
-- www.jorgeordonez.es

Bottex Bugey-Cerdon Cuielle Rose Savoie, France NV
Price: $25.00       Sale $ 22.00   Case $ 255
The Bottex’s blend consists of ninety percent Gamay and ten percent of the native Poulsard. They bottle this low-alcohol wine using the méthode ancestrale, a rare technique that experts believe predates the méthode champenoise. The wine first goes through a primary fermentation in cuve, but is then bottled before all of the residual sugar has converted to alcohol. After going through a secondary fermentation in the bottle for at least two months, the wine is ready—Champagne’s dosage is not permitted! The resulting wine is delightfully refreshing with bright fruit, a beautiful rosé hue, and a touch of sweetness.
-- kermitlynch.com

Henriot Champagne

Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne NV
Price: $43.50       Sale $38.28          Case $444

Toasty smoky notes to the bouquet very complex and rich with hazelnut and light ginger spice. Around 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir usually 20% reserve wines going back as far as 4-5 years. Lovely richness on the tongue with a fresh dough and nutty quality coming through on the finish, with pear and apple fruit lemon citrus and a smoky character on the finish. Finish 40 Excellent

Henriot Brut Blanc de Blanc Champagne NV
Price: $57.00       Sale $50.16          Case $582

(93 Points) Rich and toasty, this is a textbook Blanc de Blancs, with firm acidity, a creamy, refined texture and flavors of hazelnut, toasted brioche, apple pastry, lemon meringue, ground spice and subtle, smoky mineral. A finely tailored wine. Drink now through 2020. –AN Wine Spectator Issue: Nov 30, 2011

Henriot Brut Rose Champagne NV
Price: $65.25       Sale $57.42          Case $665

Strawberry and red cherry fruit on the nose with notes of red plum and red licorice spice along with rose petal floral notes. Light red cherry wild strawberry fruit with lovely creamy mousse very elegant and rich with lovely freshness 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay the pinot Noir is red and then blended into the Chardonnay to maintain a consistent color. Finish 45 Most Excellent

Augustan Wine Imports

1999 Billecart Salmon "Nicolas Francois Billecart"           
Price: $108          Sale $95.04          Case $1102
This exceptional cuvée was created in 1964 as a tribute to the House's founder. It results from the blending of grands crus from the classified Côte des Blancs vineyards (Chardonnay) and the Montage de Reims (Pinot Noir). Its vinification, partially in traditional casks, underpins the generous character of this fine, elegant and rich wine. The perfect blend of grands crus from which it was made gives it a lovely freshness on the palate, developing a wide range of aromas

NV Billecart Salmon "Sous Bois"             
Price: $89.75       Sale $78.98          Case $916
This unique cuvee, entirely vinified in oak, is respectfully composed of three champenois grape varieties (Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay & Pinot Noir). This wine has a rich nose of dried fruits & fresh citrus. The palate is dominated by a bracing vivacity, with notes of grilled brioche, toffee, & stone fruits.

NV Larmandier-Bernier  "Longitude" 1 er Cru Extra Brut              
Price: $53.75       Sale $47.30          Case $549
Very broad and rich compared with the other wines in this line-up of growers' champagnes. Quite incredible to think that this is an Extra Brut in view of the richness on the palate. Clean, refreshing, fabulous! Very long.
JancisRobinson.com, For people who love good wines, May 2013

NV Camille Save "Carte Blanche", 1er Cru Brut 
Price: $54             Sale $47.52          Case $551
(91 points) Delicate, fresh and floral, this displays fine balance and good verve to the mouthwatering acidity, backed by flavors of white cherry, fresh ginger, lemon sorbet and apple. Disgorged February 2013. Drink now through 2018. Wine Spectator 12/15/13

NV Terres Dorre "FRV 100", Methode Ancestrale, Rose               
Price: $24.00       Sale $21.12          Case $245
(88 points) "The FRV 100 is a sparkling Gamay made by Monsieur Brun that is finished off with a bit of residual sugar and is one of the most popular quaffing wines in France these days. The nose offers up a really pretty mélange of cherries, strawberries, orange zest and as touch of soil. On the palate the wine is medium-full, crisp and surprisingly long, with zesty mousse, a nice touch of sweetness and good focus and grip. This is really a delicious bottle of wine and I can fully understand its popularity in France- it would make an ideal aperitif.
-John Gilman -View From the Cellar Jul/Aug 2010

NV  Larmandier-Bernier "Terre de Vertus"  No Dosage,               
Price: $70.50       Sale $62.04          Case $720
The non-dosage bottling of Terre de Vertus is always a vintage-dated bottling and is produced from two top vineyards in the village of Vertus: Les Barillers and Les Faucherets, which are located in the heart of the Vertus vignoble, mid-slope on the rolling hills of the village. The wine undergoes its alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in old oak casks, rather than stainless steel, and is generally aged a minimum of four years in the cellar prior to disgorgement and release. It is universally considered one of the most profound non-dosage bottlings produced in all of Champagne and ages brilliantly.
--polanerselections

Iron Horse

Iron Horse Wedding 2010 
Price: $33.75       Sale $29.70          Case $345
A food friendly wine that works with many styles, sauces and preparations. Pairs well with full flavored fish, pork chops, and chicken., anything to do with mushrooms, slow-roasted salmon and bacon. Also try with crispy kale and stir fried vegetables. All you really need is dark, bittersweet chocolate!

Iron Horse Vintage Brut 2009
Price: $33.75       Sale $29.70          Case $345
The most traditional of the Iron Horse Sparklings. A "classic" 74% Pinot Noir and 26% Chardonnay, aged an average of four years on the yeast in the bottle. Wonderfully rich and creamy, it sends all kinds of memory bells that say "champagne", though the fruit is unmistakably Green Valley of Russian River Valley. It is vintage quality in every sense of the word.Total production 2,400 cases

Iron Horse Ocean Cuvee 2008
Price: $35.25       Sale $31.02          Case $360
"The flavors are bright, crisp, and exciting, expressing Iron Horse proximity to the ocean," says winemaker Munskgard. "It really speaks to how the ocean affects the special taste and quality of our Sparklings."

Laetitia Brut Rose Arroyo Grand Valley
Price: $27.00       Sale $23.76          Case $276
The Laetitia Brut Rosé highlights our passion for Pinot Noir, subtle floral aromas and hints of berries are prominent features of this elegant wine.

Schramsberg – America’s Sparkling wine House

2011 Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc
Price: $33.75       Sale $29.70          Case $345

Blanc de Blancs was the first wine Schramsberg produced in 1965 and was America’s first commercially produced, Chardonnay-based brut sparkling wine. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs gained international recognition in 1972 when then President Nixon served the wine at the historic “Toast to Peace” in Beijing, China. The Schramsberg style of Blanc de Blancs is dry and crisp. Small lots of malolactic- and barrel-fermented wines are added for complexity. The wine is aged on the yeast lees in the bottle for about two years prior to disgorgement. With its vibrant, fruitful and crisp nature, this sparkling wine will maintain its freshness, structure and refined finish for many years, even decades following its initial release.

2011 Schramsberg Brut Rose
Price: $42.75       Sale $37.62          Case $437

The 2011 Brut Rosé has generous aromas of tangerine, strawberry, cranberry and watermelon. Its fruitful nose is complemented by notes of candied ginger and warm pastry dough. On the palate, there are flavors of mandarin orange, pomelo, pineapple and strawberry. The wine has a fresh, bright acidity with a long, crisp and refreshing finish.

2010 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs
Price: $38.25       Sale $33.66          Case $266

“The 2010 Blanc de Noirs has bright aromas of red cherry, peach, apricot, Mandarin orange and mango. The fruitful nose finishes with nuances of lemon-raspberry tart and marzipan. The palate is full on entry with flavors of raspberry, candied pineapple, guava, and ginger, complimented with notes of hazelnut and warm pastry crust. Crisp on entry with a balanced acidity, the palate is refined and lingering.”  – Winemakers Keith Hock and Hugh Davies

Schramsberg Mirabelle Rose NV
Price: $26.00       Sale $22.88          Case $266

The Mirabelle Brut Rosé is a specially crafted blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Schramsberg’s select cool-climate vineyards in Carneros, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma and Marin coastal areas of Northern California. Pinot Noir lots, including a few fermented with skin contact, provide brightness of berry fruit and body, while Chardonnay lots lend length and zest to the palate. Additional flavor depth and aromatic complexity results from the blending of base wine lots aged in barrels and tanks for one or more years. The finished Brut Rosé exhibits fresh, elegant and toasty aromas that lead into lively and delicious fruit flavors on the palate.

Gosset Champagne

Gosset Brut Excellence Champagne NV
Price: $37.50       Sale $33.00          Case $383

Aromas of pear and honeysuckle perfume the bouquet. This is a beautifully balanced champagne with a long, expressive finish.  Gosset only uses juice from the first and best pressing of grapes, and unlike most other producers, initial fermentation is still carried out in small oak barrels. Riddling and disgorgement are performed by hand. Significantly, and in contrast to virtually all other houses, Gosset Champagnes do not undergo a malolactic fermentation, resulting in a heightened acidity, slower maturing wines and that inimitable Gosset style – powerful and full-bodied, of unrivaled richness and staying power – in other words, some of the world's most legendary Champagne.

Gosset Grande Reserve Brut Champagne NV
Price: $69.00       Sale $60.72          Case $704

(92 Points) Vivid yellow. Musky, spice-accented aromas of nectarine, poached pear and chamomile, with a chalky mineral overtone. Juicy and palate-staining, offering densely packed orchard fruit and orange pith flavors accented by nutmeg, white pepper and candied ginger. Finishes smoky and very long, with resonating spiciness and excellent clarity. (12/ 2013) Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Gosset Grand Rose Brut Champagne NV
Price: $72.00       Sale $63.36          Case $735

Winery Notes:   A rose champagne for the serious champagne lover. The color is salmon pink, tending toward cherry. A generous, assertive bouquet redolent of small red fruit, with just a hint of spiciness, progresses into a dry, elegant flavor that is fresh and lively, delicate and yet intense. A rose champagne with immense personality.

(92 Points)   "Bright pink. Intense, spice-accented aromas of dried red fruits, blood orange, cinnamon and minerals, with a subtle note of anise. Dry and precise but fleshy, with very good depth to its tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors. A refreshing jolt of orange zest adds bite to the long, juicy and focused finish. I really like the blend of power and vivacity here."  Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Laurent Perrier Champagne

Laurent Perrier Brut NV
Price: $40.25       Sale $35.42          Case $411
(91 points)  Refined, with a sweet, smoky undercurrent to the flavors of glazed pear, candied lemon zest and golden raisin, with a hint of marzipan. Racy acidity frames-but doesn't dominate-the wine, with a spicy note lingering on the finish. Best from 2012 through 2016.  (11/ 2011) Wine Spectator
Laurent Perrier Rosé NV
Price: $72.00       Sale $63.36          Case $735
(91 Points)Delicate and subtly textured, with sweet cherry, ripe plum and raspberry fruit notes that are balanced by ending with a light smoky finish. Drink now. 7,000 cases imported. –AN Wine Spectator, Issue: Nov 30, 2011
Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle MV
Price: $112.50    Sale $99.00          Case $1147

Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut NV
Price: $54.00       Sale $47.52          Case $551
(91 points) Very pure, very fresh, this is one of the oldest label[s] in the ultra brut category. It is almost shocking in its dryness with at the same time richness and concentration. Based on the 2008 vintage, a great one.  (12/ 2011) Wine Spectator
Laurent Perrier Millésimé 2004
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

Laurent Perrier Demi Sec NV
Price: $40.25       Sale $35.42          Case $411
This non-vintage Champagne is a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 15% Meunier and is the same wine as the LP Brut, except for a large increase in dosage.  The Brut has about 12 grams per liter, while the demi-sec has 45 grams.