Codorniu Brut Rose

Spring is here which is the prefect time to start drinking those beautiful roses! Codorniu is the world's oldest and second-largest producer of bottle-fermented sparkling wine, known as cava, made by the traditional champagne method and it was founded in Catalonia, Spain in 1551. The Codorniu Brut Rose is made from 100% Pinot Noir grape grown in the Catalonia region of Spain. Catalonia is located in the southeastern portion of the country surrounding Barcelona. This sparkling wine is made from the traditional method with the secondary fermentation occurring in the bottle.  

The Codorniu Brut Rose is a pale pink color.  On the nose are aromas of bright red cherry, raspberry, banana peel, banana runt candy, wet stone minerality, sweet orange blossom, fresh strawberry, and white stone.  On the palate are notes of ruby red grapefruit, sweet orange, ripe mango, banana peel, dried cherry, unripe raspberry, fresh lavender, and minerality for days! This wine was a VERY pleasant surprise and one that I hope you all will enjoy throughout the upcoming spring months.

Halloween Candy & Wine!

 

 

 

 

Halloween Candy and Wine?! What?! 

Here is a list of some of the more popular Halloween candies that will surely be floating around your house for the next couple of weeks and the wine that pairs well with them.  Don't believe me? Well, try it yourself!

• Snickers                                                         Tawny Port
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cup                        Pinot Noir
• Almond Joy                                                  Prosecco
• Hershey's                                                      Zinfandel
• Sweet Tarts                                                  Sauvignon Blanc
• Nerds                                                           Dry Riesling
• Twix                                                               Ice Wine

Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

It is a an end of summer celebration and what better way to say goodbye to hot summer days and hello calm fall evenings than a bottle of bubbly.  Cava is a Spanish style of sparkling wine produced using the traditional champagne method meaning the secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle.  The majority of Cava is produced in Penedes, Spain which is the region surrounding Barcelona in the southeastern corner of the country.  The Dibon Cava Brut Reserve is a non vintage or NV which means the grapes are harvested from several different years.  This sparkling wine is made of three native Spanish grapes Macabeo (45%), Xarel-lo (25%), and Parellada (30%).

The Dibon Cava Brut Reserve is a pale golden color with green hues.  On the nose were aromas of green apple, peach blossom, crisp pears, unripe apricot, fresh baked bread, yeast, white flowers, steely minerality, and meyer lemon.  On the palate are hints of sweet pink grapefruit, lemon blossom, tart green apple, unripe peach, key lime, apricot, and sweet stone minerality.  This wine had a crisp, clean finish with ample acidity. 

Sparkling Wine goes with almost everything such as...

• popcorn

• potato chips

• fried chicken 

• sushi

• fresh oysters

• berry based desserts

• fresh fish and shellfish

Graham Beck Brut Rose NV

Graham Beck Brut Rose NV

 

Within the wine region of South Africa sparkling wine is called Cap Classique. All Cap Classique is produced by the Methode Champenoise or as it is known in South Africa Methode Cap Classique. The Graham Beck winery was founded in 1983 by not other than Graham Beck himself. The majority
of vineyards are located in Robertson and Stellenbosch. Graham Beck winery has built a reputation for creating outstanding wines as well as being a pioneer of the South African wine industry.

The Graham Beck Brut Rose is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. This sparkling wine is a pale salmon color. On the nose are notes of strawberry, raspberry, lemon tart, steely minerality, gunflint, fresh roses, and red cherry. On the palate are hints of lavender, wild strawberry, wet stone minerality, fresh flowers, yeast, pomegranate, and strawberry cream soda. The Graham Beck Brut Rose has a long finish and zesty acidity. Truly, delicious.

Fun Fact!  Graham Beck Brut NV was selected by Michele Obam in celebration of Barack Obama's acceptance speech of the US Presidency in 2009. 

Contadi Castaldi Sparkling Rose

Contadi Castaldi Sparkling Rose

 

What can I say?! I am a sucker for a pink sparkling wine!  The opportunity presented itself to take home a bottle of the limited edition (only 1,700 cases were made) Contadi Castaldi Brut Rose.  The NV (non vintage) Contadi Castaldi Sparkling Rose is produced in Lombardy, Italy located in the northeastern portion of the country.  The exact type of sparkling wine is known as Franciacorta DOCG which is an Italian sparkling wine made in the traditional champagne style with secondary fermentation occurring in the bottle.  This wine is fermented for a minimum of 18 months, but may not be released until 25 months after harvest.  Only Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc grapes are allowed in this sparkler.  Castaldi has an alcohol level of 12.5% and is sealed with a natural cork.  

The Contadi Castaldi Sparkling Rose is surprisingly not as rose in color as expected, but is a pale peach color with golden hues.  On the nose are hints of fresh straw, sweet honeysuckle, sweet orange zest, ripe raspberry, toasted almond, unripe peach, tart blackberry, and minerality.  On the palate are flavors of cassis, white pepper, mandarin orange, pink flowers, strawberry, fresh baked bread, slight cream, unripe apricot, lemon zest, and wet stone minerality.  This sparkling wine finished with bright acidity and a soft fullness.      

Andre Clouet Brut Champagne

A famous Hollywood legend has it that Marilyn Monroe took a bath in 350 bottles of Champagne and a famous quote from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's goes, "I don’t think I’ve ever drunk Champagne before breakfast before. With breakfast on several occasions, but never before, before." It is no wonder with such an exotic past we hold Champagne in such a celebratory light.  

With that in mind, I thought my last blog of the year should conclude with some Champagne!  The N.V. (Non-Vintage means the champagne is made from multiple harvest years) Andre Clouet Brut Champagne is made of 100% Pinot Noir grape.  The Champagne house owns vineyards on the middle slopes of the Grand Crus' Bouzy and Ambonnay within the region of Champagne.  

The Andre Clouet was a pale straw color.  On the nose were aromas of baked green apples, dried roses, spicy bread, yeast, white chocolate, chalky minerality, and lemon zest.  On the palate were raspberry, red apple, Asian pear, baguette, dried roses, fresh yeast, lemon zest, and minerality.  The finish was crisp and dry with tons acidity.  Overall, a delicious Champagne that when money allows I will purchase again!

Want some food pairing ideas?  Well, of course you do!  As a result of Champagne's high acidity and small amount of sugars it goes with tons of food such as

• any mushroom dishes

• risotto or any pastas that have cream based sauces

• fish and seafood, especially lobster

• popcorn and potato chips

• cheese such as gouda, cheddar, goat, and parmesan...but really almost all!

• scrambled eggs

• any dessert that is slightly sweet such as berries, shortbread, or angel food cake

 

 

'Tis the season!  With Thanksgiving over, the craze of Christmas tradition begins!  One of my favorite traditions is putting up the Christmas tree, listening to classic Christmas music, and drinking alittle sparkling wine.  It is the prefect combination!  When I ran across this bottle of Argentine sparkling wine in the store I was intrigued and had to buy it.  The NV Pascual Toso Brut sparkling wine is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes that are grown in Barrancas, Maipu, and Mendoza, Argentina.  This brut was sealed with a natural cork and had a 12.5% alcohol content. 

The Pascual Toso was a pale straw color with green hues.  On the nose were notes of toast, butter, lemon juice, green apple, fresh baked bread, nectarine, and pear.  On the palate are characteristics of dry apple, unripe nectarine, yeast, delicate white flower, pear, and lime zest.  This sparkling wine had a crisp, dry finish.  Overall, the perfect way to carry on my favorite Christmas tradition.