From: sharen@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com (Sharen A. Rund)
Subject: Re: Champagne codes
Organization: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 93 21:58:09 GMT

In article <1993Jan6.164140.12561@hemlock.cray.com> emb@sumac15.cray.com (Eric Berge) writes:
>
 [ some stuff deleted ]
 
>> 
>> You're missing out on some good stuff at reasonable prices, then.  Michel
>> Tribaut's sparkling Brut (a methode champanoise sparkling wine from Monterey,
>> CA) can hold its own against any of the nonvintage bruts from the Champagne
>> houses, at about 1/2 the price.
>

not to mention Bargetto's Blanc de Noirs (91) - delightful

>I'd like to add a couple sparkling wines to this list that I have enjoyed
>as much as, say, Veuve Cliquot Brut and Bollinger Cuvee Special (?):
>
>	Roederer Estate Brut NV
>	Iron Horse 1986 "Late Disgorged"
>
>I don't have enough experience to discount with the apparent prevailing
>opinion that nothing compares with Champagne, but these seem competitive
>in the middle range for my tastes (no implied guarantee with this
>qualification).  I'd like to hear what people are thinking these days
>about how the pinot noir/chardonnay based sparkling wines from around
>the world are doing against Champagne these days.  Not necessarily as
>Champagne imitations, but as quality products with their own character
>(yes, I know, very subjective).
>

Eric, to pick up on your 'challenge' one of the wine tasting groups
 I belong to has a "champagne" tasting every December - this years
 tasting is as follows:
 
Flight 1 - Chardonnays - all methode champanoise:
1.	87 Iron Horse, Blanc de Blanc, Green Valley, Sonoma - 13% alcohol - 
	$22.99: yeasty, nutty, carmel, vanilla, toast on the nose; spritzy,
	lingering, creamy, buttery on the tongue.
2.	Chateau St Jean, Sonoma, Groton, CA - 12% alcohol - $9.88: yeasty, 
	herbaceous, dill, olives, fruity on the nose; green tea, fresh 
	bread on the tongue
3.	87 Richard Cuneo, Sonoma - 12% alcohol - $7.00: nutty, carmel, toast
	on the nose; tingling on the tongue

Flight 2 - Pinot Noirs - all methode champanoise:
4.	88 Piper Sonoma, Blanc de Noirs, Sonoma - 12% alcohol - $12.77: not
	much skin contact - very light in color: vegetal, green on the nose;
	clean, effervescent, lean, light, thin on the tongue
5.	Culbertson, Blanc de Noirs, Temecula, CA - 12% alcohol - $8.99:
	yeast, herbaceous on the nose; earthy, tartness on the tongue
6.	S Anderson, Blanc de Noirs, Napa - 12% alcohol - $15.99: not much
	skin contact, very light color: active, pin sized bubbles: floral on
	the nose; clean, green, mushroom, bread on the tongue
Flight 3 - Various - all methode champanoise:
7.	Roederer Estate, Brut Rose', Andersen Valley - 50% Pinot Noir, 50%
	Chardonnay - 12% alcohol - $22.00 - green, light nose; dances on 
	the tongue
8.	Codornui, Brut, Napa - 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay - 12% alcohol -
	$14.00: heavy yeast on the nose; yeast, malt, slight toast, on the 
	tongue
9.	90 Adlerfels Estate, Melange Adeux, Mayacamus, Sonoma - blend of
	Gewertztraminer & Johannisberg Reisling - 12.5% alcohol - $15.00: 
	dark golden color: perfume, floral, rose, plumeria on the nose, dry 
	on the tongue
Pre-tasting Jugs (if you can call them that) - all methode cahmpaniose:
J1.	Chandon, Blanc de Noirs - 57% Napa, 43% Sonoma - 12% alcohol - $8.79:
	pale pink, slight sweet, small bubbles
J2.	Mumm Cuvee Napa, Blanc de Noirs - 12% alcohol - $9.39: deeper pink,
	yeasty on the nose, small bubbles; clean on the tongue
J3. 	87 Gloria Ferrer, Brut, Royal Cuvee' - 12% alcohol - $9.39: dry nose;
	light, fresh on the tongue

Sharen


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