NV Banshee Ten-of-Cups Brut, USA, California, Wine Review

My first time trying this wine and it is an excellent value in sparkling wines. It is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 48% Chardonnay, and 2% Pinot Meunier from various sites in California. It is quite frothy in the glass with lots of tiny bubbles. Golden in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with vanilla, lemons and slight almonds. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, there is plenty of depth. Notes of lemons and oranges with a touch of char/toast. Long finish. This is a serious sparkler that will compete with wines twice the price. Very food friendly, this would be excellent with Hunan food.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Current Price:

$18.00USD

NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$21.00USD

Always a nice value in sparkling wine. Approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Green/gold in color, clear and bright. Frothy with lots of small bubbles. The nose is less toasty than I remember with more green apple. Very clean. On the palate, the green apple is present with slight minerality. This is crisp and tasty. Nice on it own, but also quite food friendly. Fried foods would match easily. Drink over the next couple years.

2016 Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé, USA, California, Calistoga, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

This is a sparkling wine from California. Oddly enough, I tasted it while stopping for lunch in Napa at the Oakville Grocer. A couple seated next to me had ordered a bottle for lunch but only finished two thirds of it, and offered us the rest. Who am I to refuse such a generous invitation. The wine itself was very good and indeed, better than I had expected. It is a blend of 64% Pinot Noir and 36% Chardonnay grown. It is a pale pink/orange color, clear and bright with a good amount of smaller bubbles. The nose is nice with strawberries, raspberries and a touch of yeast. On the palat

NV Piper Sonoma Brut, USA, California, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$23.00USD

This is a blend of Chardonnay (56%), Pinot Noir (37%) and Pinot Blanc (7%). Golden in color with some faded pink hues. A nice mousse with small bubbles. On the nose there is some strawberries, minerals, slight green apples and slight yeast. Full bodied with good acidity. On the palate, lots of minerality with cherries and green apples. Long finish. This is quite tasty now and should drink well for another five to seven years. Very food friendly, this would work with most foods. It was lovely with fried appetizers. At $23, this is an excellent value and will be a great addition to

2019 Domaine Carneros Brut, USA, California, Carneros, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$30.00USD

This is from the American sparkling wine outpost of Taittinger. Green gold in color with a nice mousse of very small bubbles. The nose has pears, slight lemons, toast and a hint of vanilla. Full bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, the pears with underlying char. Some lemon notes on the finish. Good finish. This is nice on its own and should be very food friendly. A great wine to share with popcorn when streaming a movie. Drink over the next three to five years.

NV Piper Sonoma Brut Rosé, USA, California, Wine Review

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$23.00USD

This is a blend of 61% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 6% Pinot Blanc. Light golden in color with slight salmon pink hues. A nice mousse with lots of small bubbles. Nice nose with strawberries, cranberries, slight citrus and a whiff of smoke. Medium to full bodied. Good acidity. On the palate, nice minerality with light cherries and some orange citrus. Long finish. This is drinking well now but seems a bit tight. It took a couple of hours to open, so if serving, give it an hour or so to breathe. It is very food friendly and would be great with duck or turkey. A really nice value a

NV Banshee Ten-of-Cups Brut, USA, California, Wine Review

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