NV Ruinart Champagne Brut Rosé, France, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$68.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  I did not find a vintage code that was decipherable on the label so it is unclear what vintages made this bottle (LALBU).  It was excellent.  Medium deep ruby/orange in color, clear and bright.  A thick mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  On the nose, this is very pretty with raspberries and strawberries.  Those flavors carry thru to the palate with some apple added in along with underlying minerality.  Very lively acidity.  Nice finish.  This wine should be consumed in the next five years or so.  It will work with just about any food from pop corn to BBQ Ribs. 

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne, France, Champagne, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

A phenomenal wine in a phenomenal vintage.  Dom really nailed it in 2008.  Light green/gold in color with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose has lemons, brioche, and slight smoke.  On the palate, this is seamless.  Smooth.  Tart lemons, chalk and crushed rocks.  A very long finish.  Delicious and deep.  This is still young with lots of energy.  It should drink like this for another ten years before starting to mature for another twenty to thirty after that.  It will work with virtually any food.  An incredible wine.   

2012 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut, USA, California, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from northern California.  Light golden in color with a lot of very small bubbles.  The nose is interesting with ginger, figs, toasted nuts, and nutmeg.  Full bodied.  Crisp.  On the palate, notes of figs and red apples.  Some ginger.  The finish is very long.  This is very lively.  It should continue to drink well for another five to seven years before slowly turning into a mature sparkling wine.  This will pair well with almost any food or on its own.  

NV Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut, France, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is a lovely Champagne and a nice way to celebrate with friends and start an evening.  Pale yellow gold in color.  It has a nice mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  On the nose, there is lemons and seltzer water.  On the palate, this has lemon candy.  nice acidity.  Slightly sweet on the finish.  Some depth.  This is a recent release.  It is very food friendly and also drinks well on its own.  

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne (regular label)

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

This is the luxury cuvee of Moet & Chandon.  It might be the most well known of all of the luxury cuvees.  The amazing thing is that they make 5 million bottles of this wine every time they produce it.  Of course, it is not produced in every vintage.  They have made a 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 and now this 2008.  So, it is made almost every year.  The 2008 is special though.  it is probably the best vintage since 1996.  It is expensive, but for a top notch luxury Champagne it is reasonable.  If you do open a bottle, pay attention.  Don't just open to start a night and let the f

NV Korbel Brut California Champagne, USA, Wine Review

Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is one of those wines that is allowed to call itself Champagne as it is grandfathered in for the use of the name.  Of course, champagne is a region in France but this is from California.  This is one of the most popular sparkling wines sold in the US.  Ceartainly marketing and price have a lot to do with that, but it is a solid wine and, especially if being used for Mimosas or other mixed drinks, it is a reasonable alternative.  Light golden in color.  The nose is steely with lemon/lime notes.  A nice head of medium sized bubbles.  On the palate, this drinks easy.  Clean, just a hint o

NV G. H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut Champagne , France, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Dosage is 8 grams per liter.  Silvery light gold in color.  A nice amount of smaller bubbles.  The nose has seltzer and gun powder.  On the palate, this is lively. Plenty of a (red) apples with a tart sourness that is very nice.  A reasonably long finish.  This is an affordable Champagne that is very user friendly.  It will work well on its own and with just about any foods but especially salty foods.  This should be consumed within the first few years of release.  There was no disgorgement date on this bottle so purchase from stores with good turnover.  

2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2002
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$330.00USD

Yowza.  This is certainly a step up from the 2000 P2 and the regular 2002 version of this wine.  The P2 signifies that is saw about another 8 years of bottle ageing (under cork) before its final dosage.  The dosage is also less sugar than the regular version.  Just a stunning and youthful wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great.  It has this quality not too unlike homemade pie dough.  Not yeasty but doughy.  Also some tart lemons and minerals.  On the palate, this has a lemon candy quality with minerals underneath.  Tart lemons on the finish.  This is persistent and lengthy and see

NV Sterling Vineyards Sparkling Rosé, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a reasonably priced Sparkling Rosé from California (prior versions carried a Napa designation).  It is non-vintage.  Off the top, it is nice that it is the same price as the white version.  It makes no sense that so many sparkling wines charge a premium for a Rosé.  The packaging is quite nice. It is a blend of 65 percent Chardonnay and 35 percent Pinot Noir. The wine is light golden in color.  Not that color is critical, but everyone tasting this commented that it had, maybe, just the slightest shade of pink.  Maybe not.  I called it light gold.  Nevertheless, it has a nice mousse

NV Società Agricola Monte Alto Franciacorta Extra Brut, Italy, Lombardy, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Franciacorta's are serious sparkling wines from Italy.  They are not to be confused with Prosecco's or some of the other lighter sparkling wines that are very popular these days.  The best Franciacorta's hold their own against sparkling wines made anywhere in the world.  Light golden in color.  There are a log of tiny bubbles.  The nose has toast, lemon and slight lanolin.  On the palate, this is slightly crisp.  Full bodied.  Nice, persistent lemon/lime notes.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with all but the meatiest of dishes.  It should probably be consumed in th

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