I attended an excellent trade tasting featuring the Wine Wise portfolio at SF's best Mexican restaurant, Cala on September 25, 2017.
I promised to share my top picks, so I"ll get right to it.
The Greeting
The wine that greeted the crowd was a stunning 1990 R. Renaudin "Reserve Spéciale Brut" decanted from an enormous Methusala (6L) bottle. Serious and mature, on the bready style, was impressive and this would be an amazing bottle at a wedding! The wine comes from Moussy, just outside of Épernay.
My Picks: (Champagnes first, then Sparklers and Others). - all are recommended.
Champagnes
Laurent Lequart NV "L'Héritière" Extra Brut - This was one of my favs, full of cocoa overtones. Loved it
Laurent Lequart 2008 Brut Millésimé - A little smack of saline/alkaline notes; would be fun with food
Léguillette-Romelot 2012 "Opus No. 12" Brut - has a lovely freshness, light in body but complex in every way
Léguillette-Romelot 2008 "Notes Noires" Brut - very heady floral perfume nose, round, fresh, lovely
Dehours et Fils NV "Terre de Meunier" Extra Brut - Love the earthiness of this all Meunier Champagne
Dehours et Fils 2009 "Maisoncelle" Extra Brut Pinot Noir - Great nose and very round, despite very low dosage. Bracing
R. Renaudin 2008 "Réserve" Brut - very high recommendation on this, with a generous dosage, so it's gently sweet. Love this one.
Forest-Marié NV Rosé Brut - Very big and dense with a dark core. Serious and yummy 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier
Labruyère 2012 "Prologue" Grand Cru Extra Brut - loved the big Pinot overtones of this. Perfect Valentine's Day wine!
Jérôme Coessens 2009 "Les Sens Boisés Brut - all Pinot Noir, very clean, elegant and refined
Sparkeling WInes
Castell d'Age (Penedès, Spain) NV "Anne Marie" Cava Brut Nature Reserva - very serious, for serious meals!
Domaine Fouet (Saumur, Loire, France) NV Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé - very nice, beautiful color and fruitiness
Boeckel (Alsace) 2014 Crément d'Alsace Brut Rosé - beautiful Pinot sparkler
Vins Gigou (Loire, France) NV "La Bulle Sarthoise Rosé Brut - Unusual as it's all Pineau d'Aunis, very tasty, and incredible price
Karanika (Amyndeon, Greece) Cuvée Spécial - a legit Greek sparkler! From Ximomavro grapes and will be priced very well.
Nigl (Kremstal, Austria) 2014 Sekt Brut de Brut - a dense treat of Pinot Noir, Zweigelt, and Chardonnay from Austria. Very fine
Exton Park (Hampshire, England) NV Blanc de Noirs Brut - Massive mouth-filling mousse on this with good Pinot aromas. Would be good intro to English fizz
Still Wines:
2016 Burg Ravensburg Riesling troken - Sulzfeld (Baden, Germany) - yummy dry Riesling. I'll be looking for this one for sure
2015 Burg Ravensburg Pinot Noir (red) Sultzfeld (Baden, Germany) - Love this juicy Pinot. Has lifted Central Coast kind of feel to it. A bargain!
2015 Burg Ravensburg Blaufränkisch (red) Sultzfeld (Baden, Germany) - this is an excellent, light-bodied Blaufränkisch for when you want light but peppery. Yum.
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