Make Valentine’s Day Sparkle with a Bit of “Romance in Your Glass”
Why are sparkling wines so special. Well, it’s basically the bubbles, plain and simple. Carbonated wines create unique sensory experiences from the pop of the cork, to the visual appeal of the trail of bubble inside the glass, to the titillating tickle of bubbles on the palate. Some have even called sparkling rosé wines… “Romance in a Glass”. What better way to say I love you to your special someone than with a splash of pink effervescence over dinner or by the warmth of a crackling winter’s fire.
Best of all, there are a plethora of wine options from which you can choose. There are excellent sparkling wines that can produce a stunning and romantic experience. I have two possibilities here for your consideration:
- Albert Bichot Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut Rosé
- Pommery Champagne Brut Royal Rosé
One lesson to be learn, particularly if you are new to wines, is that all wines are not created equal. There are different places to grow grapes and different ways, so to speak, to get wine in a bottle that can produce different results. It is just a matter of your taste and/or your budget that will determine which of these wines you might prefer.
Albert Bichot Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut Rosé NV
This wine, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, is a sparkling wine originating not from the prestigious Champagne region of France known for a particular methodology for making wines sparkle. However, the Albert Bichot Cremant is made by the same process, but it originates from a different yet equally prestigious French region called Burgundy. As such, while it sparkles, the Bichot winery is not allowed by E.U. law to use the word of the other region – the “C-word”. But… Burgundy IS, after all, known for some of the world’s best wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir… and this is wine that can definitely please on Valentine’s Day and bring value, too.
Albert Bichot Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut Rosé offers fine, even bubbles. I like this wine since it produces a fresh, fruit-driven wine experience. It elevates aromas and flavors of fresh red berries and citrus fruits, making it a worthy accompaniment for fish or fowl, old world or new world cuisines, and fresh fruit desserts. But, please don’t forget perhaps the sexiest and best Valentine’s Day pairing: chocolates.
This is a wine that can deliver, yet it comes with a very moderate price for a sparkling wine of this caliber: $33. Rating 88/100.
Takeaway: This wine delivers enjoyment and value!
Pommery Brut Royal Rosé NV
Pommery is the winery that introduced the concept of “Brut” to the world of sparkling wines in 1874. Brut refers to a type of sparkling wine that is very dry, produced by limiting the dosage. Located in Reims, the winery is built on a near unimaginable 11 miles of cellars cut into the surrounding chalk layers.
This Pommery Champagne is a blend of three grapes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier and is aged three years and again in the bottle six months after disgorgement. The wine is a light salmon in color gained through extended aging in the winemaking process. Like the previous wine, it brings a red berry character, but also soft yeasty aromas and a silky effervescent mousse that brings complexity and sophistication to your experience. There is also the feeling of body and depth to this wine that comes with a price. The benefit here is that this Champagne can pair with more complex cuisines with rich butter or cream sauces – Think poached salmon with a Béarnaise caper sauce.
This wine is a quality premium-plus product, yet it comes with a moderate price compared to many others in this category. It brings a classic Champagne experience, Price $75. Rating 93/100.
Takeaway: A stellar wine for a very special moment!
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NV – Non-vintage (synonymous with multi-vintage)
Both wines described in this story are reported to be in wide distribution in domestic US market and readily available for purchase from major retailers of sparkling wines.
Photo credits from multiple sources.
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