Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour Sparkling Wine

 

This is quite possibly the best Brut Rosé we have tasted in a number of years!  It is, without a doubt, outstanding.  If you're looking for a lovely sparkling wine for a celebration or to pair with lighter food, you've just learned what you need to know.  Go buy this wine!   Now, if you want some more detailed inforamtion, keep reading.

The Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour Sparkling Wine is a non-vintage stunner both in appearance and taste, born from estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.   Named in honor of Louis XV's great paramour, Madame de la Pompadour, this sparkling wine makes you feel regal and elegant from when you gently pop the cork until you take your final sip.  Pink and peach in color, micro bubbles prepare you for aromas of fresh, picked-from-the-garden strawberries, joined with sweet buttercream, ripe melon, rose and baking spices.  It is incredibly creamy with homemade biscuits making an appearance mid-palate and a hint of minerality on the finish. 

If you love the dryness of a traditional sparkling Brut, then this is your wine.  We were fortunate enough to taste two bottles of this gem - once solo and then accompanied with smoked Gouda with fig spread and this wine sang beautifully!  This is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.  The sur lie aging in the bottle really added to the creaminess and layers of flavor.  "Al Bacio"!

ABV:  12.0%

Carneros Appellation

Winery:  Domaine Carneros

Suggested retail price:  $45.00

Drink The Bottles score:  95/100

NV Treveri Cellars Chenin Blanc Sparkling Wine

We have been big fans of anything produced by Treveri Cellars for several years.  Julie Grieb and her team do such a wonderful job of bringing Champagne-inspired wines to the US market at a fraction of the price of their French counterpart.  We were absolutely honored to receive a few samples from Treveri Cellars this year at the same time as the State Department chef, prior to public release.  

This wine presents a medium gold color and classic honey and floral aromas.  A little more time in the glass and some room temperature warmth begin to pull some baking apple flavors against a zippy and lasting acidity.  Unless you're sharing a bottle of sparkling wine, we find it tough to finish a bottle.  We actually tasted this over two days - one day solo and the next morning with homemade sausage gravy and biscuits.  This sparkling wine is an amazing accompaniment to the comfort food.  Who says you can't have wine with breakfast?  Not us!  This sparkling wine is an amazing value!

ABV:  12.0%

Columbia Valley, Washington

Suggested retail price:  $20.00

Drink The Bottles score:  92/100

NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Noirs

I had so much fun tasting this sparkling wine that I had to share it with friends.  I mean, after all, isn't that what loving wine is all about?  Let me first start by saying that if I find out anyone is taking this Treveri Cellars Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine and making mimosas out of it, I might throat punch you.  Go buy some blah blah blah $6.99 rot gut at the grocery store for that.  You'd be completely remiss and wasting a fantastic opportunity to taste a beautifully made, delicate sparkling wine from Washington state.  Lovely bouquet of strawberry and warm, handmade biscuits on the nose and that carries through to the flavors and micro bubbles that celebrate in the mouth.  This sparkling wine is so good that it is difficult to take your time and sip it.  I served this well chilled and think that was the right call.  The finish on this is extremely fine and smooth and leaves you wanting more.  

ABV:  12.8%

Columbia Valley, Washington

Suggested retail price:  $20.00

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

NV Treveri Cellars Brut Blanc de Blancs

What do you see here?  Champagne!   No.  It's sparkling wine.  But we don't need to get into the whole conversation about sparkling wine and Champagne right now, do we?  If you want to know the history behind it and why this is sparkling wine....perform a quick Google search.  Now, me personally.....if someone says they are serving Champagne with hors d'oeuvres at brunch, well, I'm not going to get mad at them when it's American sparkling wine nor am I going to correct them.  In many cases, sparking wine has much more appeal than several Champagne I've tried over the years, both in flavor and price point.  This NV Treveri Cellars Brut Blanc de Blancs is made in the Champagne style and expresses green apple and a beautifully balanced warm bread yeasty flavor that is delicious.  Beautiful pale golden color (this is a Chardonnay blend).  Micro bubbles help lift and muted apple and pear aromas and when served slightly chilled, this sparking wine is refreshing and an excellent pairing with finger foods like smoked salmon on toast points.  Here's a fact I just found out about Treveri Cellars:  Their wines have been served at the White House.  I think that says a lot about the quality and popularity.  And for the value, you'd be remiss not to have a couple of bottles lying around for your Sunday brunch.

ABV:  12.0%

Yakima Valley, Washington

Suggested retail price:  $15.00  

Drink The Bottles score:  87/100