Pere Ventura Brut Nature Cava Penedes NV – 8.6 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine exhibits effervescent almond, mineral, graphite, and lime zest.

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¡Salud!

A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2008 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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L’Hereu de Raventós i Blanc – N.V. – 8.8 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

A dry cava; crisp green apple, toasted French bread and some citron notes; not overwhelming on fruit coupled with very high fizz.

¡Salud!

A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2008 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

See James the Wine Guy channel for videos on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy

Champagne & Sparkling; Tis the Season and Each Season is the Right Time – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

Champagne and Sparkling is thought of as only a very special occasion wine–maybe a once possibly twice a year wine to celebrate.  But you should think of Champagne or sparkling once a week wine to imbibe.  It is a wine that deserves your attention and for good reason: it is a celebratory wine but also a wine that marks your milestone: the milestone of living each and every day.  Our challenges in life are often great and exhausting. And it is something we owe to ourselves a reward that is un-paralleled.

I don’t think most people understand what Champagne and sparkling wine truly represent–it is something more than a fizzy wine.  Instead there are many great traditions and styles and experiences to partake.  There is no such thing as one kind of Champagne.  Sometimes Champagne is called Champagne when in fact it is wine from outside of the Champagne region. All sparkling wines pay homage to Champagne.  Some people think that Champagne is a grape or anything that fizzes.  Champagne and sparkling wines have improved greatly in the past one hundred years.  If someone were to transport to the future from France… someone who was a Champagne drinker would find our styles quite dry.  I would like to think that they would find our styles vastly improved; more dynamic and quality improved. I am not a big white wine fan but I always find the possibility of a glass of Blanc de Blanc Champagne sheer delight.
Champagne and sparkling are one of the two most difficult wines to make (the other–Sherry or vino de Jerez or Xeres). Most people know and enjoy Brut – a prototypical sparkling wine that is often associated with Champagne but others have adopted that name as well – Cavas and California sparkling wines. Brut is composed of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier and all vintners’ style their wines to what they believe will optimize the wine that will be consumed.  Brut is dry but not the driest. The driest style is Extra Brut which should not be confused with Extra Dry; Extra Dry is a bit sweeter than Brut. Then there is a Demi-sec style which is sometimes called Cremant which should not be confused with other sparkling wines in France outside of Champagne called Cramant. Then there is Rose Champagnes easily the most difficult of all Champagnes to produce and one of the most highly regarded. The sparkling wines in Spain are referred to Cava but utilize different grapes; and sparkling wines in Italy are referred to Prosecco. California has a number of French wine houses that have taken on a California wine persona: Domaine Chandon, Domaine Carneros, Iron Horse, Piper Sonoma, Roeder Estates, Mumm Napa. There are a few homespun sparkling wineries in California of note: Schramsberg is one of the standouts.
Australia produces a few white sparklers but is more famous for their red sparkling wines: sparklng Merlot, Shiraz, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir (not to be confused with a Rose); Australians produce a large number of cases of which a few come to the US. It is an impressive wine that pairs so well with fall and winter foods but also year round when you want an extra special wine experience.
For the more adventurous try a sparkling Riesling or Pinot Meunier – they are good wines in their own right.
And for those truly milestone occasions be sure to have a vintage Champagne ready to celebrate; a vintage Champagne is a true nectar of the Gods; more on Champagne and sparkling wines later.

¡Salud!

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Now, more than 700 wine reviews. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved

Sumarroca Brut Reserva Cava – NV – 8.6 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine tasted sweeter side than most Cavas The residual flavour pronounced and almond was noted on the finish. This Cava is a well priced when you can find it.

¡Salud!

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2006 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

See James the Wine Guy channel for videos on YouTube:

www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy