Champagne Wishes..Caviar Dreams…Wine Selections for New Years 2012

Yes that was a moniker for “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and this article will focus on Sparkling wines and Champagne and less so on caviar–though I do enjoy it and think it nicely paired with Champagne.

But you don’t need to be ‘rich or famous’ to enjoy very well made sparkling wines. In many and most instances it is understandable if sparkling wines are more expensive on average as when compared to still wines. I understand….the process certainly adds to the overall cost. And Champagne stands alone in terms of high demand, the Euro (at least those using the US dollar) and a very finite growing region. There are other sparkling wine on a per litre basis are less expensive (but not always) Cava, sparkling wine, and Prosecco. I enjoy my New Year’s eve with wonderful hand foods and many Champagnes and sparkling wines.

Here are my Champagne and sparkling wishes to ring in the New Year:

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs – 1999
Gramona Cava Brut Imperial Gran Reserva 2006
Ruinart Brut Rosé – NV
Törley Grand Cuvee – NV
Ruggeri Prosecco di Valdobbiandene Guistini Bisol 2008
Sergio Mottura Brut 2005
Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002
Canard-Duchene Grande Cuvée Charles VII NV
Bollinger Grande Annee Brut 1999
Chartogne-Taillet Brut 2002
Jacquesson Millesime Brut 2002
Chartogne-Taillet Blanc de Blanc Brut Champagne NV
Recaredo Brut Nature Cava 2006
Gosset Celebris 1998
J Brut Late-Disgorged 2001
Mumm Napa DVX Rosé 2006
Iron Horse Winter’s Cuvée 2007
Schramsberg J Schram Rosé 2004
De Cazanove Stradivarius 1998
Charles Ellner Brut NV
Lanson Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 1998
Bruno Paillard Rosé Brut Première Cuvée NV
Ayala Brut Millesime 1999
Jean Lallemont Brut NV
Vranken Diamont Brut
Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée 2002
Deutz Deutz Cuvée William Brut 1998
Bollinger R.D. 1997
Aneri Prosecco
Roederer Estate L’Ermitage 2002

¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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A Mumm Napa Visit – James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

Mumm Napa is such a wonderful winery to visit and the only sparkling winery on Silverado Trail.  One of my favourite things about this winery is the view—I always like to sit outside to enjoy an amazing panorama and the valley floor–an one of the best in the Valley.

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Though I have been to Mumm Napa many times I have not had a behind the scenes winery tour.   I like the senses experience and visiting Mumm Napa’s production facility proves to be much larger than one might expect (at least from street view)–though the production level certainly calls for this scale.   The design is well done and that going through the winery shows how expansive it is and how it is not overwhelming for the geographical space it is situated.  Every square foot is well utilized.

I was glad to find out how green the winery is and how Mumm Napa works to make the process even greener.  On my visit there I asked if they were going to install solar panels; and after a re-roofing that is in their facilities plan.  There is a great desire for continuous green process at Mumm Napa.

The tour is well done and does exemplify how difficult it is to make sparkling wine.  The fixture of art work is always present and adds a richer touch.

I have seen Mumm Napa’s product line grow and that is certainly in-line with the many nuances of sparkling wine.   Mumm Napa has it is standard bearers and has expanded in the past decade to high light the fine points of sparkling wine.  Most of Mumm Napa’s grapes come from the Napa Valley with a small amount coming from the Anderson Valley.

On my recent visit I enjoyed Brut Prestige, Cuvée M (containing a touch of late harvest Muscat), Brut Reserve, Pinot Meunier (100% which is unusual for a California sparkling wine house), Blanc de Blancs (with 10% Pinot Gris), Brut Rosé, Santana Brut (65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay), DVX 2003 (Mumm Napa’s signature and prestige offering)–the fruit comes from the Deveaux Vineyard which can be seen on the Carneros Highway (121) and DVX is named in honor of Mumm Napa’s founder and first winemaker.  I also tasted the sparkling Pinot Noir–a wonderful wine to serve with Thanksgiving, turkey, duck and salmon.   Sparkling red wines are not terribly plentiful and especially compared with sparkling Australian wines (chiefly Shiraz but there are also sparkling Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon),  I think it would be safe to say that there are fewer than 1,000 cases of quality sparkling red wine produced in the US.  I also tasted their Cuvée M Red–this sparkler is 96% Pinot Noir and 4%.

Mumm Napa Winemaker Ludovic Dervin

I enjoyed Ludovic Dervin walking through his wines.  He gave a great view and comparison and contrast of Champagne and California sparkling wines.  The discipline and heritage of Champagne and California’s ability to craft sparkling wines with fewer restrictions to leverage California’s great climate but the ability to utilize varietals beyond the Champagne set.  I look forward to more return visits to this sparkling sparkling winery.

A Gorgeous Assembly of Sparkling Wine

¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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© 2011 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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Rack And Riddle Blanc de Noir – NV – 9.0 – James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

Varietals:

-       92% Pinot Noir

-       8% Chardonnay

Notes of fresh strawberry, currant, just baked biscuit, pine nut and essence of rose.

¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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Rack And Riddle Rosé – NV -9.1 – James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

Lively and fresh and yet confident; this wine exhibits notes of red and golden raspberry, flaky biscuit and raw pine nut.

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¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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© 2011 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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Rack And Riddle Mendocino County Brut – NV – 9.0 – James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

Varietals:

• Chardonnay – 60%
• Pinot Noir – 40%

Notes of Biscuit, almond, Italian fig and Kaffir lime.

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¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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Terra Savia Blanc de Blanc – 2007 – 9.0 – James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

This wine expresses Mendocino County fruit and delivers superb dryness and character; almond, Passionfruit, Kaffir lime, and Brioche

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¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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© 2011 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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Gruet Brut New Mexico Extra Dry – NV – 8.9 – James Meléndez / James The Wine Guy

Italian white fig, freshly baked biscuit, pine nut and hint of fennel.

¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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Gruet Gilbert Grande Reserve New Mexico Blanc De Blanc – 2003 – 9.0 – James Meléndez / James The Wine Guy

Aptly dry, passionfruit, fresh Adriatic fig, Spanish almond and hint of sweet spice.

¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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Gruet Grand New Mexico Rosé – 2003 – 9.1 – James Meléndez / James The Wine Guy

A great expression of a sparkling Rosé; balanced, bold and yet nuanced.  Notes of violets, Brioche, pine nut and hint of Cardamom.

¡Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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Gruet Blanc de Noir New Mexico NV – 9.0 – James Meléndez / James The Wine Guy

Bright citrus notes coupled with raspberry, green fig, and hint of biscuit and sweet pepper.

Salud!

***

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

Read more of my wine reviews:

© 2011 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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