Although there are many excellent options for sparkling winess — Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Cremant, domestic sparkling, etc. — bubbly always brings the sparkle to the party.
That isn’t to say you couldn’t swing and miss with a mediocre bubbly, but superb sparkling wines are abundant. There is no good reason to strike out. These five, across a broad range of price points, are sure to carry the day.
I begin with one of my favorite Champagnes, the Bruno Paillard Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, France, $70. This boutique Champagne house sets a very high bar, producing some of the most elegant and stunning Champagnes in the region. At one time, Paillard was the house Champagne at Joel Robuchon’s Michelin-starred L’Atelier restaurant in Paris. You will not be disappointed.
For those who fancy a sparkling wine to pair with chocolate (not what I would recommend but a popular pairing nonetheless), the J Vineyards Brut Rose, $45, delivers the bright raspberry aroma and strawberry note that can make this match work. It’s also one of the finest brut rose bubblies made in the United States and beautiful to sip on its own.
Domestic sparkling wines are often compared to Champagne and sometimes found wanting. Not so with the Domaine Carneros by Taittinger 2014 Vintage Brut, $36. Eileen Crane has been making stylish sparkling wines at Domaine Carneros for a few decades now, and she has it nailed. The 2014 brut shows notes of citrus and brioche, with a fine mousse and impressive length on the palate. It’s beautifully done, and a great price, too.
If your preference in bubbly runs toward Prosecco, one of the finest is the Caposaldo Brut Prosecco DOC, Italy, $16. Beautifully balanced, with an exquisite combination of richness and structure, this is a Prosecco to remember. And buy!
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