Domestic bubblies?

C

Chris Coad

Chris Coad
The Baby Doc and I have a little get-together to attend late into the evening next Tuesday, the theme best available domestic festive bubblies. We're uncomfortably lodged in the upper-lower class at the moment, but are willing to sell a kidney (or two) should it be necessary to acquire the best quality goods.

Do such things exist? What say you good people? I have a feeling that this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so respect must be paid.
 
Dependable:

Roederer Brut (non of the other bottlings)
The basic Gruet - I forget what it's called

The others for me are hit and miss:

Scharffenberger
J Vineyards vintage wines
Kalin - pricey
Schramsberg - blanc de noirs

But why domestic? Plenty better and better priced from the Loire.
 
domestic or not...i am always looking for sub $35 sparklers

liked:
roederer anderson valley brut
ferrer 2000

gruet was all right, but somehow lesser to me

had a '93 argyle that was lost and found in the cellar....not bad at all

non-domestic...loire

and austria's brundlmayer brut rose killed all the above...at $33
 
Interesting that you ask this now, as I've been pouring a series of domestic bubblies for our visiting French guests (the rule, of course: no French wines while they're here).

Of the commonly-available-everywhere stuff, I think Roederer Estate is by far the best, though Gruet -- in a very different style -- can be interesting. I guess the Roederer Ros and l'Ermitage are widely-available as well, and I like both in most releases, though I'm not sure about the value of the latter. It is better than the Brut, though; I fear I'm disagreeing with Scott on this one.

I've never had the much-touted Equinox bubblies, but you'll probably remember the hype. I do know they're expensive.

Among less-available wines, I'm a fan of Argyle's upper-level bottlings. Here are some notes from a few years ago (the Extended Tirage isn't in there, but all past experiences with it have been very positive).

Local (to me, not you), Westport Rivers can do the occasional good bottle, and probably more reliably fools people into thinking its Champagne than most other domestic sparklers I've served (not to say that people think it's a great Champagne). Unless you can find something non-current, however, this may not be the vintage to go exploring; they're quite variable.

Thinking about this, I'd probably try to get the better Argyle wines -- an assortment -- and leave the rest.

Kalin makes a sparkling wine? Now that I'd like to try.
 
originally posted by Thor:

Kalin makes a sparkling wine? Now that I'd like to try.
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They do indeed. 1988 is the current release for both the Ros and the Cuve Blanche Brut. Both sell for about $35, which is right around the price charged for the Roederer l'Ermitage (which I too like more than Scott)(not to pick on Scott). The basic Roederer Estate bottling is tough to beat at its price, and Argyle's sparkling wines are the best things in their lineup (I hope that isn't damning them with faint praise).

-Eden (sounds like a swell party! Give my regards to the Duvaliers!)
 
I prefer the Roederer Estate Brut to the L'Ermitage myself. The L'Ermitage can be very caramely, and a bit overwrought. The normal Brut has a wider texture that is a bit more airy, and which I appreciate.

And I like the Argyle sparklers.

Perhaps the Loring sparkling wine is available? I think not, if I remember the timeline correctly, but perhaps.
 
I prefer the Roederer Estate Brut to the L'Ermitage myself. The L'Ermitage can be very caramely, and a bit overwrought. The normal Brut has a wider texture that is a bit more airy, and which I appreciate.
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That's a fair assessment.
 
originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:
originally posted by Thor:

Kalin makes a sparkling wine? Now that I'd like to try.
Click to expand...

They do indeed. 1988 is the current release for both the Ros and the Cuve Blanche Brut. Both sell for about $35, which is right around the price charged for the Roederer l'Ermitage (which I too like more than Scott)(not to pick on Scott). The basic Roederer Estate bottling is tough to beat at its price, and Argyle's sparkling wines are the best things in their lineup (I hope that isn't damning them with faint praise).

-Eden (sounds like a swell party! Give my regards to the Duvaliers!)
Click to expand...

oh my, those kalins look good
 
Another voice for Roederer Estate Brut. I've liked the Argyle Extended Tirage, but only on closeout. At full price there are too many alternatives.

For under $25, my favorite sparkler at the moment is probably the 2006 Franois Pinon Vouvray Brut Non Dos.

If you give sparkling vouvray the I'm Feeling Lucky treatment, a funny article comes up.
 
Yet another vote for Roederer Estate Brut and Brut Ros. I like their L'Ermitage bottling & have had great luck cellaring it for 4 or 5 years it in the past.
 
From the east coast, some of the Chateau Frank wines are good, though expensive relative to California wines of similar quality (the Frank wines go for $30). The 2000 Blanc de Noirs was excellent on a couple of occasions, the 2000 and 2002 Blanc de Blancs are very good based on tastes at the winery. Current release is 2002.
 
Yep- Roederer Estate is solid, and probably the easiest to find.

Argyle makes a nice Blanc de Blanc too, but good luck finding it.

But to top these guys, if you live around Oregon or Washington, their is a producer named John Albin that I think makes a damn good sparkler. Pick up some bottles if you can find it. He owns and produces wine from his estate vineyard (Laurel vineyard), but is also the head winemaker at King Estate. I've had his sparkling wine twice, and smiled each time.
 
But why domestic? Plenty better and better priced from the Loire.
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Well, obviously, but that would be a different game. I believe the specific reason is symbolic, centering around some form of distinctively domestic participatory event of some kind, but I'm not entirely clear myself, I only do as I'm told.

These are some great suggestions--I'm familiar with the a few of the Gruet, Schramsberg and Argyle wines, but not many of the others. Most of the ones I've tried are the basic-level cuves, but many of those are sensibly priced and I believe we're required to spend far more profligately here.

I've never had the much-touted Equinox bubblies, but you'll probably remember the hype. I do know they're expensive.
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I am happily unattuned to hype, I've never heard of this one. Expensive is definitely good, much touted might also be good if the touters are people whom I'd normally go out of my way to hear tout. Has Connell touted this?

Perhaps the Loring sparkling wine is available?
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Ooh! Ooh! I hope so.

Anyway, lots of food for thought, many thanks to all for the assistance. I'm going to do some Googling now to see what's available in my part of town.
 
You can always go for a sparkling rkatsitelli. Fun stuff.

I like the Gruet Blanc de Noirs best of their offerings though I've had noticeable bottle variation.

I usually hear Equinox recommended by Roberto of Wine Exchange. Of course I find his recs similiar to Lyles, passionate about what he likes, very knowledgeable, likes a lot of great stuff, but occasionally falls in love with something too weird even for me. Never even seen one.

If it's a decent sized group you might consider a magnum. I don't understand it, but in my experience the commonly held belief that sparkling wine tastes better from magnums seems to hold true. And it looks impressive which seems to be part of what you're going for. It helps you reach a higher price point too.
 
The usual thing with magnums is that they're raised differently through disgorgement at some (many?) properties, though I don't know that this holds true in the U.S. But the giant fat-bottomed phallic symbol is always a good thing, too, especially if you're sabering. (You are sabering, right, Chris?)

The Equinox hype I was referring to all came from grizzled West Coast wine industry veterans. So no, not Connell.
 
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