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woman on wine with amy reileyIt’s no secret that I love bubbles. (No, I’m not talking bubble baths, although I love those, too). But what is a bit of a secret is that some of the best-buy bubbles coming out of Europe are Sparkling Wines, or Fines Bulles as they are also known, from France’s Loire region. (The region is, in fact, France’s second-largest Sparkling Wine producer after Champagne). November is a perfect month for an introduction to Loire’s Fines Bulles. Loire’s crisp Sparkling Wines are a wonderful accompaniment to a Turkey Day feast and an excellent vehicle for getting into a celebratory mood. And with price points at half (or less) of Champagne’s entry-level bottlings, they’re my kind of accompaniment for a recession year party. |
Domaine Vincent Careme
2005 Cuvee Ancestrale
Sweet butter and buttercream frosting-like aromas are as inviting as diving in to a perfect birthday cake. The wine is a vanilla-tinged number with crisp acidity keeping sweetness at bay. Lingering anise and vanilla on the finish round out a wine that is distinctive, memorable and delicious.
Domaine d’Orfeuilles
Vouvray Brut
With medium weight, nutty cashew notes and just a tease of sweetness, this wine cries out for turkey and stuffing. It is most definitely a Holiday meal-friendly wine at the top of my list. (And with a price point around $15, how could it go wrong?)
Domaine des Baumard
2004 Cremant de Loire
A weighty, gamey, manly sort of wine, this is one of those bottles of bubbly that will stand up to meaty, salty, big meals. An interesting blend of Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc grapes, it lacks a little in refinement but is sure to wow guests when paired with earthy flavors like wild mushrooms, roast pheasant or a duck confit.
Langlois-Chateau
Cremant de Loire Brut NV
A pretty, bright, brunch sort of wine, this is an excellent choice for serving with bacon, eggs and the first Latte of the day. Citrus and lemongrass flavors dance across the palate and an herbal note on the finish adds the kind of freshness great for starting the day.
Monmousseau
Touraine Brut Rose Cuvee JM
Pomegranate lovers, put down that messy fruit and pick up a glassy of this sexy Rose. Pretty in pink, the wine’s aromas and flavors are nearly identical to the aphrodisiac fruit. Even the finish, with a hint of bitterness like biting a seed, replicates the experience of eating fresh pomegranates.
