Thursday 29 April 2010

Champagne or not Champagne that is the question ?

In the number of restaurant that i worked for, every time a guest wanted sparkling wine they ask " Do you have some Champagne ? "

So, is Champagne synonymous of good quality sparkling wine ? or is it just a fashion thing ?

Of course American use the word champagne to name there sparkling wine (California Champagne for example)so Champagne has we know is very renow around the world. Do we make around the world sparkling wine of similar quality than champagne or even better ?

I found few exemple of good sparkling wine, sometimes the idea is clearly to do a wine like Champagne but sometimes it's clearly to make a wine in their own style.

Bisol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Cartizze NV(Italy, Veneto)
This wine made from the white grape of the same name is a very aromatic and complex sparkling wine. The wine come from the best cru of prosecco, the hill of Cartizze. you found in this wine those typical aromas of exotic fruit, it's still light but in the same time you get much more flavour and weight than the classical prosecco. Simply superb.

L'O de L'Origan NV(Spain, Cava)
This wine produce in small quantity and nearly impossible to found outside Spain, but if you got the chance to test it don't hesitate. You will discover a very vinous sparkling wine, some of the wine are aged in oak and other in big volumes. Complexity is the word, aromas of licorice, vanilla, fresh butter in the mouth those very fine bubble are sweet not to acidic for a Nature (no dosage) and it's long in mouth. Such an amazing wine !!!

Nyetimber (West Sussex, England)
For this estate i didn't chose a particular cuvée or vintage, this little manor situated in the south of england make wine since 1992 always with a vintage. The quality are constant and they sometimes compared to the best champagne. For me it's one of the best champagne blend make outside France that's i ever tried. I don't know if it come from the climate or the nature of the soil similar to those of Champagne but for example in the classic cuvée 2003 you can find lemon and yeasty aromas typical (to Champagne) In the palate the chardonnay is dominant with agrum aromas and well balanced, nice acidity.

Raventos i Blanc (Spain, Cava)
For me is the best producer of Cava, all the range is made in a way of high quality. Try the reserva and gran reserva, there are the best example of what you can get when you want to make good cava. Tropical fruit and yeasty aromas are dominant but allways in a very elegant way. Superb balance and long palate.

That's it i know other wine but i don't want to make a big list. The ones i remenber much are those present here.

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