So we had a very special micro-wine tasting aboard Houseboat 2007, somewhere on Lake Oroville, on June 30. We really classed up the joint, if only until the fancy bubbly ran out! A quick recap for those who were there, as well as for those who weren't. All in all, it confirmed my favorite French champagne in the sub $30 category, as well as reinforcing my fondness for a sweet French rosé dubbed "party juice." All of these, except the last, were purchased at K&L Wines.
- Perrier Jouet Grand Brut ($30): still my favorite reasonably priced champagne. Well balanced, pleasant, enough to be interesting without scaring anyone, easy to like for champagne noobs and pros alike.
- Fleury "Carte Rouge" Brut Champagne ($30): a "blanc de noir" champagne made from 100% pinor noir grapes, at the Burgundian edge of Champagne. Good stuff, darker flavors, mustier, but still light on its feet.
- Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Rosé ($25): very nice dry California rose, larger bubbles, more direct, less complex than the French stuff. But very nice!
- Ariston Carte Blanche Brut Champagne ($23): "Philosopher's champagne," said one. "Tastes like it was filtered through the charred bones of 14th century monks," said another. 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir and 30% meunier (I was wrong when I said all Chard), very dry, ascetic, assertive, probably better with food than for sipping. Serious stuff!
- Cerdon de Bugey (methode ancestrale) Caveau de Mont St. July ($15): "party juice," sweet quaffable rosé, low alchohol, perfect for a hot day on the lake. Fun without being jug-wine -- hints of bubble gum?! Was also a hit at last year's bubbly tasting.
- ?? Cava: Sorry, I neglected to write down the details on this one, since I wasn't the one who brought it. Good exemplar of dry, Spanish competition in the bubbly category. But when it comes to bargain bubbly, my heart belongs to Prosecco over Cava (or California bubblies).
