recent bubble tastes

recent bubble tastes
2007 Cuvee Francoise Blanquette de Limoux - super dry, tastes like Champagne, retails for about $12 a bottle. I had it at a restaurant in Washington, so I don't know where it can be found retail, but it's worth looking for.
Sorelle Bronca Brut - NV Prosecco, not very interesting
Castell de Vilarnau Cava Brut - NV. Yeasty nose, a little fruit, but dry. Nice, but as Cavas go, it can't top the de Marques Gelida Brut, which is now available at Veritas. Yippee!
Pacific Rim White Flowers Brut - when in Washington you gotta try the local stuff. This is from the Yakima Valley. It's 100% Riesling. It's weird. (how's that for a fancy wine descriptor?) I finally get the petrol thing, but with bubbles, when tasting this Riesling. The barkeep said it had a musty nose. I didn't really get that. They do Riesling well in Washington, but this wasn't my fave.

A New Year

I have learned not to say things will be better next year. I said it at the end of 2005 after my brother was in Hurricane Katrina and my husband lost his mind. Then in 2006 I got a divorce. Yet I was optimistic that 2007 had to be better. In 2007 my health problems started. I knew not to say it. But in 2008 my Mom has been so sick and has endured so much. So I will not say anything this year about what next year will be like lest I invoke plagues of locusts and famine upon us all.
May your 2009 be blessed by God, fantastic and drama free.
Enough Debbie Downer.

If you are going to ring in 2009 with bubbly, below are some suggestions. Check Veritas to see if they have any left after selling lots at a free tasting yesterday.
NV Schramsberg Mirabelle Rose. From California. 93 from Wine Spectator and around $25. This winery is one I really want to visit.
NV Piper Sonoma Blanc de Blanc. Even those who don't drink bubbly often will probably like this one. It is a bargain at about $17 a bottle.
2005 Domaine Carneros Brut. 92 from Wine Spectator and about $24 a bottle. From the Carneros region at the south end of Napa Valley. I taste a bit of a lemon, but isn't tart.
NV Veuve du Vernay Brut. Unbelievably $13. This French sparkler was not featured at the tasting yesterday, but I had previously picked it up at Veritas. It is really delicious. Maybe the French Bubbles really are different?
There are some other bubbles I really like, but they are a little more expensive, and I have written about them before.
Salud!

Sparkling Shiraz

Someone asked me recently to recommend a reasonably priced sparkling shiraz. I couldn't. I know Veritas has had Black Bubbles (from Shingleback?). I have no idea of the price and don't know if they still have it. She was familiar with that one from imbibing it at said Veritas. I recently read about The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz, which is from Australia like Shingleback. Looks like it retails for somewhere around $18-$20. Reportedly, not much was imported to the U.S. It has some good reviews online.

So C, maybe you can find it. If you do, let me know!