Tasting #150 16 December 2013 – Sparkling Wines – 1PM Capri Restaurant Restaurant
Contents of this Post
- 1. Presenters, Participants and Birthdays of December
- 2. Wines
- 3. Menu
- 4. Wines’ Description
- 5. Sparklings: Cava, Prosecco and Champaign
- 6. Effervescents du Monde
- 7. Last year Alfsonso Sanchez wrote a very informative piece on “Espumosos” click here to read the article at the bottom of the December 2012 post.
1. Presenters, Participants and Birthdays
Presenters: Cecilio-Augusto Berndsen and J.L. Colaiacovo
Participants:
Alvaro Lopes, Jaime Estupinan, Orlando Mason, Jorge Garcia, Italo Mirkow, Albertina Frenkel, German Zincke, Mario Aguilar, Alfonso Caicedo, Cecilio-Augusto Berndsen, Juan Luis Colaiacovo, Clara Estrada, Jairo Sanchez, Carlos E.Velez (invited by Jorge Garcia), Hugo Benito (condicional), Alberto Musalem (invited by J. Garcia, condicional). Leonor Barreto, Alfonso Sanchez, L.C.Danin Lobo (Lula), Ruth Connolly, Ginger Smart.
Birthdays celebrated this month:
- Emilio B. Labrada (6),
- Ruth Connolly (13),
- Ricardo Zavaleta (17),
- Jairo Sanchez (21) and
- Cecilio-Augusto Berndsen (31).
2. Wines 6 Wines from Total Wine
- 1. Tesoro della Regina, Prosecco DOC. Fossalta di Piavi, Italy. ABV 11%. $ 17
- 2. 2009 Marques de Monistrol Winemaker’s Select Brut Cava. Sant Sadurni Danoia, Spain. ABV 12% $ 15
- 3. Russian River Valley Brut Sparkling Wine. Chardonnay 61%, Pinot Noir 21% and Pinot Meunier 18%. River Road F. Vineyards & Winery. Sonoma, California. ABV: 12.4%, $24
- 4. Champagne Montaudon Brut. Alliance Champagne Reims, France. ABV: 12% $ 30
- 5. Moscato Il Corgigiano, Vino Spumante di Qualitá del tipo Aromático-Dulce. Fratelli Martini Secondo Luigi, Cossano Belbo, Veneto, Italy. ABV 7%, $ 10. This wine is going to be raffled. Must be present to win!
- 6. 2001 Chateau Cantegril Sauternes. Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend. Sauternes, Bordeaux, France. ABV 14%, $ 30
3. Menu
Salmon Salad
Fried Calamari
Penne al Pesto Sauce
Turkey with Stock Sauce
4. Wine’s Details
4.1. Tesoro della Regina, Prosecco DOC. Prosecco di Pronegliano, Fossalta di Piavi, Italy. ABV 11%. $ 17
Wine Enthusiast: 86 points. “Fresh, fragrant and light, this delivers a touch of sweetness, followed by aroma of citrus, white flowers and peach. It’s crisp, easy and light on the finish, with steely efferversence.”
Dry, Apple, Pear, Medium-bodied
Wine & Spirits 90 points- Prosecco, Veneto, Italy – “This wine’s brisk, consistent bubbles carry a green almond scent, driving home crispness and freshness. It’s clean and still manages to feel generous. For aperitifs.”
4.2. 2009 Marques de Monistrol Winemaker’s Select Brut Cava. 40% Macabeo, 30% Parellada, and 30% Xarel-lo. Sant Sadurni D’Anoia, not far from Barcelona, Spain. ABV 12% $ 15
The Reserva Cava Brut is one of the outstanding values of 
sparkling wine from Spain. The highest quality grapes are used in the “traditional method”. Its tiny sparkling bubbles and enticing aromas lead to fresh fruit flavors and a silky, dry enduring finish. from Total Wine.
Notes of yeast and blanched almonds on the nose. This vintage Cava is crisp on the palate with good depth of flavor and a refined palate showing very good balance. A very pleasant bubbly with enough depth to stand up to food and enough refinement to serve as an apeitif. The Vintage Brut is a blend of 40% Macabeo, 30% Parellada, and 30% Xarel-lo aged on the lees for 26-30 months. Excellent value! from I-vinereview.com
Award: IWSC Bronze 2012 (International Wine and Spirit Competition, UK) for 2009 vintage.
4.3. Russian River Valley Brut Sparkling Wine. Chardonnay 61%, Pinot Noir 21% and Pinot Meunier 18%. River Road F. Vineyards & Winery. Sonoma, California. ABV: 12.4%, $ 24
Méthode Champenoise, the age-old tradition of producing the highest quality sparkling 
wines, is how this classic Brut blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier is made. Whole clusters are gently pressed, with the secondary fermentation happening in the bottle.
Tasting Notes: This sparkling Méthode Champenoise Brut has delicate floral and fresh citrus notes of Meyer lemons, while delivering palate flavors of crisp apples, fresh 
strawberries, and toasted almonds.
Food Pairings: This wine will be delicious with Triple Crème cheeses, Lemongrass Crab Cakes, or Tortilla Crusted Turkey Cutlets with Spicy Avocado Sauce.
– See more at: http://www.riverroadvineyards.com/russian-river-valley-brut-sparkling-wine#sthash.shQdqhYW.dpuf
From the winemaker: Our winemaker Joe Freeman introduces our Méthode Champenoise Brut which has delicate floral and fresh citrus notes of Meyer lemons, while delivering palate flavors of crisp apples, fresh strawberries, and toasted almonds. – See more at: http://www.riverroadvineyards.com/russian-river-valley-brut-sparkling-wine#sthash.shQdqhYW.dpuf
Watch this 40 seconds video: Watch Video
4.4. Champagne Montaudon Brut. Alliance Champagne Reims, France. ABV: 12% $ 30
Wine Spectator: 91 Points. Dry, Citrus, Peach, Medium-bodiedWine Spectator – 
Champagne, France- “A distinctive, memorable 
Champagne in a mature style, this is deep gold in color, expansively doughy, flinty and nutty in aroma and flavor and has a supersmooth texture backed by firm acidity. Try with Sushi.
from http://www.winechateau.com : Today MONTAUDON is one of the rare champagne houses still owned entirely by the founding family. The HOUSE OF MONTAUDON is located right at the heart of REIMS, e few steps away from the Cathedral. The fermentation room, storerooms and two levels of cellars (where bottles for several year’s supply are stocked) are sited in this well integrated centre. The MONTAUDON company owns a vineyard of 45 hectares.
4.5. Moscato Il Corgigiano, Vino Spumante di Qualitá del tipo Aromático-Dulce. Fratelli Martini Secondo Luigi, Cossano Belbo, Veneto, Italy. ABV 7%, $ $10.
This wine is going to be raffled. Must be present to win!
Sweet, Honey, Grape, Medium-bodied. This delightful low alcohol, aromatic sparkling wine, has a fresh, slightly honeyed, grapey flavor. Made from the Muscat grape it is a bit sweeter than Asti. and is an ideal aperitif with strawberries, fruit salads, marzipan, almond pastries and desserts.
On T.Wine site a reviewer ‘hplar’ wrote: “I’ve been drinking moscato wines for decades – long before the current craze. This is among the best I have had, and one of the best values. Tiny little bubbles like the best Champagnes, but fruity sweet like a Mosel. Very enjoyable.”
Moscato Spumante di Qualità aromatico. Prodotto con uve Moscato, si presenta con un colore giallo paglierino tenue, con spuma bianca, briosa e dal perlage fine e persistente. Profumo caratteristico spiccato. Al palato è dolce, aromatico, caratteristico ed equilibrato. Ottimo con dolci e frutta. Temperatura di servizio 7-10° C. from http://www.enotecapontina.it/
4.6. 2001 Chateau Cantegril Sauternes. Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend. Sauternes, Bordeaux, France. ABV 14%, $ 30
Winemaker tasting note: Cantegril wines, although less rich than the ones of Doisy-Daëne, possess nevertheless all the characteristics of a great Barsac; Pierre and Denis Dubourdieu’s very pure wine-making style is strongly present. Very pleasant when young, they display a great aging potential. More at the winemaker website: Denis Dubordieu Domain
Wine Spectator 91 – Sauternes, France – “Smells like an apple tart with hints of honey and cream. Full-bodied, with very lively acidity yet a rich and very sweet palate. Excellent young Sauternes.”
Acclaim: Cellar Tracker: 91, Jean-Marc Quarin 85.
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5. Champagne and Sparkling Wine Basics
by Stacy Slinkard
“Come quickly, I am tasting stars,” Dom Perignon’s famous quote after his first taste of Champagne, and a fairly apt description of what a good Champagne or sparkling wine experience should offer. Is Champagne truly a wine? Where do the bubbles come from? How do I serve Champagne and sparkling wines? Any key sparkling wine suggestions? Read on for answers to these questions and more.
Is Champagne a true wine?
Yes, Champagne and other sparkling wines are a category of wine made from a blend of grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier.
What’s the difference between Champagne and Sparkling Wine?
The Champagne we know and love comes exclusively from the Champagne region of France, and claims the honor of being the most famous of the sparkling wines. Technically, it is the only sparkling wine that may be referred to as “Champagne.” Bubbly from all other regions in the world are simply referred to as “sparkling wine,” though regional specialties abound. Spain’s sparkler is called Cava, Italy’s bubbles come in Prosecco and Moscato d’Asti, and French sparkling wines from everywhere outside of Champagne are referred to as Cremant. Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. give France a run for the money by producing some fantastic sparkling wines at exceptionally competitive price points. more at: Wine About
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6. Effervescents du Monde Confrontacion Internacional des Meilleurs Vins Effervescents
Club del Vino - Washington DC area 