Consolidated "Champagne - Questions/Suggestions/Recommendations" thread
Dec 28, 2015 | 12:55 pm
#871
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,042
)
Dec 28, 2015 | 4:19 pm
#872
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 8,347
Dec 28, 2015 | 6:26 pm
#874
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,042
If you can find something that says "extra brut," that is going to be the driest and contain the least amount of sugar. It might also say "brut nature." The next level up in sweetness would be "brut." A reasonably priced one is Pol Roger Extra Brut.
Last edited by ILuvParis; Dec 28, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Dec 28, 2015 | 6:55 pm
#875
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CLE
Posts: 1,891
Thanks. Will look for the champagne you mentioned.
Dec 29, 2015 | 2:08 am
#876
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,337
Yeah but it still has sugar. Check with your doctor, but I don't think someone with diabetes should be drinking any type of wine as they all contain a fair amount of sugar. Enjoy a bottle of Perrier!
Dec 29, 2015 | 9:00 am
#877
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,042
http://www.californiachampagnes.com/brut/
Dec 29, 2015 | 9:24 am
#879
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,417
The Gruet folks, who have a long family history in Champagne, looked long and hard for climate and geology that they believed would result in optimal US sparking wine; they selected New Mexico after that search. Gruet Brut, Brut Sauvage, and Blanc de Noir are all superb. I haven't tried any other labels from New Mexico, though, and was unaware any other wineries had located there.
Dec 29, 2015 | 9:29 am
#880
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,417
Granted, the limited bottlings from Krug, Ruinart, Moet and Veuve are about as good as it gets, and small producers in Champagne that don't get exported to the States can also be excellent. But the mass-market stuff from the big Champagne houses is not usually up to the standards of Mumm Napa, Gruet, or Roederer Estate IMO. And they cost twice as much.
Each to his own, of course.
Dec 29, 2015 | 10:46 am
#881
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,042
Personally, unless you're willing to purchase the upper-level Champagnes, I think the best US sparkling wine producers offer a better quaff. Especially Gruet.
Granted, the limited bottlings from Krug, Ruinart, Moet and Veuve are about as good as it gets, and small producers in Champagne that don't get exported to the States can also be excellent. But the mass-market stuff from the big Champagne houses is not usually up to the standards of Mumm Napa, Gruet, or Roederer Estate IMO. And they cost twice as much.
Each to his own, of course.
Granted, the limited bottlings from Krug, Ruinart, Moet and Veuve are about as good as it gets, and small producers in Champagne that don't get exported to the States can also be excellent. But the mass-market stuff from the big Champagne houses is not usually up to the standards of Mumm Napa, Gruet, or Roederer Estate IMO. And they cost twice as much.
Each to his own, of course.
Dec 29, 2015 | 10:46 am
#882
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 8,620
I like Veuve.
I like this better:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1224520
I've yet to find anything that compares, at least for my palate, at an under $50 price point.
That said, you buy what you like.
I like this better:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1224520
I've yet to find anything that compares, at least for my palate, at an under $50 price point.
That said, you buy what you like.
Dec 29, 2015 | 10:47 am
#883
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 8,347
The Gruet folks, who have a long family history in Champagne, looked long and hard for climate and geology that they believed would result in optimal US sparking wine; they selected New Mexico after that search. Gruet Brut, Brut Sauvage, and Blanc de Noir are all superb. I haven't tried any other labels from New Mexico, though, and was unaware any other wineries had located there.
Dec 29, 2015 | 10:51 am
#884
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,042
I like Veuve.
I like this better:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1224520
I've yet to find anything that compares, at least for my palate, at an under $50 price point.
That said, you buy what you like.
I like this better:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1224520
I've yet to find anything that compares, at least for my palate, at an under $50 price point.
That said, you buy what you like.
Dec 29, 2015 | 11:09 am
#885
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,417
I do agree they cost twice as much (or more), but they're twice as good IMHO. I can drink Chandon - after I've had a bottle of something decent to numb my palate. And some Scharfenbergers aren't half bad but, otherwise, I couldn't disagree more. You honestly would take Mumm Napa or Roederer Estate (I haven't had Gruet) over Veuve yellow label?
If your view of US sparkling wine has been shaped by Chandon and Scharffenberger, I'm not surprised by your chauvinism.
Two of the more overappreciated labels IMO. Try some Gruet Brut Sauvage sometime and get back to me.