Photos courtesy of wine makers
On a wedding day, friends and families come together to witness the joining of two people in love. And there is nothing more apropos to the magic of the day than bubbles. Whether you wish it to be a pleasantly fruity aperitif style like Italian Prosecco or a dryer sparkling wine made in the traditional method, tiny bubbles keep the mood festive and joyous. After all, it’s nearly impossible to be unhappy while drinking Champagne.
Here are a few sparklers in different styles and price points for your consideration.
On the fruitier side, the Scarpetta “Timido” Brut Rose ($20) made by master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Patterson in Northeastern Italy, has notes of fresh strawberries and rose petals. This cheerful sparkler is produced in the Italian method in which the bubbles are injected before bottling, which guarantees a fresh and lively wine year round.
On the drier side is NV Brut Rosé from Francois Montand ($15). It is made at a winery located at the base of the mountains in Southeastern France. The house began during the last great war when the founder, who was originally from Champagne, had to move to the Free Zone to keep his family’s winemaking tradition alive during the war. Luckily for us he never went home. Slightly non-traditional grapes of Grenache and Cinsault give this salmon-colored sparkler notes of dried cherries and raspberries.
In Champagne there are a bevy of superlative offerings, some with somewhat modest pricing, like the NV Les Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut ($35). This comes from a co-op in a Grand Cru village. Co-ops can be of varying quality, depending on where they are located, but this is one of the greats. One hundred percent Chardonnay from this village expresses a focused style of white flowers and green apples.
The NV J Lassalle 1er Brut “Préférence” ($45, above), from a small, family-run house in the Montage de Reims, echoes the spirit of the day in their motto of une femme, un esprit, un style (“one woman, one spirit, one style”). The wine has a bold and yet finessed style, with notes of pear, white peach, jasmine and piecrust in the finish. The vintners age this wine for 48 months, which is 33 months longer than the minimum time needed for a NV (non-vintage) bottling. Its complexity shows the patience, time and care put into the wine. Worth it at every level.
The most delicate flower in the bouquet would be the NV René Geoffroy Rosé de Saignée ($75, below). It’s made using a now-rare method of making rosé Champagne during which the juice is bled off after a few hours of skin contact. Its nose will make you think of rose, wild strawberry and raspberries. With its beautiful ruby-tinged hue, this is a wine to drink with the eyes before the lips. They have been doing it right at this house since the 17th century.
Stepping into the prestige level there is no greater non-vintage Champagne than the Krug “Grand Cuvee” ($179, below). Krug’s non-vintage bottling is preforming at the level of many producer’s greatest offerings. This is what class and pleasure tastes like in a glass. Consistently a blend of up to 20 different vintages, at release it offers the intensity and complexity that many vintage wines need decades to acquire. It’s a wine of richness, power and finesse with notes of toasted brioche, nuts, honey and a finish like a symphony.
On the vintage side, the drive of one of the great ladies of Champagne, Lily Bollinger and her legacy give the 2002 Bollinger RD Brut ($395, below). The RD means “recently disgorged,” as the wine has been sleeping 10 years in the cellars waiting for one beautiful day. This extended time before disgorgement makes it one of the most full-bodied styled Champagnes. The complexity lends seamlessly woven notes of quince, honey and grapefruit followed by roasted almonds and cocoa and then into baking spice.
There is no wrong choice on the list above. To quote a famous winemaker in Burgundy, Anne Gros, “To taste wine is to create memories,” and isn’t this once-in-a-lifetime day full of memories that we will cherish forever?
