New Year's Eve Champagne and Sparkling Wine Guide

Tonight countless bottles of bubbly will be popped as we gather to celebrate the passing of 2010 and the start of 2011. The absolute worst thing you can do is to celebrate with an inferior bottle of bubbly. But good sparkling wine and Champagne doesn't have to break the bank.

Here are four bottles that can fit your budget and will not assault your tastebuds.
Remember that you can get about 5 flutes of Champagne from a bottle so plan ahead if you are entertaining or better yet, ask your guests to bring a bottle!

	Cost: About $12 Review Spanish Cava sparkling wine. Apples and grassy notes. Larger bubbles that fizz and pop in your mouth. Not complex. Made traditionally. Easy going.
	Cost: About $27 Review California sparkling wine. Fruity with apples and cream. Medium bubbles that bounce around your mouth.
	Cost: About $40 Review French Champagne.Citrussy. Playful and delightful.
	Cost: About $50 ReviewFrench Champagne. My absolute favorite. Intense traditional character. Dry, fresh bread and cracker notes with soft cheese and flowers. Small bubbles that dance and play. Elegant, refined, and simply the best!

Are you ready for New Year's?

Here we are on the brink of another New Year's celebration and of course that means bubbly!
First just a point of accuracy–“Champagne” is wine that comes from Champagne, France. If it isn’t from Champagne, France, it isn’t Champagne.

Now that, that’s out of the way let’s get down to some rules of thumb rather than getting too caught up in specific names of wines which may or may or may not be able to find. Remember, you like what you like. Just make sure you really like what you like.

Do yourself a favor (and anyone else who will be cerebration with you, completely avoid the host of sparkiling wines that are ubiquitous at this time of year and are generally displayed on end caps or special displays so that you will buy them. If the wine costs less than $5, PLEASE don’t buy it!

For just a couple dollars more you can buy myriads of sparklers that are actually well made and taste good rather than the sickeningly sweet “soda-pop” wines that are disgusting and make you sick. Andre’s, Cook’s, and others of their ilk are such brands but there are many more.

For less than $10 you can find wines from Spain, Italy, and America that have some character and taste like, well, wine. Spain’s, Freixenet is popular and a solid choice and is always a decent buy. Washington State’s St. Michelle produces three types of sparklers all in the $10 range and are consistently well made. If you are given to a higher end sparkler look to a place like Schramsberg who makes sparkling wines that will rival those of French origin. From Italy are the various “Prosecco” sparklers which again, are routinely well made and won’t break the bank.

Now if you’re a purist and you have to have Champagne, my personal favorite is Mumm’s Brut Prestige. It will cost around $20 and is a high quality, yet relatively inexpensive bubbly that is affordable and pleasing.

In the case of New Year’s Eve celebrations, if everyone is pretty well toasted anyway, go ahead and open that Andre’s I guess. But if you’re looking for a wine experience, pay the extra few bucks and get a real wine. Happy New Year to you all and remember to have a designated driver. You don’t want to start 2011 on a catastrophic note.

Raise a glass to the new year!

Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 review by (PB)

This Central Coast (Calif.) beaut. is a dark purple with lush fruity, chocolate aromas and cigar box fragrance and all sorts of good things!

Palate--this is a bold wine with big, tight, dark fruit, espresso, more black plum, baker's chocolate and after 24 hours is even better still loads of cherry fruit as well. I paid $15 for this wine and would love it at a considerably higher price point. This wine will grow for the next decade and should be fabulous.

For the price point this is at, it is worth seeking out and raising a glass of a classic Cab.

Corteforte 1997 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Wine Review by Billy

Nose: Bold casis, tobacco and cedar with cherry undertones
Palate: Big juicy mouth feel with mouth-watering acids and a tannin core that is very firm even after these 13 years.
Finish: long and savory with basil, oregano and anise hints that taper off.
Overall: I paid $30 for a 500ml bottle of this at a local wine store where I am sure they did not know what they had on hand. It is a deep brick red in the glass and shows its age.

This is a very special bottle of wine that I found sitting on the shelf of a local beer shop. This just goes to show that you can find gems hidden away amidst the dross of lite beer and cheep spirits.

Raise a glass!

Oberon Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2009 Sponsored Wine Review by Billy

Nose:Heavy tropical fruit on the nose (pineapple and apricot and lemon)
Palate: Dry with medium acids that make this a good pairing for buttery dishes and cream sauce meals.
Finish:lingering tropical fruit acid notes.
Overall: Thanks to Susanne Bergstrom from the Folio Fine Wine Partners group for providing the review samples. This wine can be found widely (if it is not at your local wine store ask the manager for it). It retails for anywhere from $12 - $16. Overall this is a nice example of fruity Sauvignon Blanc. The citussy acid character presents well and should be best served with a buttery complement. There are many different styles of Sauvignon Blanc wines from around the world. This Napa Valley white wine is a nice example of a tropical fruit style.

Raise a Glass!

Chateau De Candale 2005 review by (PB)

Candale is a Grand Cru St. Emilion from the famed 2005 vintage. I am pairing it with a rib roast and my initial tasting of it with on opening shows it will be a nice wine and the perfect pairing. I am allowing it to come to room temp (my cellar is set at 56 degrees and it definitely needs to breathe. I am allowing it 4 hours.

Now that it has opened,there are many more layers. It is this phenomenon of "layers" or complexity that separates the more pricey wines from the lesser ones. This is an 80% blend of Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

Bouquet--Bouquet is sweet fruit laden aromas of black cherry, cedar, licorice, cigar box and black ripe plums, with slight menthol.

Palate--bready,chewy,structured for age, loads of plummy fruit and black cherry bites on a frame of tannins which have toned down with breathing. It was marvelous with our rare rib roast and Yorkshire pudding. A treat all the way around and a fitting feast honoring the King of kings.

Raise a glass to this Christmas celebration and Happy Hanukkah to the patriarchs of the Faith!

Sean Minor Four Bears 2008 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Sponsored Wine Review by Billy

Nose: rich and full of dried raspberry and cedar with tobacco notes.
Palate: Warm and full and fruity in the mouth with soft tannins and gentle acid core that make this very accessible and pleasant
Finish: gentle finish with cedar notes and cherry.
Overall:Thanks to the team from the Sean Minor Winery who have sent The Wine Cask Blog samples for review. You can find Sean Minor wines at your local wine shop (or ask the store manager about them). This wine will run $15-$20. If you find it for $12 or less pick up 2 bottles!

This is a wonderful Christmas wine because of its accessibility and its character. Guests will like it for the fruitiness and how easy drinking it is. The wine lover in your life will like how it combines woody character with soft tannins and full feel.

Raise a Glass to Sean Minor 2008 Napa Cab!

Holiday Wine and Cheese Parings by (PB)

In a recent conference call with the Sam's Club wine and cheese buyers we discussed pairings for the holidays realizing that a bunch of us will be fretting over the right cheeses with the right wines. Below is a helpful little list that can get you started in the right direction. I just returned from my local Sam's Club and their cheeses--at least the ones I checked are WAY cheaper than anything I can find anywhere else so be sure to check out yours!
Cheese and wine pairing suggestions!

French Brie with Champagne, Chardonnay

Roquefort with Port

English Blue Stilton with Cabernet, Port

English Fruited Stilton with Cabernet, Port

Red Wax Gouda with Merlot, Zinfandel

Parmigiano Reggiano with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay

Grana Padano with Barolo, Barbaresco

Manchego with Rioja (Tempranillo), Merlot

Iberico with Garnacha, (Grenache) Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc

Dubliner (Irish Cheddar) with Cabernet Sauvignon

Laboure Roi Puilly Fuisse 2008 review by (PB)

I reviewed this wine not long ago (October of this year) and grabbed another bottle on sale.

Pale gold - straw with plenty of vanilla laden citrus mix of lime,and others.

Palate- Stern presence with racy acidity, citrus backbone, juicy with minerals. A Burgundian Chard that will cleanse your palate of the butteriest sauces you can throw at it. It's finish really endures for some time!

A good food wine and a great value at $13 on super sale!

Raise a glass of the real thing!

Honig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Currants and cherry on the nose with a pleasant mix of herbs and spices

Full bodied on the palate

Supple finish with smooth layers of cherry and currant along with chocolate and cedar

Summary:

With a red fruit profile and nice herb and spice accents, this is a pleasing Cabernet now that could also cellar for a while. Honig is a perennial good value Cab from Napa, and the 2007 is a real winner. Expect to pay around $35 or so. Raise a glass!

Questions About Wine Pairings???

The holidays (don't forget New Years is just around the corner) provide too many opportunities for enhancing your meals, parties, snacks, and traditions, "to blow it" on a poor wine selection. So if you have a question about what wines go with something you are serving, e-mail us (serona@gmail.com) and we will try to get back to you in a timely manner.

It would be helpful if you can be specific with what you are thinking of serving, the price range you want to spend and whether you live in a metropolitan area with ample selection opportunities. (It is frustrating to receive specific wine recommendations when the wines are not available to you.)

It is even better if you have some idea of wines you have looked at instead of us shotgunning. But that said, shotgunning can be effective as we will provide you with general principles concerning your food etc.

Heidseick Monopole Blue Top Brut Champagne Review by Billy

Nose: Huge aromas that waft even when the glass is on the table. Crisp granny smith apple and buttered toast with caramel underneath.
Palate: good Brut dryness and solid acid core but with bubbles that fail to dance. They prickle but are lazy.
Finish: Floral finish that hints at nuttiness.
Overall: I paid $40 for this at a local wine store. The Heidseick & Company Blue Top Monopole Brut Champagne can be found anywhere from $25 (a steal) to $45 (got money to burn?). It was paired with baklava for dessert and went very well. Shop around and find this on sale and treat you and your Christmas guests to a lovely champagne.

Raise a Glass!

Casal Garcia Rose 2008 Sponsored Wine Review by Billy

Nose:strawberry on the nose
Palate:slightly sprtizy
Finish:short
Overall:The bubbles are the best part of this wine. The rest of it should be left in the bottle. While it is pretty to look at and the bubbles make it an inexpensive festive wine, the rest of it is unremarkable. Still, it is good to know what is good and what is not this holiday season.

Special thanks to Sar Perlman of Portugal Wines for making this sample available to us at the Wine Cask Blog for review! This is an inexpensive ($9 or so) wine from Portugal - the Vinhos Verdes ("green wine") Region in the north of Portugal.Special thanks to Sar Perlman of Portugal Wines for making this sample available to us at the Wine Cask Blog for review! This is an inexpensive wine from Portugal - the Vinhos Verdes ("green wine") Region in the north of Portugal.

Holiday Wine and Cheese Pairings by (PB)

In a recent conference call with the Sam's Club wine and cheese buyers we discussed pairings for the holidays realizing that a bunch of us will be fretting over the right cheeses with the right wines. Below is a helpful little list that can get you started in the right direction. I just returned from my local Sam's Club and their cheeses--at least the ones I checked are WAY cheaper than anything I can find anywhere else so be sure to check out yours!
Cheese and wine pairing suggestions!

French Brie with Champagne, Chardonnay

Roquefort with Port

English Blue Stilton with Cabernet, Port

English Fruited Stilton with Cabernet, Port

Red Wax Gouda with Merlot, Zinfandel

Parmigiano Reggiano with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay

Grana Padano with Barolo, Barbaresco

Manchego with Rioja (Tempranillo), Merlot

Iberico with Garnacha, (Grenache) Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc

Dubliner (Irish Cheddar) with Cabernet Sauvignon

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2007 review by (PB)

Young purple hue with a sweet berry laden bouquet and a nose of light black licorice/anise and evergreen;

Palate--rich and relaxed with young tannins that will turn to velvet in a couple years. Ample berry and black cherry with a touch of cola nuances and light cinnamon notes; should continue to evolve in the glass as it warms up. After an hour and a warm up this is a superior Cab and at the price of $12 (it runs around $18 most places)it is a super value wine that is delicious and a fine example of how good Cabernet can be. Raise a glass or three of this VERY nice wine!

Fontodi Syrah Case Via Colli della Toscana blind review by (PB)

(NW) served this up to me and made me look like a rank amateur in wine tasting. It has a red hue with a bouquet of berries, dill cinnamon and candied berries.

Palate--somehwat lighter in body with cherries, a break out of subtle licorice rear palate,mature tannins and some milky fudge. With more time is has a raisiny quality to it leading me to think it might be a ripasso.

This wine is known as the best Syrah in Italy and will run you a hefty $50-$70. This was quite an experience and an education so raise a glass!

Johann Falkenburg Riesling 2008 review by PB)

This German QBA wine (QBA is an abbreviation for three German words that designate he quality level or "title" of the wine--see explanation on reading a German label in a previous entry.

This was a magnum bottle with a light straw hue and a slight off aroma with a little spice.

Minerals up front on a somewhat flacid foundation with pears and slight peach notes on a steely finish. this is not a great example of riesling and would be better passed on.

Nerello Del Bastardo 2007 review by (PB)

This Italian wine is a young purple ont he pour with nice sweet cherry pipe tobacco scents with black Twizzlers and resin notes.

Palate--Flavorful palate with gentle tannins, tasty with a minerally mid-palate and plenty of red fruit on the finish.

This is really quite a nice wine and a solid value so raise a glass!

Opolo Vineyards Rhapsody Paso Robles Meritage Red Wine 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant nose of blackberry, licorice, and hints of coconut

Full bodied and plush on the palate

Nicely layered finish of raspberry, blackberry, and vanilla

Summary:

Here's an interesting blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. As a 2002, it's really drinking nicely with rich fruit and plush layers. Interesting, with a lot of air it also developed herbal characteristics.

I paid $17 on closeout, which was a considerable deal considering this wine typically goes for over $30. I'd put it with red meat or a rich pasta dish. And raise a glass!

Aveleda Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Branco 2008 sponsored wine review by Billy

Nose:lime citrus and minerals on the nose
Palate:small spritzig with a dry palate, rich acids and mineral textures that burst then quickly fade.
Finish:Short.
Overall:Special thanks to Sar Perlman of Portugal Wines for making this sample available to us at the Wine Cask Blog for review! This is an inexpensive wine from Portugal - the Vinhos Verdes ("green wine") Region in the north of Portugal. This is a good event wine with the dry palate and almost but not quite bubbles and the mineral textures. It is not buttery or cloying like some other whites you might get served as a guest at a party. This wine was delightful before dinner with light snacks.

Raise a Glass!