Easter Fizz
… sparklers for the weekend …
As Easter approaches, there is a need for a touch of sparkle to enjoy the holiday weekend, and here are five that are definitely worth adding to your shopping basket.
1 - Cave de Lugny, Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs
The two oldest cooperatives in Southern Burgundy, one founded in 1926 and the other in 1927, merged in 1966 to form a significant production entity that creates a raft of different wines from over 400 members. The Cave de Lugny has been exporting wines to USA and UK for over 40 years, and has three wineries. Many Mâcons, under a plethora of different labels and sold through many different retailers and merchants, come from this very well respected company.
The one making this wine is located in the village of Chardonnay and is dedicated to the production of sparkling wines. The term Crémant refers to sparkling wines made using the méthode champenoise but are outside the region of Champagne: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire and Savoie all make Crémant.
I have promoted this wine many times in the past as I consider it to be the best value sparkling wine currently available in the UK. Particularly when Waitrose periodically apply a 25% discount and the price drops to under £13. It is very well made, light and refreshing but the acidity is not harsh as it is superbly balanced with the Chardonnay fruit. Infinitely better than most inexpensive Champagne costing twice as much if not more. If you want a glass of fizz this summer as an aperitif, then this will deliver time after time.
£17.00 - Waitrose
2 - Langlois-Chateau 'Classique' Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé
I had forgotten about Langlois-Château. Not sure why, but they had gone off the radar. However, at a recent trade tasting, their importers were showing the wine, and this was drinking very well.
The estate was founded in 1912 by husband and wife, Edouard Langlois and his wife Jeanne Chateau. Sadly, Edouard was killed in the First World War, and his widow continued to grow the business after the end of that conflict. In 1973 the company was acquired by Bollinger, and with that acquisition comes considerable expertise and investment, creating one of the most respected growers in the Loire for sparkling wine as well as an increasing still wine portfolio.
Made from the Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir grown on a chalky-clay and sand-limestone terroirs. There are light cherries on the nose, with a degree of refinement on the palate: there are the varietal flavours of red and black fruits, but light and delicate. This is a delicious rosé that happens to be sparkling. Pre-lunch aperitif or with the strawberry tartlets: I can see a Mary Berry recipe working really rather well here.
£17.00 - Majestic
3 - Nyetimber Cuvée Cherie
Nyetimber has established itself as a premium brand within the UK’s Sparkling Wine sector. They have invested in marketing and, combined with producing excellent wines, have a strong consumer and on-trade following.
Cuvée Cherie is named after their very charming winemaker, Cherie Spriggs, who has been with this winery since 2007. Her craftsmanship has guided this winery to consistently produce very high quality wines that are respected around the world.
This 100% Chardonnay is defined as Demi-Sec: a slightly confusing term as it is definitely not sweet, but has a delicate balance and is very, very easy to drink. As I have penned before, honey and nuts sit comfortably on the nose, with a well-rounded palate and superb balance between the ripe stone fruit flavours combined with delicate acidity plus hints of almonds, pecans and hazelnuts. Their web site suggests that it should accompany food. I would suggest that as a pre-lunch drink on Easter Sunday, this might be well received by whoever is home for the weekend.
£32.00 - Waitrose - special offer - and multiple merchants / retailers / winery
4 - Gosset Petite Douceur Rosé Extra Dry Champagne
The wine trade loves Gosset. It is the oldest Champagne House, founded in 1584. It makes around 1.3m bottles every year, that is small alongside Möet with 30m+, and even its neighbour in the village of Aÿ, Bollinger making 2.5m. The total production for the whole Champagne region is around the 300m mark. Today, the House is owned by the Renaud-Cointreau group.
Gosset makes a variety of different wines, but this one caught my attention a couple of years ago and is just a bottle I reach for on many occasions during the year. You can find their wines in many merchants, but Berry’s probably have the best range, and is readily available in many retailers / multiples from Fortnums to Waitrose to Majestic.
As their web site suggests, this Rosé would accompany brunch to perfection: Eggs Benedict on a Sunday morning would work to perfection. Made from a predominantly Chardonnay blend - around 60% - and balanced with Pinot Noir, it is aged for a minimum of 11 years in their cellar before release. Red fruits - strawberries and raspberries - sit very comfortably on the palate and there is a touch more fruit in this blend that lifts the flavour above the acidity as the dosage is higher than you might expect. It is a very delicious Champagne.
£58.99 - Tesco and multiple merchants / retailers inc Waitrose
5 - Louis Roederer Collection 245
The price of entry level Grande Marque Champagnes continues to rise, and for wines that around 10 years ago were on the retail shelf for half of today’s price, it is a great shame. However, if you like very good quality Champagne, then that’s where today’s pricing is positioned.
I’ve been a long-term fan of Roederer, and there are always a few cases in my cellar acquiring additional ageing. I’m a great believer that Champagnes significantly improve if you let the bottles sit in their cases in a cool, dark environment for 5 to 10 years after purchase.
Roederer needs little introduction. A family-run operation founded in 1833 and is now run by the seventh generation. This is a multi-vintage blend. Collection 245 is 41% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 24% Pinot Meunier from three different sites, with around 55% coming from the 2020 vintage, and the remainder a collection of reserve wines and older vintages.
It delivers a classical, complex and flawless Champagne.
£60.00 - Waitrose and many merchants / retailers
