Fun and Flavor!
December 2008
Champagne is bubbly, but not smart -- like Mariah Carey! And that's a good thing. It's made to be enjoyed, not studied. Under the French AOC rules, all Champagne is made from Chardonnay, and the red grapes Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. All champagnes are made by blending various wines, sometimes from different vintages. The first five on the list are what you think of as typical: dry and white. The next two are sweet, and the last is a pink champagne. For more on what it means to be champagne, see Snobgoblet.
Thanks again to Morris Miller Wine & Liquor for providing most of the champagne, and we're sorry about the huge pile of corks in the parking lot.
Average Joe Says:
The Wine Guideline rating system is based on input from Average Janes and Joes. No fancy lingo, no calculus, no walking and touching your nose at the same time ... we just find out how you like it, and report!
Dry Whites
WINERY: Moet and Chandon
WINE NAME: White Star
GRAPE: Unknown
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Champagne, France
Average Joe Says: Wow!
Sugar content: extra dry (this is not as dry as Brut - see Snobgoblet for more info).
This is the best-selling champagne in the United States, and now we know why: it made us feel like we weren't wearing any pants. Now THAT'S impressive!
PRICE RANGE: $40-45
LOCATION: Morris Miller Wine & Liquor
ADDRESS: 7804 Alaska Ave. NW, Washington DC
WINERY: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
WINE NAME: None
GRAPE: Unknown
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Champagne, France
Average Joe Says: It's Very Good.
Sugar content: Brut.
Smooth tastes of vanilla, pear and honey. Perfect.
PRICE RANGE: $40-45
LOCATION: Morris Miller Wine & Liquor
ADDRESS: 7804 Alaska Ave. NW, Washington DC
WINERY: Domaine Chandon
WINE NAME: None
GRAPE: Unknown
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Napa, California
Average Joe Says: It's Very Good.
Sugar content: Brut.
Head-to-head against its French big brothers, most people will pick the Moet or Veuve Clicquot. But at a New Year's party, you'll never notice. Great balance between price and quality. Help the economy and buy American!
PRICE RANGE: $15-20
LOCATION: Morris Miller Wine & Liquor
ADDRESS: 7804 Alaska Ave. NW, Washington DC
WINERY: Freixenet
WINE NAME: Cordon Negro
GRAPE: A blend of three white Spanish grape varieties: Macabeo (35%), Xarel-lo (25%) and Parellada (40%)
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Spain
Average Joe Says: It's Good.
Sugar content: Brut.
It had us fooled. It fits right in with the big boys, until you make a serious comparison. Then you notice it isn't as complex, balanced or flavorful -- but still a great value, and very drinkable. The smoked black bottle looks cool, too. Note: Spanish sparkling wines are called Cava.
PRICE RANGE: $10-15
LOCATION: Metro K Supermarket
ADDRESS: 1864 Columbia Road NW, Washington DC
WINERY: Cavit
WINE NAME: Lunetta
GRAPE: Prosecco
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Trentino, Italy
Average Joe Says: It's OK.
Sugar content: Details not available. We rate it somewhere around extra dry.
We put this guy last among the dry whites for a reason. The taste and bubbles faded quickly, leaving us wondering what just happened. But prosecco is like pizza - there's no such thing as a BAD one! (Prosecco is an Italian category of sparkling wine. "Spumante" means sparkling, look for that as well.)
PRICE RANGE: $10-15
LOCATION: Metro K Supermarket
ADDRESS: 1864 Columbia Road NW, Washington DC
Sweet Blends
WINERY: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
WINE NAME: None
GRAPE: Mostly Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Champagne, France
Average Joe Says: It's Good.
Sugar content: Demi-sec.
The sweetness makes it more of a dessert wine, but we didn't have any dessert and drank it anyway.
PRICE RANGE: $55-60
LOCATION: Morris Miller Wine & Liquor
ADDRESS: 7804 Alaska Ave. NW, Washington DC
WINERY: Moet and Chandon
WINE NAME: Nectar Imperial
GRAPE: Usually 50-60% Pinot Noir; 20-30% Pinot Meunier; 10% Chardonnay; 10-20% reserve wines
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Champagne, France
Average Joe Says: It's Good.
Sugar content: N/A
Nectar of the Gods. Sweet, very tasty. If you like the sweet ones, you'll love it.
PRICE RANGE: $45-50
LOCATION: Morris Miller Wine & Liquor
ADDRESS: 7804 Alaska Ave. NW, Washington DC
PINKS
WINERY: Domaine Chandon
WINE NAME: Blanc de Noirs ("white of blacks")
GRAPE: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
YEAR: No Vintage
REGION: Carneros, Napa, California
Average Joe Says: It's Good.
Sugar content: N/A
The hint of salmon color is from the red grapes used, hence the name: white (wine) from black (grapes).
PRICE RANGE: $15-20
LOCATION: Morris Miller Wine & Liquor
ADDRESS: 7804 Alaska Ave. NW, Washington DC
