My pick for the theme is a fascinating and fabulous bottle of sparkling wine from the Chablis region of France.
Who doesn’t enjoy sparkling wine?! The Wine Pairing Weekend group of writers is exploring “Bubbles From Around The World” this month. As our host Andrea of The Quirky Cork points out “...if a country makes wine, it probably also makes sparkling wine!”
With that in mind, get ready to explore sparkling wines from around the world!
My pick for the theme is a fascinating and fabulous bottle of sparkling wine from the Chablis region of France.
If you’re a wine enthusiast, you might be thinking, As legend has it, France is the birthplace of sparkling wine. Couldn’t you come up with something more interesting than Champagne, or Crémant?”
Well, contrary to popular belief, not all sparkling wine that comes from France is classified as either Champagne or Crémant. There are other sparkling wines produced in France, that are not labeled as either of those traditional sparkling wines.
For example, pétillant naturel, or “pét-nat,” which are believed the original sparkling wine (and most “natural”), originated in France. Or…
As in the case of the wine I’ve chosen, the wine is labeled a simply a Methode Traditionelle French Sparkling wine because it wasn’t made in Champagne and doesn’t meet the requirements for being (in this case) a Crémant de Bourgogne.
Val de Mer Brut Nature Rosé
Val de Mer is the latest project of renown Chablis’ winemaker, Patrick Piuze in partnership with François Moutard, who has a sizeable estate in Champagne and some vineyards in the Chablis region. Piuze, who has been making wines for the likes of Olivier Leflaive, Verget, and Jean-Marc Brocard started his own label in 2008. It is Piuze who makes this wine. Fruit for the Val de Mer Brut Nature Rosé wine comes from the village of Tonnerre northeast of Chablis. The vineyards are planted on clay and limestone soils with an average age of 30 years . It was vinified using the same ‘Méthode Traditionelle’ used to create Champagne. The grapes are hand harvested, crushed, and left to macerate on the skins for a few hours only in order to take on a bit of color and fresh red fruit aromas. It was aged sur-lie for 9 months before being disgorged. Zero dosage explains Wine.com
Tasting Note
It pours a pretty pink color with cherry, strawberry brioche and a hint of chalk aromas. On the palate it approaches medium-bodied with bright pink acidity and a creamy mousse. There’s a purity of red-fruit flavors that reminds me of one of my favorite Rose Champagne – red cherry, strawberry pink grapefruit and a hints of raspberry and spice accented with an appealing chalky minerality with a very satisfying finish that shows an appetizing bit of bitterness. 12% abv| SRP<$25. 100% Pinot Noir. It’s a great value at that price. Not long after I finished this bottle, I ordered 3 more bottles! I think I just found by new favorite under $30 Rosé sparkling wine!
The wine was a very congenial partner with my delectable dinner of Gnocchi cotto with garlic black pepper cream sauce, prosciutto cotto, and parmiggiano reggiano
I invite you to check out what my fellow #WinePW writers discovered while exploring “Bubbles From Around The World“. You’re bound to find sparkling wines from around the world and some delicious food pairings too!:
- Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm bubbles over about Celebrating Little Christmas in Michigan with a Local Bubbly
- Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla sabers open Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar with Pannekoeke + Boschendal Brut Rosé
- Linda from My Full Wine Glass cracks open Cava: Because everybody needs a go-to bubbly
- Martin at Enofylz Wine Blog pops the cork on Sparkling Wine from Chablis? Oui! Val de Mer Brut Nature Rosé
- Anna Maria of Unraveling Wine toasts us with 10 Best Greek Sparkling Wines with Pairings #WinePW
- David at Cooking Chat Food disgorges Baked Fiesta Dip with Mexican Bubbly
- Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles riddles with Bubbles by any other name…Sparkling wines from all over the globe
- Jennifer of Vino Travels charms with Upcoming the Game with Asolo Prosecco
- Lisa at The Wine Chef adds dosage with Dive Into the OG Bubbly With Blanquette de Limoux #WinePW
- Nicole at Somm’s Table gets cagey with Re-introducing Cava!
- Gwendolyn from Wine Predator adds the crown with A Dozen Sparkling Wine Secrets from Around the World
- Susannah from Avvinare sparkles with Brazilian sparklers come of age
- Terri at Our Good Life shares Favorite Bubbles from Around the World
- Andrea from The Quirky Cork celebrates with A Vertical Tasting of Vinkara’s Yaşasın
If you are reading this in time, feel free to join us in a live Twitter chat on Saturday, January 8th at 8am Pacific time. Just follow the hashtag #WinePW. And be sure to add that to anything you tweet so we can see it.
What an interesting choice! We thought you might go the Lambrusco route given your love for that wine…I don’t think we’ve ever had a sparkling wine from Chablis so now definitely intrigued.
This wine reminds me of the Larmandier-Bernier Rosé de Saignee. Of course, it’s not as complex, but there is a purity of fruit, I find very appealing. And for ~$25 USD, it’s offers terrific value.
Such a great choice. I love Patrick Piuze’s Chablis so I will be hunting this sparkling one down! Thanks for sharing.
I wasn’t familiar with Patrick Piuze, but not long after trying this wine, I spotted one of his Chablis on a wine list. Of course, I had to try it! It was wonderful!
Sounds like a delicious sparkling wine! It reminds me of one I have had relatively recently, that also doesn’t fit any of the well known categories…I think it was from the Loire.
And speaking of rule and regulations, that’s one of the things I’ve always appreciated about wine here in the US, it’s less prescriptive. A good thing in my opinion because it can encourage innovation.
Sparkling wines are the best, no matter what! Good post entitled to it.
Indeed! Sparkling wine are definitely a favorite!