T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – N.V. Chandon Blanc de Noirs

This week’s selection is an old favorite, a “go to” sparkler that I’ve enjoyed over the years – Chandon Blanc de Noir.  Blanc de Noirs (a French term literally meaning “white of blacks”) are sparklers made with black, or red-skinned grapes – in this case Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Domaine Chandon was the first…

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – Gruet Brut Sparkling Wine

This week’s T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like tasting turned in to a T.G.I. Saturday tasting since we went to the Dark and Delicious Petite Sirah wine event Friday night. As Gomer Pyle would say “SUprise, SUprise – a sparkler from New Mexico!  Gruet makes both Vintage, and Non-Vintage sparkling wine, and still wines. It was…

Champagne Day!

August 4th is annual Champagne Day. It’s the date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon’s invention of Champagne in 1693. While history has proven claims of monk’s invention of Champagne (along with the quote attributed to him at the time of invention – “Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!”) to be more fanciful than factual,…