Wine Of The Week: NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé

My wine of the week for March 17-23 is the NV Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé.  Franciacorta, refers both to the territory, located in the Lombardy region of Italy, and the sparkling wine produced from grapes grown within the boundaries of the territory.  Since 1995, Franciacorta has had DOCG status, the highest echelon of Italian wine…

T.G.I.F. Champagne And The Like…NV Nicolas Feuillatte “Blue Label” Brut Champagne

Have you ever wondered what’s the best-selling brand of Champagne in France?  Sure, all the big names in Champagne are there, but I’m thinking the average middle-class French consumer doesn’t have the coin for Moet and Mumm on a regular basis.   The answer is the maker of this week’s bubbly, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte.  Feuillatte…

T.G.I.F. Champagne And The Like…2008 Murgo Brut Rosé

Check out this surprisingly good Italian sparkler from Sicily!

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – 2007 Raventós i Blanc Cava L’Hereu Reserva Brut

After my faith in Spanish Cava was restored by the “2007 Raventós i Blanc L’Hereu Nit” Brut Reserva Cava, I decided to try the non-Rosé version of the same wine this week. The wines are from the same vintage, so the difference between the two is the absence of  red grape, Monastrell (a.k.a. Mourvèdre) from this wine….

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut

How about an authentic Champagne by a producer founded in 1785 – N.V. Piper-Heidsieck (Red Label) Brut

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – 2007 Raventos i Blanc “L’Hereu de Nit” Brut Reserva Rosé Cava

Have you ever tried a Reserva Cava? Cava doesn’t have to be limited to the cheap stuff that mostly good for Mimosas!

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

Looking for great price-quality ratio in a Cali sparkler?

T.G.I.F. Champagne and the like – 2008 Reginato “Celestina” Rosé of Malbec

Have you tried a sparkling Malbec?

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…