A few Valentine's Day Rosé Bubbly, Champagne and other sparkling

A few Valentine's Day Rosé Bubbly, Champagne and other sparkling

Valentine’s Day usually call for sparkling wines, and more specifically sparkling roses. It is mainly a day to please your partner, friends and family. Bubbly enhance any occasions, parties and “tete-a-tete” lunches and dinners. Rosé makes it even more romantic and festive and colorful.

So, to help you sheer up your Valentine’s day, here is a list of some fun and helpful sparkling values to help you focus on the dinner, the flowers or the jewelry bill:



NV Marquis de La tour Brut Rose Loire Valley France $9.99

The Loire Valley has often been called the “garden of France.” This pastoral landscape, with its gently rolling hills and majestic Châteaux, also happens to be the largest sparkling wine region in France, outside of Champagne.

One of the best known names in fine Loire Valley sparkling wines is Marquis de la Tour from Rémy Pannier. Rémy Pannier, which has been identified with premium quality Loire Valley wines since 1885, is the Loire Valley’s single largest wine producer, with markets in over 40 countries worldwide. Marquis de la Tour has been a welcome guest and the toast of the party at social gatherings and family celebrations, both formal and casual, around the world. It remains a fun and accessible bubbly, and although not too complex or extravagant, it is definitely easy going and agreeable.

This is a charming and affordable sparkling wine, a perfect party toast or reception aperitif. This gentle and friendly bubbly has a bright salmon pink color, almost candied, with fine bubbles. The nose is quite delicate and elegant with notes of strawberries and raspberries. The palate is round, supple and fresh with a red fruit long finish. This fruity, yet not sweet, sparkling wine can be served as an aperitif. Its aroma is also enhanced when served with red-berry desserts.



NV Latittude 50 Brut Rose Sekt Germany $19.99

Our good friend Savio Soares is already renown for bringing organic and biodynamic gems and values from France and Germany (and more), and once again he hit the spot, with this 100% Spätburgunder (more commonly called Pinot Noir) Rosé Sekt (Brut or sec) sparkling from Germany.

2007 Latitude 50 Spätburgunder Rosé is fresh, vivid, with multiple, fast paced bubbles and an elegant, tender, light pinkish onion skin color. This rosé is a sociable, easy-going and inviting bubbly. Surprisingly easy to drink, dry and bright yet ripe and light on its feet and fruity (and once again, remember that fruity doesn't necessarily mean sweet, in most case, it just imply ripeness or a fruitier taste than usual in therm of fruit not of sugar.... sweet is definitely a misleading word in the wine world vocabulary), it is an ideal dry sparkling rosé wine for any festive occasion (a toast, a lunch or a dinner, etc..). It was one of the highlights of 2009 end of the year Holiday's season and a no-brainer choice for taste and especially value. Saint Valentin is coming soon and this rosé will tenderly complement your eyes-to-eyes, cuddling time.



NV Ayala Brut Rose Majeur Champagne Aye France $38.99

Since January 1st, 2008, Cognac One has become the sole importer of Champagne Ayala in the U.S. The only French champagne house with Latin roots, AYALA was established in 1860 in Äy, France by Edmond de AYALA, the son of a Colombian diplomat in Paris, who married the niece of a noble Viscount and received the Chateau of Äy as his dowry, along with prime vineyards located in Aÿ and Mareuil sur Aÿ.

The House of AYALA was one of the elite founding members of the "Ivy League" of the top champagne houses, the Syndicat des Grandes Marques de Champagne. AYALA was purchased by Bollinger in 2005.

Like Bollinger, Ayala produces fairly bodied Champagne that are yeasty and food friendly, balanced and elegant. The Ayala Brut Rose Majeur is an interesting, fruit forward Champagne, medium bodied, with strawberry and floral flavors. Medium pink-red candied cherry color, this classy and gutsy rosé will complement any red berry dessert as well as fresh tuna, salmon and crab.



You can also check the following ones, which are some of my favorite sparkling rosé(s). They surely deserve a bit more attention and I will at some point probably write a post for each of them. However, here is a short list for Valentine's Day:

• NV H.Goutorbe Rose Brut Grand cru Champagne Aye France $52.99
  
• NV Moutard Pere et Fils Brut Rose de Cuvaison Buxeuil Champagne France $33.99
• NV Marc Hebrart Brut Rose Champagne $43.99
  
• NV Carpene Malvoti Prosecco Italy $18.99
  
• NV Chapuy Brut Rose Tradition Champagne $39.99
  
• NV Delavenne Brut Rose Champagne $41.99
  
• NV Gardet Brut Rose Champagne $47.99
  
• NV Laurent-Perrier Brut Rose Champagne $75.99
• NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose Champagne $79.99
  
• NV Heidsieck Monopole Brut Rose Champagne $34.99
  
• NV Brun FRV 100 Rose Terres Dorees $22.99
  
• NV Codorniu Brut Pinot Noir Rose Cava Spain $14.99
  
• NV Cristalino Brut Rose Cava Spain $8.99

I could have put much more brands and labels, but this list should be a good way to start and give you some ideas. The prices are the ones that we have at the store, visit the store website for more info at www.HeightsChateau.com.


Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

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