- Dec 31, 2018
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Christmas dinner never varies at Chateau GBM: standing rib roast, Yorkshire pudding, and green beans and brussel sprouts roasted with rosemary and pancetta. The only variable from year to year is the wine. I was in the mood for something special and pulled out what is probably one of the better wines I own: 1990 Chateau Leoville Las Cases, from St. Julien in Bourdeaux. Still has a lot of life in it, but fully mature and absolutely epic. I bought an entire case on futures back almost 30 years ago for $360. Today one bottle would set you back more than I paid for the case. For those of you with that kind of disposable income (which I don’t) I assure you you won’t be disappointed. Here’s the label:
I don’t know if we have any sparkling wine fans here, but for those who like it, but find champagne ridiculously over priced, there is some good stuff coming out of California (and has been for decades). One of my favorites comes from Domain Chandon, with a couple bottles consumed on Christmas with appetizers, owned by the French luxury brands company LVMH. Our go to is the “Blanc de Pinot Noir” (formerly named, in the French fashion “Blanc de noirs). For those unfamiliar, champagne is made with both white and red grapes unless labeled “Blanc de blancs.” Many California sparklers are also a blend, but Chandon is one of the few to note it on the label.
So if any here are looking for a good one for New Years, and want to stay in the under $20 range, you won’t go wrong with this one (and for those who don’t like Pinot Noir - cough, cough, @NVGator cough - this sparkler tastes nothing like Pinot. (Another great Cali sparkler for under $20, but more under the radar, is Scharffenberger). As for the Chandon label…
Until recently the label looked like this
For anyone interested in trying the Scharffenberger
Both of these would be considered “dry” sparkling wines as opposed to “sweet.”
I don’t know if we have any sparkling wine fans here, but for those who like it, but find champagne ridiculously over priced, there is some good stuff coming out of California (and has been for decades). One of my favorites comes from Domain Chandon, with a couple bottles consumed on Christmas with appetizers, owned by the French luxury brands company LVMH. Our go to is the “Blanc de Pinot Noir” (formerly named, in the French fashion “Blanc de noirs). For those unfamiliar, champagne is made with both white and red grapes unless labeled “Blanc de blancs.” Many California sparklers are also a blend, but Chandon is one of the few to note it on the label.
So if any here are looking for a good one for New Years, and want to stay in the under $20 range, you won’t go wrong with this one (and for those who don’t like Pinot Noir - cough, cough, @NVGator cough - this sparkler tastes nothing like Pinot. (Another great Cali sparkler for under $20, but more under the radar, is Scharffenberger). As for the Chandon label…
Until recently the label looked like this
For anyone interested in trying the Scharffenberger
Both of these would be considered “dry” sparkling wines as opposed to “sweet.”