This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about Champagne and sparkling wine
By Steve Siciliano
If you're planning on ringing in the New Year tomorrow night I would lay odds that you'll be marking the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 with a glass or three of sparkling wine. Whether that wine is from France, Italy, Spain or the United States, nothing is as synonymous with celebrations as a bottle of bubbly.
When folks come in the store for a bottle of "champagne" we first ask if they're looking for a bottling from France. Most times they're not. Champagne is often used as a generic term for sparkling wine but a wine cannot legally be called Champagne unless it's produced in the eponymous region that lies about 100 miles northeast of Paris.
The bubbles in French Champagne are produced by the méthode champenoise, a time consuming and labor intensive process that, coupled with rules and regulations that ensure quality and limit yields, contributes to the wine's relatively high price. Is the price tag worth it? Yes, if you're budget allows it, but if you're not willing or able to plop down the big bucks for a bottle that bears the name of a high end French producer take heart. There are plenty of lower priced options of bubbly available from Italy, Spain and the United States. There's even a few from France. The following are some true Champagnes and sparkling wines currently on the shelves at Siciliano's Market. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Saint - Hilaire, 2018, Blanc de Blanc Brut, Methode Champenoise, France, $13.99/750ml - Saint-Hilaire Brut displays aromatic flavors of peach, pear and green apple skins with a wonderful, full, creamy mouthfeel. Think non vintage Champagne for a fraction of the cost. (Source)
Famille Moutard, Blanc de Blanc Brut, Methode Champenoise, France, $18.69/750ml - 100% Chardonnay fruit from 20yr old vines in Tonnerre just north of Chablis, it’s elegant and generously flavoured. Aged 24 months on lees with dosage of 5g/l. (Source)
Moutard Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne, Methode Champenoise, France, $37.89/750ml - Moutard Champagne Grande Cuvee Brut is bright yellow-gold in color, complex and nuanced, with fine, intense bubbles. It has a seductive bouquet of pears, grilled almonds, mineral notes and apple pie followed by rich flavors of ripe stone fruits, honey and buttered toast. This Champagne has a remarkably long, delicate finish. (Source)
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne, Methode Champenoise, France, $46.59/750ml - An extremely well-balanced, wonderfully refined and light Champagne which cannot fail to seduce Champagne lovers. Sélection Brut releases unwavering aromas of white fruit, apple and raspberry to glorious effect. The impressive meunier base layer imparts fruit character and soft, rounded texture, backed by racy, yielding pinot noir structure, skilfully refreshed by crunchy chardonnay fruit. Generally appreciated for its spontaneity, this is the perfect Champagne for sharing, for any occasion or situation. Two to three years cellar-ageing brings lovely balance, while maintaining appealing freshness. (Source)
Biutiful Brut Nature Cava, Traditional Method, Spain, $14.79/750ml - Vibrant, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit scents carry a chalky mineral overtone...Smoothly plays power off delicacy and finishes long and stony, with strong mineral cut. (Source)
Chic Barcelona Brut Cava, Traditional Method, Spain, $13.99/750ml - Greenish yellow with golden hues. Fine and persistent perlage. Citrus, lime and green apple aromas. The palate is elegant and distinctive, with white fruit notes and a refreshing acidity. (Source)
Joios Brut Cava, Traditional Method, Spain, $12.49/750/ml - The wine has a pale yellow color with golden sparkles. The nose features white flowers, citrus, tangerine, with hints of toast, pastry, and dried fruits. The mouth is clean with marked acidity. It is creamy, long, and round. (Source)
Laluca Prosecco, Italy, $13.99/750ml - Creamy, off-dry style with flavors of apple and pear with subtle sweetness. (Source)
Freixenet Sparkling Rose', Italy, $21.39/750ml - Delicate pink hues. Enjoy notes of fresh red berries and underlying hints of white flowers and apples. Effervescent with notes of strawberry and red fruits. (Source)
Mawby Us Brut, Michigan, $15.89/750ml - Us is a classic dry sparkling wine. This blend is produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Chambourcin wine grapes from various vineyards, which are hand-harvested and whole-cluster pressed. Only the gently pressed fractions of the juice are used for this cuvee. The young wines are blended before being fermented in the cuve close method, producing the delicate natural effervescence. Finished dry (1.0% residual sugar), the wine has soft red-fruit scents, ripe flavors and a clean, rounded finish. (Source)
Mawby Sex Brut Rose', Michigan, $18.29/750ml - Sex, our Rosé Sparkling wine is our most provocative wine offering. A brut blend of Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Riesling and Muscat grapes, this wine has ripe red fruit aromas, soft fruit flavors and a smooth, rounded finish. The grapes are hand picked and carefully whole-cluster pressed. The juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks, then blended with reserve wines and fermented a second time in a closed tank [the cuve close method]. The wine is then filtered, dosaged, and bottled. (Source)
New and Returning Products
Arclight Isolated Paradise, $4.99/16oz - Double India Pale Ale brewed with Sabro, Mosic and El Dorado. (Source)
Arclight Long Shot, $4.99/16oz - inspired by Nasa's ambitious mission to launch A crew towards Alpha Centauri. Might be sooner than we thought?.A Double India pale with Citra, mosiac, and Idaho 7. 8% abv 50 IBU (Source)
Hoof Hearted $60 Nachos, $4.89/16oz - Wanna drink some ice cold beer? Wayyyyelll Imma letcha! Prime that cheddar-cheese pump w/ the gooiest Citra, Simcoe, & El Dorado. Does it smell? NO! It stank! Plus – it itch. *SNORT* (Source)
Hoof Hearted One More Again, $3.29/12oz - Pilsner - Czech
Lagunitas StereoHoptivs Vol. 1, $2.09/12oz - IPA brewed with Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic hops. (Source)
Marlowe The Way Things Were, $4.09/16oz - Vermont-inspired pale ale brewed with warrior, columbus, chinook, centennial, and simcoe. (Source)
North Peak Piney, $2.09/12oz - This seasonal IPA is aromatic, earthy and bold! Amber-hued and bright with complex aromas of pine and citrus from the Chinook, MI Cascade, Cascade, Simcoe hops and spruce tips. The hops and spruce tips combined with sweet and bitter orange peel create bold, citrus, resinous flavors. The mellow malt character with the addition of maple syrup and towering hop profile of Piney create an effervescent IPA as stately as a spruce tree. (Source)
Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing, $1.99/12oz - Make way for the Big Little Thing, an Imperial IPA flexing a full malt body, restrained sweetness, and tropical hop flavors of mango, grapefruit, and tangerine. (Source)
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, $2.59/12oz - Bigfoot is a beast of a beer, packed with bittersweet malt and heaps of aggressive whole-cone Pacific Northwest hops. First introduced in the winter of 1983, Bigfoot is a cult-classic brewed in the barleywine style—strong and robust with the refined intensity of a wine. Bigfoot is prized by beer collectors for aging in cellars. Under the proper conditions, it can develop enticing new flavors and character as it matures in the bottle. Each new release or “expedition” is vintage dated. (Source)
Sierra Nevada Wanderland, $1.79/12oz - Set out and see where the adventure leads. Roam until your paradise appears—like this juicy, golden sunset of a beer. Take it all in with an aroma of just-picked fruit, bold hop flavor, and a bright burst of nectarine. Enjoy the ride. (Source)
Untitled Art Pixie Grape, $4.69/16oz - Hard Seltzer
Watermark Staff Injection, $4.39/16oz - Porter - American
Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!