by Eleni-Glenn-Katrin on December 27, 2011
With Christmas and Hanukkah finally behind us, it will soon be time to mark the end of 2011. To usher in the New Year, here are some of our suggestions for bubbles and brews of all forms.
Katrin – What to serve can sometimes depend on how many are going to be enjoying what you are pouring. For two, nothing can beat an outstanding Champagne. My choice is Camille Saves ‘Carte Blanche’. I first had this at the Federal Wine & Spirits annual Champagne tasting a couple of years ago, and it remains a favorite. For twenty (or more), a sparkling wine is festive and affordable. After enjoying the 90+ Cellars Lot 50 Prosecco, I just had to try the 90+ Cellars Lot 49 Prosecco Rosé. This is a fun wine with aromas of fresh black cherry and strawberry. And at only $11.99, you can serve it up to a crowd.
Eleni – I find New Year’s (small gatherings) to be a great Open That Bottle Night. This year, I plan to open my 2008 Amancaya, made by one of my favorite Argentine collaborations: Caro (Barons De Rothschild – Lafite) and Nicolas Catena. A 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine will make an excellent toast to the new year and to a year of drinking more outstanding wines.
Glenn -
As I’ve often remarked, a sparkler sets the tone for the evening. For NYE 2012, my first choice is the German Gilabert Rosat Brut Nature Cava. Typically, I find cavas boring – but not this one. Imported by José Pastor Selections which specializes in artisanal, traditionally made Spanish wines, this is a blend of the somewhat obscure Spanish varietal Trepat and the more commonplace Garnacha. The color is a beautiful shade of raspberry and the wine smells like a bowl of ripe red berries. The fruit carries over onto the palate and lingers through the finish. Wonderfully frothy - and since the wine is given no dosage (Brut Nature) – completely dry. Beautiful in the glass and pleasing on the palate, this cava could also be an excellent base for cocktails. And after the glut of holiday spending, the very reasonable price is an added enticement. $13.99 - at Whole Foods 340 River St. Camb. MA
My next suggestion is to get cozy with The Mad Elf. This outstanding brew from Troeg is quite festive. The photo doesn’t truly convey the ale’s beautiful ruby hue. Brewed with sweet and sour cherries, honey and chocolate malt, the aroma is sweet, fruity, malty. Rich and smooth – with an IBU of 15 - and with moderate carbonation, this ale is meant to be sipped. My feeling is that it would also pair nicely with chocolate desserts. However, be prudent with The Mad Elf – the ABV is 11%! One wants to be awake at midnight. Unlike the cava, the Mad Elf is somewhat pricey – but worth it for celebrating the arrival of the allegedly catasclysmic 2012. $16.99 – at Kappy’s Wellington Circle Medford MA
No matter how you choose to celebrate, we wish you a Happy New Year and a wine-filled 2012!
-Eleni, Glenn, Katrin, Rodney
by glenn on December 6, 2011
Though Champagne is always the appropriate beverage – for both quotidian and celebratory drinking – and knows no season, it is de riguer for the holidays. Whether as party beverage or gift (hint! hint!), the Yuletide is made merrier with bubbles. Each year, shortly after Thanksgiving, Federal Wine and Spirit ,in collaboration with its distributors, hosts the premier Champagne tasting in Boston – the event spanning two evenings. The first night is devoted to the Champagne houses – the grands marques, while the second evening features the smaller independent estates. Besides the opportunity to sample a variety of Champagnes, an added inducement is the significant discounts offered the night of the tastings; Champagnes do remain on sale until year’s end. This year,the event was held at the venerable Marliave. And since we of WDWU are interested in smaller producers and interesting, idiosyncratic wines, we attended the second session which showcased the Récoltant-Manipulant Champagnes.
In recent years, estate champagnes have grown in popularity and respectability. Decanter, the venerable English wine magazine, recently hosted a panel of Champagne experts to taste and evaluate grower champagnes. The panelists enthusiastically endorsed the wines or as the magazine stated, “Grower Champagnes get thumbs up in first Decanter panel”. One panelist went even further to describe the wines as “a refreshing change from ’the dull conformity of the grand marques’ “.
In all, we sampled fifteen Champagnes ranging from Blanc de Blancs to Blanc de Noirs, including several rosès.
Undoubtedly, though, the highlight of the evening was Derek Whitaker of Atlantic Importing Co. pouring at Table One. But Derek wasn’t just pouring – he was conducting a class on Champagne. For each of his selections, he would discuss the grower, the cépage and with the assistance of a detailed map from The Wine Atlas would locate the estate, discuss its village location, appellation designation and the aspect of its vineyards. Not once, but continually as he poured five different Champagnes. Truly amazing! I had previously met Derek at the legendary Bueno Queso Social Club where he had been in charge of beverages. The selection he would present at each gathering of the club was always well curated and his exposition about each was captivating. He is a born wine educator. When we left, the crowd was three-deep around his table.
And it was at his table that I drank my favorite Champagne of the evening – the Billiot Brut Rosé NV. With an intriguing aroma of cherries, the wine is rich and voluptuous yet bracing. The perfect accompaniment to holiday festivities or as an antidote to overbearing holiday hoopla.
Many thanks to Federal for hosting such a fine event!
Happy Holidays!
by katrin on November 8, 2010
The bottle had drawn my eye many a times when opening the wine refrigerator, but it never seemed to be quite the right day to open it. I had fallen in love with the Varnier Fannière at last year’s annual Champagne tasting hosted by Federal Wine & Spirits and was holding on to it. I finally broke down a couple of days ago and delighted in what a wonderful Champagne this is. A real treat! Varnier Fannière is a very small producer. With only four hectacres of Chardonnay grapes (all Grand Cru), they produce only 2,500 bottles annually. The disgorgement date on the bottle I had was 06.06.2009.
The nose was freshly-baked, buttery brioche, with apple and almond. I couldn’t help but think of Flour Bakery’s incredible and addictive twice-baked brioche everytime I put my nose near the glass. The palate was lemon meringue pie. It had lively acidity, but was still very elegant and rich. The finish was a lingering toastiness.
At Federal Wine & Spirits for $56.99.
PS I did have to chuckle, though, when I looked more closely at the bottle. Anyone remember the Van Halen logo from back in the 80s? Perhaps the VF logo was inspired by the band, or vice versa?
by katrin on December 26, 2009
The Camille Saves truly stood out at the recent Champagne tasting hosted by Federal Wines. Out of a field of many great Champagnes, this one made an impression and had Glenn and me circling back to the table for a second taste.
The persistent bubbles bring to the nose notes of buttered toast, apple, and citrus. There is something slightly lemony about this Champagne, which I detected both at the Champagne tasting and while enjoying the wine at home. Flint, stone, and minerals round out the nose. Excellent texture, lasting bubbles, and a long, pleasant finish.
by katrin on December 2, 2009
With the holidays upon us, wine shops are promoting their selections of sparkling wines for the festivities by hosting lots of in-store tastings. Fellow blogger Glenn and I were fortunate to go to one of the most extensive and interesting of these: the Annual Champagne Tastings hosted by Federal Wine and Spirits.
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As I’ve often remarked, a sparkler sets the tone for the evening. For NYE 2012, my first choice is the German Gilabert Rosat Brut Nature Cava. Typically, I find cavas boring – but not this one. Imported by José Pastor Selections which specializes in artisanal, traditionally made Spanish wines, this is a blend of the somewhat obscure Spanish varietal Trepat and the more commonplace Garnacha. The color is a beautiful shade of raspberry and the wine smells like a bowl of ripe red berries. The fruit carries over onto the palate and lingers through the finish. Wonderfully frothy - and since the wine is given no dosage (Brut Nature) – completely dry. Beautiful in the glass and pleasing on the palate, this cava could also be an excellent base for cocktails. And after the glut of holiday spending, the very reasonable price is an added enticement. $13.99 - at Whole Foods 340 River St. Camb. MA
My next suggestion is to get cozy with The Mad Elf. This outstanding brew from Troeg is quite festive. The photo doesn’t truly convey the ale’s beautiful ruby hue. Brewed with sweet and sour cherries, honey and chocolate malt, the aroma is sweet, fruity, malty. Rich and smooth – with an IBU of 15 - and with moderate carbonation, this ale is meant to be sipped. My feeling is that it would also pair nicely with chocolate desserts. However, be prudent with The Mad Elf – the ABV is 11%! One wants to be awake at midnight. Unlike the cava, the Mad Elf is somewhat pricey – but worth it for celebrating the arrival of the allegedly catasclysmic 2012. $16.99 – at Kappy’s Wellington Circle Medford MA
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