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 Tiny
Bubbles
Top
10 Sparkling Wines
By Amy Reiley
What
would the holiday season be without a Champagne toast? But
with the current international demand for the product of
one very tiny wine region, the price of a toast-worthy Champagne
is enough to make even the most generous host grumble a
bah humbug. This year why not turn to the world of sparkling
wine? With an ever-growing number of regions producing world-class
bubbly, there’s a celebratory wine out there for every
taste and budget.
| ASHTON
HILLS VINEYARD
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Ashton Hills 1999 Salmon Brut, $45
Adelaide, Australia
A distinctively peachy, elegant wine, Ashton Hills’
top shelf bubbly is a rich, wild strawberry excursion,
climaxing with a hit of heady yeast at the back of
the palate. |
| CHARLES
BAUR
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Charles
Baur Crémant d’Alsace $12.99
Alsace, France
A
light, slightly fruity, effervescent drink, this Crémant
is made with all the finesse of Champagne—minus
the price tag. |
| CRISTALINO
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Cristalino NV Cristalino Brut, $8.99
Penedes, Spain
The
perfect wine for any affair on a budget, this Brut
is possibly the best buy in the sparkling wine world.
A delightfully fresh cava, its citrus aromas and apple
crispness make it an unbeatable crowd pleaser. |
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DOMAINE
CARNEROS
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1998 Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs
Sparkling Wine, $55
Central California, USA
Made
from 100% Chardonnay, this complex sparkling wine
has held its own among France’s finest in countless
tastings and competitions. Produced by Taittinger’s
American arm, Le Rêve is a dreamy wine with
floral aromas, nutty flavors and a refreshingly crisp
finish. |
| INNISKILLIN
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Inniskillin Sparkling Ice Wine, $140
British Columbia, Canada
This
intriguing bottling is the emblem of Canadian ice
wine at its finest. A white peach and apricot nectar,
it has a rich, honeyed sweetness that strikes a beautiful
balance with its delicate effervescence. |
LAETITIA
VINEYARD & WINERY
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Brut Rosé, $25
Central California, USA
A
rich, mouth-filling drink alive with the earthy flavors
of Pinot Noir, Laetitia’s salmon pink sparkler
makes a memorable toasting wine but is weighty enough
to stand up to a meal. |
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ROEDERER
ESTATE
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Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, $16.99
Northern California, USA
A
dead ringer for a Brut from any of Champagne’s
most highly regarded houses, this is the perfect wine
for anyone who loves a creamy Brut style with hints
of nut and spice.
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| SCHRAMSBERG
VINEYARDS
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Schramsberg 1998 J. Schram, $80
Napa Valley, USA
Schramsberg was the first American winery to produce
Chardonnay-based sparkling wines, and this limited-release
bottling is its finest expression of the Blanc de
Blanc style. |
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SEPPELT
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Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz 1993, $55
New South Wales, Australia
The
benchmark wine for the world of Sparkling Shiraz,
Seppelt’s classic combines the rich blackberry
flavors and earthy tannins of South Australian Shiraz
with the playfulness of the sparkling wine style.
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| VENTURI-SCHULZE
VINEYARDS
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Venturi-Schulze 2002 Brut Naturel, $30
British Columbia, Canada
Noted
for its bright fruit flavors and elegant mousse, this
delicate, bone-dry British Columbian bottling could
easily take on France’s finest. |
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Click
here to order your wine now.
(Updated:
12/10/07 NJ) |
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