Every year, just before the festive season wine writers taste a range of sparking wines from different countries and regions.
This year we tasted 46 wines from France (Champagne and Loire valley), Italy (Veneto), Chile, Hungary, Spain, Germany, the U S A and Canada.
The following brands pleased my palate:

Grand Brut, Perrier-Jouet, Champagne, France
Light yellow, perfumy with hints of exotic spices on the nose. In the mouth, ripe stone fruits, exotic pineapple, honey and floral flavours become evident, It offers fine perlage and a refined texture. Serve with carpaccio of scallops, oysters on the half shell, as an aperitif, and toasts to celebrate any memorable occasion.

Taittinger, 2002, Champagne, France
Composed of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, this elegant pale golden coloured champagne has millions of bubbles, fruity nose. In the mouth it offers toasty and mineral flavours, culminating with persistent and pleasant finish.

Brut Reserve, Pol Roger, Champagne, France
This refined champagne from Epernay, composed in equal proportions of pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier and of the first gentle pressing is delight to enjoy. Grapes for champagne production are pressed three times, the first is considered the best.
It is light, fruity, elegant, balanced with fine effervescence and pleasant mid-palate. A fine champagne to enjoy with friends, family and even with the one whose company enjoy.

Sparkling Brut Chardonnay, R. Pannier, Loire Valley, France
This Loire valley winery offers an excellent sparkling wine with apple and pear aromas. Good balance and fine bubbles.
Excellent value.

Brut Reserva, SeguraViudas, Penedes, Spain
Composed of 35 per cent parellada, 50 macabeo and 15 xarello, this Catalonian sparkling win is pale straw yellow in colour with fine and persistent perlage. On the palate it is harmonious, balanced and light.

Grand Cuvee Brut, Hungary
Offers fine complexity, fine perlage with toasted almond and citrus accents.
It can be enjoyed on its own, in mimosas for brunch, for toasts, and with white-fleshed poached or –an-fried fish fillets.
Excellent value.

Fresita, Chilean Sparkling wine infused with Patagonian strawberries
Mauve crimson in colour, this creamy sparkling wine offers almond, stone fruit aromas and intense strawberry flavour in the mouth.
Balanced and moderately sweet with an excellent clean finish.

Petalo, Il Vino dell Amore Moscato, Distilleria Bottega, Veneto, Italy
Low in alcohol (6.5 per cent ABV), floral and fruity, this is a delectable wine for all who like sweet sparking wines with a little twist.

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Tags: FESTIVE SEASON, SPARKLING WINES

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