Chilled Toasts for a Warm New Year

Drop by my house during the days leading up to New Year’s Day, and I’m likely to toast your visit with whatever chilled bubbly I have on hand.  It’s festive and it goes with so many foods. And it tastes good!

(I admit I was snuggled under the covers during the recent blizzard with a warm adult beverage (see “Tis the season” post). But, now the sun is out, the skies have cleared, and the warming temperatures are melting the snow. So I’ve pulled out my flutes again.)

My new favorite sparkling is Domaine Carneros by Taittinger.

I tasted it first a few weeks ago at a celebratory dinner at Top of the Hub, a landmark Boston restaurant featuring stunning views of the city. I would have selected another sparkling from the wine list, if wine pal Jonathon Alsop hadn’t recommended it. My dinner companions and I drained the bottle happily. We loved the crisp lemony taste. And those tiny bubbles—heavenly.

Much as I love sparkling wine I am surprised I had somehow missed this one. Just goes to show how easy it is to fall into a bubbly rut. My go-tos include Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, Shramsberg Blanc de Blancs, Louis Roederer Anderson Valley sparkling (can’t afford their Cristal champagne), Gruet Blanc de Blancs, and Gosset Brut Excellence.  

My wine writing buddy Dale Cruse author of Drinks Are On Me is also a fan of the Gosset. He’s on a one-year quest to taste champagne or sparkling wine every day for a year and write about it.

Taking a page out of Dale’s book, my wine resolution is to toast in New Year 2011 with a champagne not typically in my fridge. Humm..  Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose’ Champagne? Or Ruinart Blanc de Blancs? 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Dale Cruse]

I've had both the Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé & the Ruinart Rosé, but not the Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. For my New Year, I'm opening Champagne Delamotte NV Brut & Pol Roger "White Foil" NV Brut, both of which made my Top 10 Bubbles Of the Year list that I plan to publish later today.

[Callie]

Dale,
Can't wait to read your list. More bubbly in 2011!
C2

[Cassidygrapesplanting]

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[vibram five fingers]

Taking a page out of Dale’s book, my wine resolution is to toast in New Year 2011 with a champagne not typically in my fridge.

[rc helicopter reviews]

Impressive blog! -Arron