The SOMM Journal

June / July 2017

Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/833814

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 114 of 124

114 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2017 { annual sparkling wine report } U S A 14 Hands NV Brut, Columbia Valley ($15) 84 14 Hands NV Brut Rosé, Columbia Valley ($15) 86 The name refers to the height of the wild horses that once roamed the hills of Washington State. Clean wines with a touch of sweetness. ST. MICHELLE WINE ESTATES Beauregard 2013 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs, Bald Mountain Vineyard, Ben Lomond Mountain ($80) 89 A credible méthode champenoise sparkler from the only winery in the Ben Lomond Mountain AVA in Santa Cruz County, CA. Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut Rosé, Columbia Valley ($13) 86 Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut, Columbia Valley ($13) 85 Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Extra Dry, Columbia Valley ($13) 85 Chateau Ste. Michelle's sparkling wine label offers value- driven sparklers for any occasion. STE. MICHELLE WINE ESTATES OUR ANNUAL SPARKLING WINE TASTING RUNS THE GAMUT OF STYLE AND PRICE POINT by Anthony Dias Blue SPARKLING WINE IS HOT! People must have a lot to celebrate or—better yet—bubbles have become the accompaniment to more mundane things such as meatloaf on Tuesday. Whatever the reason for this surge in popularity, sparkling wine is booming at every level of the market. Bottles costing from $13 to $300 are taking up brief residences in fridges everywhere. Our annual "Champagne" extravaganza, usually held at December holiday time, was relocated to March this year and thrown open to every level and type of bubbly. The response was a bit daunting, with more than 70 different examples showing up at our offices. But we chilled them all and invited our trade friends to a Monday afternoon omnibus tasting at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood, CA. As you might imagine, it was an upbeat event, but a few of us kept our wits about us and managed to taste and rate the wines. Here they are (in whatever order you choose) just in time for wedding season. Bubbly B L O W O U T

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The SOMM Journal - June / July 2017