Val de Mer Crémant de Bourgogne Non-Dosé NV
This elegant sparkling wine from the highly-regarded Chablis winemaker Patrick Piuze is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. The nose is pure Chablis: crisp green apple and chalkboard. The finish is fairly long and toasty, with an assertive yet fine, velvety mousse. In between, the palate boasts lush baked apples and quince, chalk, and a hint of sage. The wine’s palate-cleansing acidity partners well with the lemony flavor in Greg’s Celery Salad, and its intrinsic minerality complements the dish’s mushrooms perfectly. Non-dosé means that no sugar was added in finishing the wine, so the wine is quite dry, allowing the true essence of the grape and the “terrior” to shine through. Also, I really like pairing sparkling wine at the end of a meal to refresh my mouth and reset my taste buds.
Looking for something French and fizzy to drink? Sure, Champagne may be your first thought, but they can be expensive. How about Crémant? At about half the price of many popular Champagnes, Crémants are an excellent value. The term Crémant refers to their “creamy” texture, and are made using the same painstaking Méthode Traditionnelle used in Champagne. Unlike Champagne, which is limited to only a handful of required grape varieties, Crémants can be made from a wide range of grapes, each wine composed of grapes endemic to its particular region. For a more Champagne-like style of Crémant, stick to the cool-climate regions of Burgundy, Alsace and the Jura. For something different, look to Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bordeaux, Crémant de Limoux (Languedoc), and Crémant de Die (Rhone).
Grant Henry
Pairs With Celery Heart Salad from my Past Life to Yours
Price $28
Also pairs well with appetizers, Asian dishes, egg dishes, fish, oysters, sushi.
- Category Sparkling Wine
- Varietal Chardonnay
- Region Chablis France
