A Holiday Toast to Champagne
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December 2008 Price Chopper Plaza 1365 New Scotland Road Slingerlands, NY 12159 518.439.5535 www.slingerlandswine.com Store Hours: Mon — Sat, 9am-9pm & Sun, 12pm-6pm ChampagneA holiday toast to Champagne – the wine, right – can not be called not the place – holds for Champagne because of many, an unparalleled where the grapes are mystique and allure. And grown. while most of us are familiar with the big Further, there is a notable names in Champagne – difference between the Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, grapes used for big-name Bollinger – far fewer of us houses and grower have heard of many of the Champagnes: Big names excellent smaller vintners. like Veuve Clicquot or And for good reason: The Taittinger make wines from big-name Champagne grapes grown by various houses have more producers throughout the resources for high-level Champagne region, mixing marketing tactics – grapes grown in a variety of consider those seductive conditions – soil, elevation, magazine ads and flashy weather, and the actual websites that market A Champagne extravaganza: care given to the grapes by images of effortless style The ultimate way to celebrate the holidays. the individual vintners. and sophistication – while the smaller names considered Champagne, Third, unless a vintage is Grower Champagne, on the concentrate their far fewer the grapes must be grown specified, Champagne is other hand, is made with resources into making within that specific region produced from wines of grapes cultivated by the Champagne. of France, located in the different vintages — NV for same people who grow and northeast, near the non-vintage. know those grapes that go Keep in mind three things: Belgian border, and known into that bottle on your First, Champagne is wine, for its chalky, white soil – a Sparkling wines like table. sparkling wine as opposed geologic extension of the Prosecco from Italy, Cava to still wine, wine made basin that forms southern from Spain, or California Despite these differences, according to a specific England’s White Cliffs of sparkling wine are it would be unjust and method that produces Dover. This soil produces frequently made according inaccurate to say that all those fine, delectable wines with notes of clean to the same method but – big houses make lesser bubbles. Second, to be minerality and subtle fruit. while delicious in their own (Continued on page 2) What Makes it Sparkle? Whether celebrating a adding yeast and sugar to bottles of still wine and special occasion or an leaving the wine to ferment. After a period of ordinary day, some- years, the yeast cells are removed from the wine, times there is nothing which is then topped with more wine and sealed better than Cham- with a cork and metal cage. Voila! Champagne. pagne. But when it’s just not possible to This method is often used to make Spanish Cava, splurge, sparkling which is made from indigenous grapes and sells for wines from other parts far less money. The carbon dioxide which creates of the world, including the bubbles and fizz can come either from the Cava and Prosecco, can traditional fermentation process or by having be the perfect choice. carbon dioxide injected into the cask. Prosecco, a variety of white grape grown predominantly in Aside from where the northern Italy, is typically fermented in the cask grapes are grown, or a pressurized tank, allowing for a shorter fer- other differences be- mentation. So, whether you opt for the splendor tween Champagne and sparkling wine are the vari- of Champagne or the simplicity of sparkling wine – ety of grapes and the fermentation process used or an all-bubbly evening of both – there are plenty to produce the bubbles: Champagne is made by of wonderful choices with which to celebrate. quality wines than those takeout – care about buying a bag of thankfully crisp, green apple. made by the growers and whether you buy big-name pre-shredded cheddar on Cantine Maschio Prosecco that all growers make or grower Champagne? Sunday. It’s about mixing it Brut, Italy $11.99 This exceptional wines. While Well, because it is no up, trying something new, Italian sparkling wine has there are fabulous big- different than buying and getting to know better your white peach and orange name and grower wines trying something else new own tastes. blossoms on the nose, and out there, there are also that you just might like – lingering flavors of peach disappointing wines from goat cheese, farm fresh So continue to enjoy and almond . Excellent both. Liken it to small dairy eggs, wild mushrooms. Prosecco or Veuve with seafood or as an farmers that make and sell And it’s fun, as drinking Clicquot, Korbel Brut or aperitif. their own artisan cheeses wine should only ever be. Bollinger, but give yourself and large companies that Sparkling wine of any and the friends around Poema Cava, Spain mass-produce cheddars variety is not the domain of your dinner table the gift of $10.99 From the Penedes that make many people an imagined elite, it is a experiencing this wine’s in Spain and made happy on a regular basis. pleasure that can and largely unsung, sparkling according to the traditional Yet, it makes sense that a should be enjoyed by heroes. May we suggest... méthode Champenoise, certain level of pride and anyone who enjoys wine. this wine is light enough to care would go from vine to Philippe Prié Brut enjoy on its own but has bottle, even if it means And for those curious Champagne (Grower) enough structure to stand forgoing the image and about the notion of terroir $29.99 (reg 34.99) Made up to lighter fare. brand making and – the confluence of soil, mostly from Pinot Noir with notoriety that only the big climate, and wine making 20% Chardonnay, this wine houses can afford. methods that create a has a floral nose and fruit Look for wine’s singular personality on the palate. Discovering the That said, why should you – grower Champagne is a Magic of Port – simply in search of a natural next step. It Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin bottle of Champagne to doesn’t have to be the final Brut Champagne $39.99 in the celebrate New Year’s Eve, or only step anymore than (reg 49.99) One of the January 2009 a job promotion, or a buying a wedge of most well-known issue of beautifully ordinary Reggiano Parmagiano on Champagnes, this Brut is Grapevine. Wednesday evening with Friday would preclude bursting with flavors of Sale Prices & Mail-in Case Rebates W&SS’ Top Ten Wines Chateau Phélan Ségur Bordeaux (2004) Saint-Estèphe, Toasted Head Chardonnay $131.99 w/ 12 btl disc. ($10.99 France. $36.99 (reg 42.99) Black fruit, subtle oak. per btl) After $30 reb — final case cost: $101.99, final btl cost $8.50 (reg $13.99) Save $66 per case. Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel (2006) Lodi, CA $19.99 Bold cherry and berry; spices; smooth finish. Robert Mondavi Private Selection 1.5 L Chardonnay, Cab Sauv, Merlot $101.99 w/ 6 btl disc. ($16.99 per btl) After Charles Krug Pinot Noir (2006) – Carneros, Napa Valley $20 reb — final case cost $81.99, final btl cost $13.66 (reg $24.99 Strawberry, black cherry, toasty oak. $21.99) Save $66 per case. Ex-Libris Cab Sauv blend (2006) Columbia Valley, WA $15.79 Sterling Vintners Collection Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauv (reg 18.99) Cedar and spice aromas; concentrated fruit flavors. Blanc, Zinfandel $89.99 w/ 12 btl disc. ($7.49 per btl) After $36 reb — final case cost $53.99, final btl cost $4.49 (reg Estancia Reserve Meritage blend (2005) Paso Robles, CA $9.99) Save $66 per case. $19.99 (reg 29.99) Chocolate and black fruit; bold, intense. Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel - $89.99 w/ 12 btl disc. Rombauer Chardonnay (2006) Carneros, CA $27.99 (reg ($7.49 per btl) After $30.00 reb — final case cost $59.99, 32.99) Floral, fruity; clean, touch of oak. final btl cost $4.99 (reg 9.99) Save $66 per case. J Pinot Gris (2007) Russian River Valley, CA $21.99 Blackstone Merlot $99.99 w/ 12 btl disc. ($8.33 per btl) Honeysuckle and pear aromas; good acidity. After $25 reb — final case cost $74.99, final btl cost $6.25 (reg 9.99) Save $45 per case. Greco di Tufo (2007) Feudi di San Gregorio, Italy $20.99 Pineapple and vanilla aromas; apricot and caramel flavors. Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon $59.99 w/ 6 btl disc. ($9.99 per btl) After $25 reb — final case cost $34.99, Chateau Bois-Martin Sauv Blanc/Semillon (2007) Graves, final btl cost $5.83 (reg 13.49) Save $45.99 on 6 btl case. Bordeaux $17.99 Full-bodied; good w/ mild cheeses. Beringer White Zinfandel 1.5L $59.99 w/ 6 btl disc. ($9.99 Legado del Conde Albarino (2007) Rias Baixas, Spain per btl) After $15 reb — final case cost $44.99, final btl cost $15.99 Ripe peach and subtle herbal notes, divinely floral $7.49 (reg 13.99) Save $38.99 per 6 btl case. and citrus finish. (From WS’ Top 100) ―Come, I am tasting the stars!." - Attributed by legend to Dom Perignon (1638-1714) December Staff Wine Picks Sheila – Louis Jadot White Burgundy (2006) Chassagne-Montrachet, FR $41.49 This classic Burgundy walks a high wire of elegance and density. Ripe pear trailed by mineral, spice, and warm hazelnuts; it finishes with a rich, honeyed texture. Damian – Cloudline Pinot Noir (2006) Oregon $17.99 (reg 20.99) A beautiful pinot the color of ruby red glass, Cloudline is soft and round, gracing the palate with cherries and red fruit.