In the run-up to Christmas 2021 Tom suggests various wine selections for the festive season. This week: three contrasting sparkling wines:
La Maison du Crémant, Prestige Brut
Burgundy, France, Sparkling White, Cork, 12.0% abv(2021) From vineyards across Burgundy, this traditional method wine blends Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a little Gamay and Aligoté, matured on the lees for 18 months. Terrific nose, gently biscuity and creamy, nicely fruited too moving from fig to citrus. On the palate an easy-drinking but classy balance between fruit sweetness, that nutty and creamy autolysis and pin-sharp acidity. A very attractive wine at an extremely fair price. Watch the video for more information.
House of Arras, Brut Elite
Tasmania, Australia, Sparkling White, Cork, 12.5% abv(2021) Ace sparkling winemaker Ed Carr has fashioned this from the three main Champagne grapes, with barrel fermentation of the base wines adding an extra layer of creamy depth. It is super impressive, vanilla, light buttery and toasty aromas and a fat lemony fruit base. On the palate a nice persistent mousse, plenty of bold flavour, and a pure, exhilarating blast of saline and citrus acidity that slices through some ripe, opulent mid-palate fruit. Watch the video for more information
(2021) Launched in 2014, this all-Chardonnay cuvée is sourced from top villages of the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. Malolactic is blocked, the dosage is only 7g/l, but the wine does rest on the lees for four years before disgorgement. This is in Gosset's more open, rich and nicely creamy style with almond notes and a formidable oranges and lemons fruit intensity. Quite like white Burgundy in some ways, but delightful elegance, freshness and zip on the palate. Acidity slices through some ripe mid-palate fruit, though the whole picture is gossamer light. Watch the video for more information.