Classic Sparkler
Pale to medium straw yellow with lots of fine bubbles!
Aromas of apple, lemon-lime & chamomile.
Flavors of lemon, quince, ripe melon with a somewhat honeyed finish. Dry on palate with some minerality & light acidity when labeled "Brut".
A blend (cuvée) usually based on Chardonnay & Chenin Blanc with some Mauzac (also called Blanquette which means small white) & Pinot Noir blended in.
High quality French sparklers not from Champagne but crafted the same way, are often labeled Crémant ("creamy") & are typically less expensive.
Sweetness levels are labeled the same as Champagne.
Serve it cold. A perfect aperitif or to pair well with an assortment of cheeses, charcuterie & hors d’oeuvres. Also pairs great with oysters, crab & fresh water fish. It is a great summertime drink. (Rosé Crémant (Pinot Noir) pairs beautifully with take-out fried chicken & spicy Hunan pork.)
Comes from...
Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon region, Southern France at the foothills of the Pyrenean Mountains
Wine historians believe that the world's first sparkling wine was produced in this region in 1531, by the monks at the abbey in Saint-Hilaire.
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