Our buddies at Artisan Wine Depot invited us to a mega-tasting December 4. Featuring 17 Burgundies and Champagnes, this event was a challenge to our palates. Rather than write an extensive review, we’ll just look at our two favorites. We bought several bottles of each.
Sandrine et Stéphane Briday
Louis Barthelemy “Brut Rubis” NV Brut Rosé Champagne (click for larger image)
Domaine Michel Briday NV Crémant de Bourgogne Brut (click for larger image)
Domaine Michel Briday offered their NV Crémant de Bourgogne Brut ($26). White peaches, honeysuckle, cinnamon and a hint of secondary fermentation. Not bubbly enough to qualify as a sparkler and too far south to be called Champagne, but the enclosure is designed to keep the carbon dioxide in the mix. Highly recommended and a bargain. This wine is 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 20% Aligoté.
Louis Barthelemy brought their “Brut Rubis” NV Brut Rosé Champagne ($39). We usually don’t like rosé, especially in sparklers. But this is an exception. Notes of raspberry, pineapple with a smoky minerality in the background. Can be aged through 2020 if you have the patience. We don’t. In the best Champagne tradition, this is 70% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir.
For those who are interested, the complete tasting list is here (pdf file). Scanned directly from the Artisan handouts, you may blame typos and any other errors on them.
