I just put “pop rocks” in my Chardonnay. Good shot with the wristband!

I like Cavas, I have tried 4 new bubbles this holiday season. The newest was the Dibon Brut Reserve Cava Penedes, Spain- only $9 in Chicago. Great nose, which I know the vayniaks love,- toast and apples and grapefruit, it was really good with our gnocchi gorgonzola at our favorite Italian BYOB. I love cheese and wine so I tend to go for the sparklers that have more reziz sweetness. I have a bottle of Freixenet on stand-by in the fridge, its my cheap and cheerful wine can be found at the around the corner convenience store.(which matters when theres a foot of snow outside your door!) Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad is the other one I tried recently that made an impression, I had it at a work Christmas party, I think its in the 10-15 bones range- very nice -very fruity.

Thanks for doing a show today GV. And in the snow no less.

Gosset Grand Millésime

My favorite inexpensive true champagne method sparkler, though not from Champagne, would be from Onario, Canada – Henry of Pelham’s kick-ass Cuvee Catharine Brut, Chard & P, Noir, big, complex, acidic, huge finish – $30 Canadian Bones!!!

In the curio department, you gotta try Skillogalee’s Sparkling Riesling from Australia – it’s done in the trad champagne style, bottle fermented etc – it’s an extremely cool cross between Riesling and Champagne, and it’s cheap – $24 bones. Not exactly awesome champagne complexity, but plenty tasty for $24 and certainly more complex than you’d expect.

True Champagnes? Probably Lanson … around $60 a bottle, tried a Lasalle – but it was $150+ I couldn’t justify it.

FWIW … came across an 1869 menu for a high end restaurant in Toronto: Moet et Chandon “Green Seal” went for $2.50 a bottle at the time. (BTW Chateau Margaux 1847 went for $3: and, oddly enough, so did an ancient Mediera by “Howard March & Co”.)

There ya be

Nice show, I got a kick out of the cars driving by! What do NJ’s open container laws look like?? 😛

QOTD: I haven’t had much bubbly to judge, although one recent surprise was the J. Rogét Spumante from the Finger Lakes, NY, at $4.49/bottle, it had an amazing nose that I’d pay at least 3 times that to smell- the nose was the best apple pie a la mode you’ve ever had.

GARY!!!
I had Cristal today!! I know, I know..but hey..it was a gift (its my birthday!) And you know what, there are lots awesome bubbles out there…but the Cristal was FABULOUS!
I sent wine out as a gift and tried to include a champagne, but it was backordered … guess Ill be notified when it arrives???
Always funny to see out in the weather!
QOTD: Cristal
Love, love, loven u.
xo
RANDI

Great show Gary!! Hope you’re feeling better soon!

QOTD: 1996 Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs. I drank it (the whole bottle….) when I finished my Sommelier exam! Not sure if it was the wine or the feeling of being finished that made it so memorable, but I always think of it!

QOTD: Great descriptions. I’m pretty weak on champagne. I think Charles Krug would be my favorite, but I haven’t tasted it. I like Perrier Jouet Fleur quite a bit – the bottle is pretty too.
I can’t believe you’re sitting out in the snow. Even my sick kitty is under my computer desk in a fluffy circle bed by a warm heating vent fast asleep. t
The point being you shouldn’t be out in the cold if your’re under the weather.

1990 Jacquesson to celebrate finding out that our first child was going to be a girl. The wine was fantastic, but the news was better.

Good to see you back! Buy some friggin gloves man! We just had that ice mess here in Illinois the day before, hopefully it wasn’t so bad for you guys. I can’t really afford super bubbles, so the best i’ve had is Duval-Leroy Brut Non Vintage. This year I’m going to drink the Paul Goerg 2002 which is a little nicer. Good show, have a nice holiday!

CRAZY!! You are just plain crazy.
Chunks & chunks of ice. I thought the glass was going to shatter.
Your wife is probably pissed. Coming back from being sick and doing that show.
Loved it.

Awesome show Gary. Glad to hear your feeling better. As to the question of the day, I adore Getariako Txakolina from Basque Country. Does semi-sparkling count? Speaking of which… why haven’t you done a Txakolina show?

Great show Gary. I will absolutely try some new bubbles with the family over the holidays. Best so far is a cava from Juvé y Camps, which is just a nice dry bubble bath at a good QPR.

QOTD: A root beer float when I was like 10 on our way home from a ski trip to Tahoe. It was at an A and W shop, damn good. For the alcoholic type I’ll go with the Pannier I had at my wedding; more for sentiment than for taste although I do like the Pannier.

QOTD: Definitely Cristal. Tasted just like green apples. Amazing stuff.

QOTD – Nothing stands out as the best, but I like trying different sparklers all the time… mmmmm.

Great Show!!!

Good to have ya back. Hope you’re feelin’ better.

QOTD: One of my favorite bubbles is by far the Gossett. Just amazing champagne and holds a great price ($35-$45) depending on where it’s found.

–RH

QOTD: I never had any high end bubbles before, not even any vintage champ.
But the best bubble I ever had by far was Michel Arnould Grand Cuvee NV.

Man, the energy is BACK ON!
Great show.
QOTD: Realized that i’m pretty ignorant about bubbles, just haven’t had the one that blew me away yet. Campari soda is pretty good though 😛

qotd…. bubbles…. NV coca cola

Gary! You missed the screaming bubble deals in your own library! The Jacquesson Brut Cuvee 732, the NV Pol Roger, the NV Pierre Peters and the NV Charles Heidseck kill everything you tasted in this show, and are better values. You barely scratched the surface of your own house.

I love you man, but don’t dis the bubbles.

QOTD- 1988 Pol Roger Winston Churchill in a Magnum.

Excellent episode Gary! You gotta get outside more often.

Great throw there at the end too by the way.

Very good ep! Welcome back.

QOTD: So I’m guessing the time I accidentally breathed in instead of out with the Mr. Bubbles doesn’t count here…