BUBBLES

Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs

The basics – It’s 100-percent chardonnay from, of course, Burgundy.   

Winemaker’s take – “Pleases with its freshness, red fruit aromas and tangy finish. Easy to pair, it will delight at all your tasting occasions – aperitif, cocktail, spicy main courses and dessert – and will also perfectly complement your sushi.”

Critical acclaim – From Decanter, which scored it a 90: “This is a great alternative to Champagne – at a fraction of the price. Fresh, light and dry with ripe apple and grapefruit. Lovely foaming mouthfeel with creamy notes and a tangy finish –very complex for the price. This is Burgundy’s most reliable co-op, so fill up your fridge.”

My take – Well, as a matter of fact, I did.

Price – $21.49 at Whole Foods

Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley

The basics – It’s always a 60-40 blend of chardonnay and pinot noir from the Roederer’s 600 acres of estate-grown grapes in this special corner of Mendocino County.

Winemaker’s take – “A crisp and elegant sparkling wine with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors.”

Critical acclaim – From James Suckling, who scored it a 95: “A chardonnay-dominant, fresh and vibrant wine with aromas of sliced pears, wildflowers, citrus blossoms and wet stones. The plate shows fresh acidity, minerality and subtle, pleasing notes of fresh bread. Citrus juice and peel in the finish. Lovely, easygoing and pleasurable.” And from Jeb Dunnuck, who also scored it a 95: “With a refined mousse and dry, crisp, lengthy layers of green apple, citrus, and a bite of brioche. With 10-12 percent reserve wine from cask, it represents from five to seven vintages in one bottle, from two to seven years old, the style of the house. The reserve aged in oak adds texture and length, broadening the chardonnay’s natural citrus-driven notes and lightness of being. Disgorged April 2024, the amount of dosage has gone down year to year and is around nine grams per liter this time around.”

My take – Roederer’s California and Champagne Louis Roederer’s French winemakers conspire to deliver this wine, which tastes about as French as American bubbles can taste – at a most friendly price. 

Price – $29.99 at Kroger

PINK

2025 La Vieille Ferme

The basics – From the famous Family Perrin, it’s a field blend of bourboulenc, grenache blanc, roussanne, ugni blanc and vermentino grown mainly within the Parc Regional du Luberon equidistant from Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Manosque.

Winemaker’s take – “The hot, sunny summer encouraged excellent concentration in the grapes, while the cool nights preserved aromatic freshness and good acidity levels, essential for balanced wines. Despite the heat and some rain at the end of the harvest, the grapes remained remarkably healthy, with particularly concentrated fruit and controlled yields.”

My take – This is crazy good juice for the price and I love that the fruit grows only a couple of hours from my home turf in Haute Provence.   

Price — $7.99 at Kroger

WHITE

Bonneté Blanc de France

The basics – It’s sustainably-grown sauvignon blanc from the renowned Gunz Gravel terraces near Saint-Émilion, ideally situated between the right bank of the Garonne River to the south and the left bank of the Dordogne River to the north.

Winemaker’s take – “Beautiful pale yellow hue with gold hints. To the nose fresh aromas of white flowers and exotic fruits are remarkable on this wine. The sauvignon blanc is bringing freshness and complexity.”

My take – The vineyards belong to my great friends, Houstonians Jean-François and Nathalie Bonnette, so it’s hard to be objective, but I don’t have to be, do I? I just keep drinking this vibrant, wonderfully priced white.

Price – $11.98 at Spec’s

RED

2020 Pinino Brunello di Montalcino

The basics – It’s 100 percent Sangiovese grosso from Salvatore Ferragamo’s Il Borro winery not far from Montalcino in the heart of Tuscany. 

Winemaker’s take – “Embodies the productive philosophy, the values connected to the environmental typicality, the expertise and passion both in the vineyards and the cellar: a carefully selected blend of the grapes produced in the two areas where the vineyards are, which translates into a wine with an intense ruby red color in which aromas of blackberries and plums blend with hints of spices. In the mouth it’s velvety, full-bodied and smooth.

Critical acclaim – From the Wine Enthusiast, which scored it a 94: “The sweet, floral nose blooms with aromas of mandarin blossom, candied orange peel, tart cherry and wild strawberry. The palate adds a smear of raspberry jam to more notes of strawberry, citrus and florals, before a finish of sea salt and milk chocolate.”

My take – Ferragamo has got the drill down: Fermentation in steel tanks at a controlled temperature, on-skin maceration from 18 to 25 days, followed at least 30 months of aging in oak barrels and barriques.

Price – $74.99 at Premier Fine Wine & Spirits

2024 Il Borro Borrigiano

The basics – Sangiovese makes up 70 percent of the blend and, of course, cabernet sauvignon the rest.

Winemaker’s take – The year began with a mild and dry climate that lasted from January until May, when a period of heavy rainfall commenced, continuing through mid-June. The summer saw heat spikes that were counterbalanced by a cooler autumn with several rain events. The harvested grapes yielded balanced musts and wines that featured prominent floral and mineral notes, with a lower (13 percent) alcohol content.”

My take – It’s Super Tuscan for a superb price. Yep, Ferragamo hits another one out of the park.

Price – $19.99 at Total Wine

2022 Abbona Barbera del Monferrato

The basics – The barbera grapes grow in the vineyards around Monferrato – obviously.

Winemaker’s take – “A purplish ruby red wine, it features fresh and clean aromas of black currants, blueberry, red fruits and violet notes. With a warm and elegant profile, the wine is full-bodied and presents a pleasant, harmonious palate.”

My take – I happily keep stumbling upon delicious value-driven reds from this under-appreciated corner of the Piemonte. #yay

Price – $18.99 at Total Wine

2022 Pernici Monferrato Nebbiolo

The basics – The Morando Winery fruit also grows – obviously – near Monferrato, not far from Asti in Italy’s Piemonte.

Winemaker’s take – “An intense, full-bodied nebbiolo showing ripe red fruits, violet, and a hint of vanilla. Velvety with slight herbaceous notes.”

My take – A quaffable nebbiolo for under 10 bucks? Mama mia!

Price – $8.97 at Total Wine