Gruet, NV Brut Rose Sparkling Wine (1/2 bottles)

Don't pooh-pooh this sparkling wine just because it's inexpensive! Put it in a blind tasting next to 100 sparkling wines priced up to $30, and it will come out in the top ten most every time. It's that good a value.

The Wine
Yes, it's from a French company. But no, it's NOT Champagne. The owners of Gruet have produced wine from the Champagne region for about 60 years, but they surprised themselves one day with a great local wine they tasted while vacationing in New Mexico. Yes, New Mexico "Land of Enchantment" - but on the cool mountaintops on the eastern side of the state. In fact, at an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet they may be the highest vineyard in the states. Bright sun and clear air makes for perfect ripeness in their relatively short growing season.

They bought land for vineyards and released their first New Mexico sparkling wine in the late 80's. I discovered them for the first time ten years ago, and was stunned to find them priced in the $13 price range (and am impressed the wine has only increased by $3 in ten years!)

A rich, full-bodied sparkling wine that offers a yeasty richness I often ascribe to Champagnes - a flavor characteristic I’d be willing to pay for were an affordable alternative like this not available! This complexity comes from the winemaking method – true to its French roots, this wine was fermented in the bottle and then spent two full years in yeast contact before bottling.

Look for fruit aromas of granny smith apples and grapefruit, with a hint of brioche. The mousse (the head at the top of the wine, and its related aromas) is rich and the stream of bubbles is ultra-fine and will continue for hours if chilled properly.

Sparkling Wine Tips and Tricks
Riotous celebrations aside, most sparkling wine is opened with the intent of enjoying the product's taste more than its projectile fizz. Here are some tips on preserving the fizz, the key element we all seek in a sparkler:

• Chill! Two hours in the refrigerator helps preserve bubbles and avoid explosions!
• TILT! An upright bottle provides little room for escaping bubbles, tilt the bottle to provide more surface area.
• Flutes! Use fluted glasses, not the round, flat Coupés
• Ice buckets – 50/50 ice and water keep a perfect chill

Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant