Champagne is my favorite thing but alas that is not in my weekly budget. I drink sparkling wine quite often though, no need for a special occasion and I love finding sparkling wines that feature the same grapes that are in Champagne including Pinot Noir. My favorite Champagnes are Pinot Noir dominant because it brings such fantastic structure and texture along with softer notes of candied cherries, dried flowers and raspberry. Pinot Noir has an ability to tame the savage acidity and racy citrus zest notes that can dominate other sparkling wines. So what better to have during the month of February than a pink, Pinot Noir based sparkling wine? Any time you see a wine labelled as “cremant” that means that it is a sparkling wine from France that follows the same rigorous standards as true Champagne, just from a different region. May Georges makes beautiful wines from the Loire Valley in north western France and features the grapes of the area. The rosé is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot d’Aunis, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Grolleau that are all grown on the quintessential “Tuffeau” soils of the Loire which is clay with pebbles and flint on a bed of limestone. This gives the wines the Loire’s racy acidity and signature minerality; it couldn’t possibly be from anywhere else! Enjoy notes of strawberries, rhubarb and pomegranate that will complement appetizers, salads or salmon. Start the evening with a bottle while enjoying small bites and each other’s company!
