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It’s just about Valentine’s Day, so it’s time to break out the good bubbly. Champagne is the perfect luxe go-to, but California also offers elegant traditional method sparkling wine that is worthy of a special occasion as well. Bubbles are terrific with elegant starters like caviar and oysters, and they also do the trick with lobster tails dipped in butter, shrimp scampi, or even a cone of French fries sprinkled with flaky sea salt. The only thing more fun or romantic than bubbles is pink bubbles so there are a couple of those included as well. Here are nine sparkling wines to pop this this Valentine’s Day and beyond.
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Jean-Charles Boisset 2016 JCB No. 44 Premier Cru Champagne France
JCB No. 44 was artfully developed by Jean-Charles Boisset and is so named for two reasons; the wire cage used to keep a Champagne cork in place was invented in 1844 and forty-four is the number of Premier Cru appellations in the Champagne region. As much as we like a back story behind the wine the most important thing is the liquid inside the bottle. JCB No. 44 has ethereal aromas of Bartlett pear, kumquat blossoms, and lemon zest with silky texture, fine bubbles, and flavors of white fruits, freshly baked bread, nectarine, and mandarin orange.
Buy Now: $85
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Palmer & Co Champagne NV Blanc de Blancs Montagne de Reims Champagne France
One of the youngest houses in all of Champagne, Palmer was founded by seven passionate grower Champagne families in a couple years after World War II. Today they have more than 500 acres of vineyards in the Montagne de Reims, all of which are Premier or Grand Cru vineyards. Their Blanc de Blancs is non-vintage and ages four to five years on the lees in a standard bottle and double that number in a magnum. It has aromas of citrus blossoms, freesia, and toasted hazelnuts with flavors of jasmine, almond paste, and tangerine zest.
Buy Now: $64
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Schramsberg 2015 J. Schram Blancs North Coast California
Schramsberg was founded by Jack and Jamie Davies in 1965 with the goal of making world-class sparkling wines with California grapes grown on the land originally owned by Jacob Schram in the 1860s. This elegant bottle of bubbles is 84 percent Chardonnay and 16 percent Pinot Noir and made in homage to Schram. It has ethereal aromas of white flowers, gingerbread, and Honeycrisp apple with a never-ending column of bubbles and flavors of toasted almonds, yeasty bread, and blood orange zest.
Buy Now: $145
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André Jacquart Soléra Réserve Perpétuelle Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne France
The house of Andre Jacquart started as grape growers for other Champagne houses but in 1958 Andre started producing his own estate grown and bottled Champagne in Mesnil-sur-Oger. Today, André’s granddaughter Marie Doyard, runs the business; under her direction all base wines are vinified in oak barrels and the resulting Champagne receives little or no dosage. Her Soléra Reserve is pale gold in color with persistent bubbles and has aromas of apple, pear, and citrus blossoms and flavors of toasted hazelnut, freshly baked bread, and tangerine zest.
Buy Now: $137
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Gosset Champagne 2012 Celebris Brut Champagne France
Gosset Celebris was created in 1993 by cellarmaster Jean-Paul Mareigner at the behest of Albert Gosset. The first bottling of this blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was sold in 1995 utilizing base wines made from the 1988 harvest. The 2012 vintage is only the ninth edition of Celebris made in the past 35 years thanks to the exceptional quality of the fruit that year. It is straw colored in the glass with a fine stream of small bubbles and has aromas of Anjou pear, mandarin pith, and citrus flowers. It opens on the palate to flavors of marzipan, vanilla, toasted almonds, and Fuji apple.
Buy Now: $230
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Delamotte 2014 Blanc de Blancs Mesnil-Sur-Oger Champagne France
Vineyard owner François Delamotte started his eponymous Champagne house in 1760 and today it can be found within the Côte des Blancs in Mesnil-sur-Oger surrounded by acres and acres of Chardonnay vines. Delamotte’s Champagnes have always been a favorite of ours for their purity of fruit and acidity and the 2014 is no exception. It is pale straw in the glass with aromas of freshly baked bread, toasted almonds, and citrus pith. A constant stream of bubbles leads the way to flavors of Anjou pear, white peach, and a touch of pleasant yet forceful acidity in the finish.
Buy Now: $120
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Ruinart 2009 Dom Ruinart Rosé Champagne France
Made from 100 percent Grand Cru grapes from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, this delightful Champagne was allowed to undergo full malolactic fermentation and then aged on the lees for 11 years before disgorgement. It is pale pink in color with aromas of kumquat, blood orange, brown baking spices, and freshly sliced strawberry. With only four grams per liter dosage it is very dry on the palate with flavors of cranberry, pomegranate, and red plum.
Buy Now: $350
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Dom Pérignon 2009 Rosé Champagne France
The 2009 growing season started with cold winter temperatures and intermittent snowfall. Thankfully spring was warmer but quite wet, which caused grape growers to be understandably concerned about mildew. But a hot, dry summer put those worries to rest, and the grapes matured very well until the harvest. The resulting base wine was excellent quality and consequently this 2009 Champagne is a vintage to drink now or hold for another decade. It is pale salmon in color with aromas of strawberry, blood orange, wild raspberry, and freshly baked brioche that transition to the palate with lively bubbles and flavors of crystalized ginger, pear, and Gala apple.
Buy Now: $400
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Bessarat De Bellefon NV Blanc de Blancs Côtes de Blancs Champagne France
This 100 percent Grand Cru Chardonnay Champagne is made from grapes grown in the villages of Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, and Oger. It is aged for three years before disgorgement and has aromas of salty sea air, citrus blossoms, talcum powder, and Acacia wood. It has small and continuous bubbles with flavors of pear, Granny Smith apple, brioche, and toasted almonds.
Buy Now: $91
