We are on the precipice between the 2000's and the 2010's New Years. Shouldn't we be celebrating the end of the first 10 years of 2000 with some Champagne or other sparkling wine? What fun things could you try? How about buying a vintage champagne, or other sparkling wine from the year 2000. It might be difficult and cost a bit more money but it would be memorable.If you don't have the time or money to hunt down one of the 2000 vintage bubbles, I have a few suggestions. The wines I list below, I've tasted and have tasting notes on www.MyWinePal.com under the Wine Reviews tab. The reviews are stored in a spreadsheet format which you can freely download and use to help you select bubbles and other wines. Please download and make use of my notes.
Some sparkling wines I enjoyed:
| New Zealand | Lindauer | Brut | Sparkling | NV | Biscuity and citrus aroma and flavours. The bubble was small and elegant. |
| Australia | Banrock Station | Sparkling | Chardonnay | NV | Pale straw colour. It has pleasant acidity. There are flavours of peach, lime and melon. |
| Australia | Skillogalee | Sparkling | Riesling | NV | Petrol and citrus nose. Good acidity, bright citrus flavour with lingering petrol. Medium length. |
| South Africa | Graham Beck | Sparkling -Brut | Pinot Noir / Chardonnay | NV | Brillant golden colour and had honey, apple, biscuity aromas and flavours. |
| Italy | Cantina Breganze | Prosecco Extra Dry | Prosecco | NV | Pale lemon in colour with a tinge of green. Lemon and juicy orchard fruit on the nose. Orange, lemon, and rose petal flavours. |
| Italy | Cantina Breganze | Blanquette de Limoux Demi-Sec | NV | This is a semi-sweet, organic sparkling wine. This one has a nice white flower nose. Bright lemony colour. Flowery, light spice, and orangy flavours. Nice. | |
| Spain | Codorniu | Sparkling Brut | Pinot Noir | NV | Light orangy pink in colour. Light strawberry aroma. Very bracing in your mouth, with strawberry and raspberry flavours. |
| Hungary | Hungaria | Grand Cuvee | NV | Quite a deal for this sparkler. Light lemon in colour, with lemon/lime aromas. Light bubble with lemon flavour. | |
| France | Cuillier Pere et Fils | Brut Selection | Pinot Noir / Chardonnay | NV | Fine bubble with green apple and pear aromas. Fine bubble with lemon and pear flavour. This wine was like enjoying a fresh pear. Very tasty! |
| South Africa | Moreson | Blanc de Blancs Brut Method Cap Classic | Chardonnay | NV | It had a very fine bubble. Red apple, citrus, light spice and bready flavour. It had a long finish. Nice. |
If you are in the Vancouver, BC area, you should be able to get these wines (but not necessarily some of the exact vintages) at a BC Specialty liquor store, or some private wine stores like Everything Wine.
You may also want to celebrate the coming of 2010 with a BC sparkling wine. Here is a list of some sparkling BC wines from Everything Wine (you may be able to get these at BC liquor stores too):
I hope I've given you a few ideas for a sparkling wine for New Year's Eve. FYI, I'll probably be enjoying a bottle of Summerhill Cipes Brut N/V from the Okanagan. Cheers!
