An all-occasion sparkling wine to ease out of the holiday season
An all-occasion sparkling wine for New Year's Eve or, really, whenever.
Luxe by Chateau Ste. Michelle Brut Sparkling Wine
Columbia Valley, Wash.
$17.99
11.5% alcohol
PLCB Item #96326
Sale price through Jan. 5; regularly $19.99
If you’re looking for a nice, solid sparkling wine, look no further than this lovely brut from the leading producer of wine in Washington’s Columbia Valley. “Luxe” is a sparkling reserve tier made by Chateau Ste. Michelle, which is better known as a reliable source of excellent still wines from grapes like chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and riesling. However, their exceptional access to premium chardonnay vineyards and a skilled production team that make their bargain bubbles under the Domaine Ste. Michelle brand name are the two key ingredients that make this more ambitious wine possible.
Almost all sparkling wine is made from a mix of red- and green-skinned grapes, but some of the best French Champagnes carry the blanc de blancs designation to indicate they are made exclusively with chardonnay. Chardonnay contributes great finesse to sparkling wines and a thread of bracing acidity that can help them age gracefully during the years of maturation that are necessary for making sparkling wine at this quality level. Here, the grapes are harvested quite early to retain refreshment and keep the alcohol below 12%, but the wine spends extra time aging on the lees, a process that enriches texture and adds a toasty, yeasty flavor accent reminiscent of a warm baguette fresh from the oven slathered with French butter and a drizzle of honey. While this wine’s American styling makes it a touch less dry than the norm for wines classified as brut, its faint whisper of sweetness reads more as decadence and gives the wine a friendliness on first sip that makes it a perfect crowd-pleaser. Not only is the wine clearly very well made for its price point, but in pairing terms it can handle anything from canapés to a steak dinner and still taste great with dessert.
No alternate retailers within 50 miles of Philadelphia offer this wine, according to Wine-Searcher.com