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Vinous98 points
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Robert Parker's95 points
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Decanter93 points
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Billecart Salmon
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 13.5% Alcohol
Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 2006"Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 2006 is an exceptional champagne that ..."$1,199.00 -
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The Wine Advoca95 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Agrapart
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Agrapart Mineral Extra Brut 2006"One of the highlights in this set of new releases, the 2006 Extra Brut Blanc ..."$339.99 -
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James Suckling95 points
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Antonio Galloni94+ points
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Wine Spectator93 points
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Jancis Robinson16.5 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Champagne Deutz
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
CHAMPAGNE DEUTZ 'CUVEE WILLIAM DEUTZ' BRUT 2006"This Cuvée William Deutz is a tribute to the brand's founder. Its distinctive..."$270.00 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Champagne Charles Heidsieck
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Charles Heidsieck Blanc De Millenaires 2006""Blanc des Millénaires": this exceptional cuvée is named in honour of its age..."$1,200.00 -
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James Suckling94 points
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Mike Bennie92 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Champagne Charles Heidsieck
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Charles Heidsieck Vintage Rose 2006"Charles Heidsieck Rosé is intensely perfumed with a complex nose immediately ..."$210.00 -
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Jancis Robinson17.5+ points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Dom Pérignon
- Cellaring 10-15 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Dom Perignon Rose Champagne 2006"Dom Pérignon could very well be the most celebrated champagne brand in the wo..."$550.00 -
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The Wine Advoca94 points
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Roger Voss94 points
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Antonio Galloni93 points
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Wine Spectator93 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Gosset
- Cellaring 3-5 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Gosset 'Grand Millesime' Vintage 2006 Champagne"This is a wine that results from a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay..."$149.99 -
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Robert Parker's97 points
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Wine Spectator97 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Krug
- Cellaring 10-15 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Krug Vintage 2006"At first sight, the intense golden colour promises round generosity. A very e..."$499.99 -
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Decanter97 points
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Vinous97 points
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The Wine Advoca95 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Louis Roederer
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Louis Roederer Cristal 2006"Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has produced yet another in a..."$480.00 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Louis Roederer
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2006"One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2006 Cristal Rosé is simply stunni..."$1,049.99 -
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Pierre Gaillard
- Cellaring 3-5 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Pierre Paillard La Grande Recolte 2006"WINNER- Champagne of the Year 2018, Max Allen A vintage champagne is the u..."$175.00 -
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Wine Enthusiast100 points
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James Suckling97 points
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Antonio Galloni97 points
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The Wine Advoca96* points
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Jancis Robinson18* points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Champagne Salon
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Salon Cuvee 'S' Blanc De Blancs 2006"100 points Wine Enthusiast! Notes of white flowers, citrus zest, lightly t..."$990.00 -
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Vinous97 points
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Tyson Stelzer97 points
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Wine Spectator95 points
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James Suckling94 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Taittinger
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 11.0% Alcohol
Taittinger Comtes De Champagne Blanc De Blancs 2006"2005 has produced a vintage of Champagne Clovis Taittinger himself adores, he..."$389.00 -
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Decanter95 points
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James Suckling94 points
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The Wine Advoca94 points
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Wine Spectator95 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Veuve Clicquot
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006"How does Veuve Clicquot’s cellarmaster Dominique Demarville do it? This high ..."$349.99 -
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine, is a type of wine that contains bubbles of carbon dioxide. The bubbles are created by a secondary fermentation process that occurs inside the bottle, which gives sparkling wine its characteristic effervescence. There are several different types of sparkling wine, including:
- Champagne: Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Champagne region of France using specific grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier) and winemaking methods. Champagne is known for its complexity and elegance, and it is often considered a luxury product. Click here if you wish to read more about what makes Champagne so special.
- Prosecco: Prosecco is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Veneto region of Italy, it is made from Glera grape variety. Prosecco is known for its fruity and floral aromas, and it is often considered a more affordable alternative to Champagne.
- Cava: Cava is a sparkling wine that is produced in Spain, it is made from the grape varieties Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada. Cava is known for its dryness and minerality, and it is often considered a good value alternative to Champagne.
Sparkling wine can also be made in other regions, such as England, Australia, and New Zealand. These sparkling wines are known for their fruit-forward flavors and have a wide range of styles, some are made using traditional method similar to Champagne, while others are made using the charmat method, where the secondary fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks.
Sparkling wines can vary in sweetness and dryness, the most common terms used are Brut, Extra Brut, Sec, Demi-Sec and Doux, which indicate the sweetness level. Brut is the driest, Extra Brut is the driest of all, Sec is a medium sweet, Demi-Sec is quite sweet and Doux is the sweetest.
Sparkling wine is created by:
- Grapes: Sparkling wine is typically made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes for Champagne, Glera for Prosecco and Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada for Cava.
First Fermentation: The grapes are harvested and then pressed to extract the juice. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, depending on the winemaker's preference. This process converts the sugar in the grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide. - Secondary Fermentation: The wine is then bottled and a small amount of sugar and yeast is added, this is called the liqueur de tirage. The bottle is then sealed and stored in a cool and dark place, where the secondary fermentation takes place. This process is called the traditional method or Méthode Champenoise. The yeast consumes the added sugar and produces carbon dioxide, which dissolves into the wine, creating the bubbles.
- Aging: The wine is then aged for a period of time, usually several months to several years, depending on the style of sparkling wine. During this time, the yeast cells and sediment settle to the bottom of the bottle, and the wine takes on a more complex flavor and aroma.
- Riddling: The bottles are then placed in a special rack called a pupitre, where they are slowly turned and tilted over a period of several weeks. This process, called riddling, causes the sediment to collect in the neck of the bottle.
- Disgorging: The neck of the bottle is then frozen, and the frozen sediment (called the "lees") is removed by a process called disgorging. The bottle is then topped up with a small amount of wine and sugar, called the dosage, which determines the final sweetness level of the sparkling wine.
- Corking and Labeling: The bottle is then corked and labeled, and it is ready to be sold and enjoyed.
It's important to note that there is another method of making sparkling wine, it is called Charmat method, the secondary fermentation process occurs in a large stainless steel tank rather than in the individual bottles, after this process the wine is then bottled and ready for consumption, this method is faster and less expensive than the traditional method but it can produce less complex wines.
Sparkling wines are typically enjoyed as aperitif, or during special occasions such as weddings, New Year's Eve, and other celebrations. They can also be paired with a variety of foods, including seafood, fruit, and desserts.