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James Suckling95 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2012
- Brand Champagne Charles Heidsieck
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Charles Heidsieck Vintage Brut 2012"The nose shows subtle toasted and smoked notes with a touch of liquorice and ..."$209.99 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage None
- Brand Armand-de-Brignac
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Armand De Brignac Gold 'Ace Of Spades' Nv"Ace of Spades is a highly regarded label that is almost impossible to find"$545.00 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Armand-de-Brignac
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Armand De Brignac Pink 'Ace Of Spades' Nv"Ace of Spades is a highly regarded label that is almost impossible to find"$869.99 -
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Tyson Stelzer97 points
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James Suckling97 points
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Wine Enthusiast95 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2008
- Brand Billecart Salmon
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Billecart Salmon 'Extra Brut' 2008"Extra Brut Vintage was conceived in 2004, a good vintage but without the stru..."$338.99 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Bollinger
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Bollinger Rose Nv"62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, 14% Meunier. Over 85% Grands and Premiers cru..."$125.00 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Canard Duchene
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Canard Duchene Charles Vii Blanc De Noirs Nv Champagne"Charles VII Blanc de Noirs NV is made from an exclusive blend of 70% Pinot No..."$119.99 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2010
- Brand Champagne Deutz
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Champagne Deutz Brut Vintage 2010"Deutz Brut Vintage is created in only the best years when a vintage is declar..."$120.00 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Drappier
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Drappier Reserve De L'Oenotheque 1979"The history of the Drappier family began in the 13th century, when Saint Bern..."$699.99 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2007
- Brand Jacquinot and Fils
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Jacquinot 'Symphonie Millesime' 2007"Made by 4th generation producer Jean-Manuel Jacquinot. This is a Pinot Noir d..."$119.99 -
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James Halliday95 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2015
- Brand Domaine Chandon
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 11.5% Alcohol
Chandon Vintage Brut 2015"Over 36 months on lees, disgorged July '18; from estate vineyards at Coldstre..."$34.99 -
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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 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Charles Heidsieck
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Charles Heidsieck Reserve Brut Nv"The base wine is equal parts pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier from th..."$99.00 -
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Huon Hooke96 points
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James Suckling93 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Charles Heidsieck
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Charles Heidsieck Rose Nv"This wine is a tour de force in rosé wine making - it just makes perfect sens..."$170.01 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage None
- Brand None
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Chartogne-Taillet Brut Rose NV"The NV Brut Le Rosé is another attractive Champagne from Alexandre Chartogne...."$110.00 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage None
- Brand None
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut NV"Cépages: 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier Assemblage: 60% 2..."$85.00 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2017
- Brand None
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Heurtebise Blanc de Blanc 2017"The vines (Chardonnay) were planted on the Heurtebise plot in 1972, 1985, 198..."$165.00 -
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 1998
- Brand Dom Pérignon
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Dom Perignon 'P2 Plentitude' 1998"1998 saw the first introduction of the P2 Plentitude, previously named Oenoth..."$649.99 -
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Jeb Dunnuck98 points
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James Suckling98 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2008
- Brand Dom Pérignon
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Dom Perignon Champagne 2008"Dom Pérignon could very well be the most celebrated champagne brand in the wo..."$549.99 -
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Jancis Robinson18.5 points
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Antonio Galloni95 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2003
- Brand Dom Pérignon
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Dom Perignon Vintage 'David Lynch Collectors Edition' 2003"The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Perignons, going back to 1952. 2003 w..."$229.99 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2004
- Brand Dom Pérignon
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Dom Perignon Vintage 2004"The 2004 vintage leaves its mark on the history of Dom Pérignon for its ease ..."$449.99 -
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Robert Parker's95 points
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Wine Enthusiast94 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 1998
- Brand Dom Pérignon
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Dom Perignon Vintage Rose 1998"Dom Pérignon is the most famous name in the world of Champagne. It's iconic h..."$699.99 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Duval-Leroy
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Duval Leroy Rose Prestige Brut Nv Champagne"The Rosé Prestige plays on themes of harmony and seduction in a modern contex..."$129.99 -
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Vinous93 points
- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Egly-Ouriet
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Egly Ouriet Grand Cru 'Extra Brut VP' NV Disg.2012"The NV Extra Brut Grand Cru Vieillissement Prolongé is 60% Pinot Noir and 40%..."$375.00 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Family Wine Growers
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Family Wine Growers Sparkling Nv"A vibrant, fresh sparkling wine. Lifted aromas of green apple and citrus. Fru..."$9.99
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.