From crisp whites to sultry reds, some of the world’s best sparkling wine comes in all shapes and sizes. Grab your friends, grab your glasses. Cheers to a fabulous 2014 and count down to 2015 with these twelve delicious bottles of bubbles!
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck – 2002 Rare – France
96 Pts
With a label as beautifully ornate as Marie Antoinette’s wardrobe, the inside of the bottle is no different. Fabulous aromas of freshly baked French bread, country apple, and lemon thyme rise from the glass as the palate exposes its crisp character and chalky minerality. -JA
Champagne Perrier-Jouët – 2006 Belle Epoque – France
95 Pts
Nothing short of jaw dropping, this stunning Champagne has a natural beauty with its soft texture, brilliant acidity, and flinty minerality. A gorgeous expressions of baked brioche, Asian pear, lemon juice, and macadamia. -JA
Champagne Ayala – NV Majeur Rosé – France
93 Pts
This Champagne is pretty in pink as it unveils lovely fragrances of kiwi, raspberry, peony, and pie crust. With its stony minerality that’s softened by a creamy froth, this all-round beauty is quite the catch. -JA
Champagne J-P Lamiable – NV à Tours-sur-Marne – France
94 Pts
Like a Parisian picnic in the park, it presents delicious aromas of green apple, tangerine, honeysuckle and fresh baguette. Tartly crisp with a rounded texture, this graceful Champagne is packed with intense flavors and a flinty mineral finish. -JA
Banfi – NV ‘Rosa Regale’ Brachetto – Italy
91 Pts
As romantic as the love between Romeo and Juliet, its deep cranberry hue reveals aromas of juicy raspberry, strawberry, and yellow rose petals. Like a honeymooners’ pillow fight, this bubbly red is fluffy and luscious with a zesty finish. -JA
Albinea Canali – NV ‘Ottocentonero’ Lambrusco – Italy
92 Pts
Like being whisked away by a knight in shining armor, this fizzy red bestows an amorous bouquet of blueberry, blackcurrant, violet, and saddle leather. Delicate tannins pull you in while flavors of cocoa and smoky game hold you close. -JA
Domaine du Viking – NV Vouvray Brut – France
92 Pts
With a mighty intensity of aromatics, this is not a shy wine. Its precision and rich mousse give off powerful notes of lemon, honeysuckle, jasmine, toasted bread, and chalky minerality. A well-balanced sparkling wine with a big saga to tell. -JA
Ca’ del Bosco – NV Cuvee Prestige Brut Franciacorta – Italy
95 Pts
The handsome prince of Italian bubbles, this wine is grandiose with impeccable style. Scents of white flowers, dried apricot, and croissant emerge from the glass while the palate offers flavors of ripe apple, lemon curd, and stony minerals. Vibrant, complex, and refreshing. What more could you want in a bottle? -JA
Galda – NV Cava Brut – Spain
91 Pts
Like a Spanish flamenco dancer, this wine has grace, energy, and zest. Scents of lime, lavender and bread crust fill the air as notes of cinnamon and pineapple finish the steps to this delightful little number. -JA
Graham Beck – NV Brut – South Africa
91 Pts
Like its Western Cape origins, this wine is where adventure meets serenity. Lush perfumes of green apple, white peach, grapefruit, and biscuit are livened up by its zippy edge of acidity. This is a charming bottle of bubbly that can be enjoyed by all. -JA
Jansz – NV Premium Cuvee Brut – Australia
93 Pts
Charismatic, elegant, and just so darn likeable. Its crisp acidity and clean texture are perked up with notes of lemon peel, elderflower, and bread dough. Just like its home island of Tasmania, it is very hard not to love this one. -JA
Sorelle Bronca – Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene DOCG – Italy
90 Pts
With its ripe fruit medley of peach, pineapple, and dried banana, this bubbly is a crowd pleaser that can really hold an audience. Its youthful chirpiness and soft mousse create a perfect stage for this yummy performance. -JA
