Jane's Weekly Wines 
from the Atlanta Wine School

PRINT AND GO VERSION

December 15th, 2005 Issue
Fizz Fantasies

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Valdivieso Extra Brut NV
Lontué, Chile

Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry white sparkling wine; medium gold. Aromas of quince 
and pear; flavors focus on quince, aromatic spice.  Yeasty. Clean, crisp reasonably 
long finish. Good acidity, very low ph. Complex. Very stylish. Fine value. 
Mostly Chardonnay with Pinot Noir (40%). On lees 24 mos. Serve a little colder 
than others, about 45 degrees. 

Food Pairings: Very good with ikura (salmon roe caviar) with Mexican crema agria 
on water cracker; squash bisque and corn chowder; dill and smoked salmon mousse
(Summersweet at DeKalb Farmers Market); shrimp with lemon and Pommery mustard; 
smoked mozzarella pasta salad (Whole Foods); substantial creamy pasta dishes; 
roast chicken, creamy mild bleu cheese (such as Rogue Valley Creamery). 
Didn't particularly care for it with raw oysters or Asian fare. 

Price: $12
Wholesaler: New World Wines

Available at: Mac's (Midtown); Peachtree Wine Merchants (Brookhaven); 
Suwanee: POPS!! Wine & Spirits; Beverage Superstors; Conyers: Sigman Bottle Shop. 
Restaurants: Atlanta Grill, Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta; Aria, Toast. 
Clayton: Beechwood Inn (also retail)

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Soligo Prosecco V.S.A.Q. Brut NV
The Veneto, Italy

Tasting Notes: Light-bodied dry white sparkling wine; medium pale straw. Nice, 
frothy sturdy mousse. Clean crisp fruit-focused scent, with crisp white fruit 
flavors with a little hint of banana. Finishing with a bit of bitter almond. 
Clean, crisp, delightful. Persistent, small, scattered (not streaming) bubbles. 
One of the best Proseccos I've ever tasted. Beautiful balance. Excellent value. 

Food Pairings: Light appetizers and hors d'oeuvres. Taramosalata; tiny crab cakes; 
smoked salmon dill mousse (Summersweet--DeKalb Farmers Market); grilled scallops 
with garlic mayonnaise; California rolls; shumai; dim sum with seafood; cocktail 
potatoes stuffed with sour cream and chives; chicken croquetas. 
Avoid anything with overt lemon. 

Price: $15
Wholesaler: Vinifera Distributing

Available at:  Wine Gallery + Market. Restaurant: Woodfire Grill.

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Gruet Brut Rosé (NV)
New Mexico

Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry sparkling rosé; medium light red salmon color. 
Aromas of red fruits, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, with red fruit flavors 
that finish dry. Clean, crisp, long finish. Snappy acidity gives fruit plenty of 
backbone. Festive holiday color, and good sparkling wine character, with small 
persistent bead. NOT SWEET!!! Very good value considering most brut rosé at 
this quality is priced at least $10 more. 100% Pinot Noir, a small amount (8%) 
fermented as still red wine, blended back into white wine made from Pinot Noir, 
a departure from the norm. 

Food Pairings: Wide variety or tapas: Barbecued or teriyaki wings; ham or 
chicken croquetas; chorizo; lobster/shrimp mousse; Creole barbecue shrimp; 
Asisan barbecued pork ribs; fajitas with shrimp, veggies or chicken; crumbed 
baked chicken breast or grilled chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes and capers; 
grilled ham steak; roast pork loin; grilled salmon; well-seasoned legume dishes

Price: $17
Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits

Available at: Ansley Wine Merchants, Embry Village Wine & Spirits, JAX (both), 
Mac's (Midtown), Sherlock's (Brookhaven), Whole Foods (Ponce de Leon and 
Ponce de Leon, The Wine Store (Alpharetta).  Augusta: Fresh Market   
Restaurants: Aria, Vinings Inn  (booth by the glass).

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Barth René Crémant d'Alsace (NV)
Alsace, France

Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry sparkling wine; medium yellow.  Classic, 
clean scent of toasted brioche with a slight citrus note, citrus-backed fruit 
flavors. Tiny suggestion of ginger in the close. Great acidity, with a long finish, 
leaving the palate refreshed and lively. Rich but crisp. Exquisitely balanced. 
Firm, thick mousse with small persistent bead. Grape type: Pinot Blanc, 
This is the wedding reception sparkler at Zion Farms up near Rome, GA. 

Food Pairings: Very good with gourmet-type lightly salted potato chips. 
Dishes with a hint of lemon, such as shrimp with lemon and Pommery mustard 
or chicken nuggets with lemon and black sesame seeds (both from Whole Foods). 
Dishes with assertive flavors, such as chicken with Thai coconut sauce 
(but not too spicy hot, please), mild curried dishes, teriyaki, soy-glazed 
squab (Eurasia Bistro) or Cornish hen. Also try Reblochonade, a dish of 
Reblochon cheese, sans rind, layered with sautéed potato slices and onions, 
and baked until cheese melts, or Alsace onion tarte. 

Price: $20
Wholesaler: Lynda Allison Cellar Selections - 678-290-5552
$20

Available at: Sherlock's on Northside at W. Paces Ferry Rd.

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Jansz Premium Non-Vintage Cuvée
South Australia (Tasmania & Victoria)

Tasting Notes: Medium-full-bodied crisp dry white sparkling wine, with a 
medium gold color. Aromas of nougat (like the inside of a 3 Muskateers bar) 
and nuts, with rich, complex fruit flavors, focused on crisp apple and pear, 
driven through a long finish by crisp acidity (6.5%). Nice mousse and persistent 
fine bead. I visited Jansz in Tasmania earlier this year and was glum that 
the wines were not imported into the U.S. Now they're here!!! Excellent value. 

Food Pairings: Rich foods with assertive flavors: Shrimp with lemon and Pommery 
mustard (Whole Foods); cheese straws; seafood sausages with beurre blanc; crab cakes 
or creamy crab dishes; lobster-shrimp mousse; duck or goose liver mousse; teriyaki; 
steamed shumai or similar dumplings with Ponzu sauce; sushi rolls with all the 
trimmings (easy on the wasabi); oysters with lemon or baked oysters; chicken in 
cream sauce or roast chicken. Skip the ikura. 

Price: $22
Wholesaler: Empire Distributors

Available at: New in market, so order from retailer. Athens: Shiraz (Pulaski St.)

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Laurent-Perrier Brut L-P (NV)
Champagne, France

Tasting Notes: Full-bodied dry white sparkling wine; medium gold. Fine, 
persistent bead. Clean, brisk citrus-kissed aromas introduce flavors that are 
yeasty and complex, yet delicate, entertaining the palate and lingering through a 
very long and pleasing finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from more 
than 55 Crus, proving that blending is the key to complexity. After an awful absence 
from the market, it's back! Also available are the gorgeous Brut Rosé 
and the Grand Siècle.  

Food Pairings: Mousse of goose liver or shellfish; shrimp with lemon and whole-grain 
mustard, classic Southern pickled shrimp; ikura (salmon caviar) with Mexican sour 
cream (cream agria) on water crackers; baked mild fish, crab cakes or seafood s
ausages with beurre blanc; chicken nuggets with lemon and black sesame seeds; creamy mild 
rind cheeses

Price: $40
Wholesaler: Ultimate Distributing

Available at: Harry's (Alpharetta); Jax (both), Bottoms Up, Mac's (Midtown); 
Sherlock's (East Cobb; Brookhaven, Buckhead, Decatur), Whole Foods 
(Buckhead and Ponce de Leon); The Wine Store (Alpharetta). Athens: Shiraz; Savannah: 
Habersham (both locations); Johnnie Gamen's. Restaurants: Dining Room, 
Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead (also pours Brut Rosé 
and Grand Siècle by the glass!!!)., Watershed (also retail).
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