bubble party

grower-producer spanish sparkling wine is slowly getting the attention it deserves! one of the ways certain producers are calling attention to their quality is with the creation of the designation ‘corpinnat’. for a spanish sparkling wine to be called corpinnat it must be made from 100% organically grown grapes from the penedès region near barcelona. can descregut is a family-run estate whose owners made the switch from bulk wine production to focus on organic growing practices and smaller yields over a decade ago. made from a blend of classic varietals from the region: xarel-o, macebeu, and parellada. it is finished with zero dosage and aged on its lees for a minimum of 18 months, for a crisp wine with toasty aromas and flavors. (this wine was awarded 91 points at robertparker.com.)

the iconic german producer peter keller raved about a bottle of mortiz kissinger, and since then his scarce releases have become a phenomenon. farming 13 hectares with his father in rheinhessen, moritz kissinger is one of germany's most exciting, rising stars of the natural wine scene in germany, and the wines will surprise you with their vibrancy, elegance and precision. this is a dry german ‘sekt’ (aka champagne method (secondary fermentation in the bottle) made from a blend of chardonnay, weissburgunder (aka pinot blanc) and spatburgunder (aka pinot noir). it’s a show stopper and may be the star of kissinger’s collection with its depth and saline-marine cut.

since its founding in 1928, vouvray’s domaine huet has been the standard-bearer for great, age-worthy chenin blanc. and to this day, year after year, the estate produces some of the world’s most compelling white wines—and in a remarkable range that spans sparkling, dry, semi-dry, and breathtaking dessert styles. the estate was an early pioneer of biodynamic viticulture, and credits it with helping them adapt to the dramatic weather conditions of recent vintages. le haut lieu is the domaine’s first vineyard and produces the estate’s most approachable wine. this 100% chenin blanc comes from all three vineyards (le haut-lieu, le mont, and clos du bourg), as well as other small parcels on the estate, and is produced in the méthode traditionnelle (aka champagne method - the second fermentation in bottle.  this bubbly is pure and polished with a lovely presence of minerals and honeycomb, great acidity and delicate bubbles.

champagne moutard has been a family affair since the 17th century and today is run by francois moutard and his sisters, sons and nephews. francois is a passionate man with strong family values and a lust for life. he defines himself as a 'gentleman farmer' and prides himself on his commitment to the land, and so they farm sustainably and responsibly. the brut grand cuvee is a pillar of their production and is a blend of several of the best vintages. it’s a blanc de noirs – a white wine made from red grapes – in this case 100% pinot noir. it’s precise, fresh and minerally with textural intensity and orchard fruit, floral and spice notes. only 8,000 cases made for the world and only 300 imported to the us.