Pacific Echo
(nv) Brut
Mendocino -$16.

Pale green; very light aroma suggests citrus, pears, yeast, dough, shortbread, toast, malt, almonds, and a hint of sherry; creamy, lively, and persistent mousse; tight, somewhat appley fruit flavor (faintly oxidized?) also hints at lemons, artichokes, toast, yeast, and minerals with some richness; crisp, lightly tart, harmonious

Deutz
(nv) Brut
Reims, France -$32.

Pale gold; citrus, bread dough, mushroom, caramel, nutty, terpine, and sherry aromas; very creamy mousse, sparse, pinpoint bubbles; driest wine of the group, melon, bread, older flavors (too old?) echo nose with some richness; tart balance; medium long, faintly bitter (sour?) finish.

DVX (Mumm Napa)
1995 Brut
Napa Valley -$40.

Pale straw; very light citric-lime, floral, yeasty, and slightly nutty-oaky aroma (ethyl acetate?); lively, tiny bubbles with a creamy mouthfeel; light, anise, lemon, citric-limey flavor; dry, crisp, excellent balance, slightly acidic; medium-long finish.

J
1996 Brut
Sonoma County -$26.

Consensus tasting notes.Pale strawberry; light, clean aroma, faintly suggests apples, citrus, toast; persistent and tiny bubbles; very light, creamy, fruity-tart citrus or apple-like flavor with a hint of mint; soft balance; clean, with a tart finish (faint aspirin?). (Repeat)

Michel Gonet
(nv) Brut Reserve
Avize, France -$30.

Pale straw; aroma of yeast, bread, apple pie, light toast, walnuts, almonds, minerals (faint sulfur?); foamy, creamy, tiny bubbles; big fruity flavor mixes baked apples, walnuts and toasted almonds with some richness; soft balance; long finish.

Mirabelle
(nv) Brut
North Coast -$14.

Pale straw; aroma mixes lemon/lime, light toast, and a light buttery-creamy quality (musty?); very expansive, foamy, pinpoint bubbles; light, simple, delicate flavor, echoes nose somewhat; lemony, tart balance; appley finish. (NOTE: made by Schramsberg)

Seaview
1998 Brut
Southeastern Australia -$9.

Light yellow; complex, orange peel, citrus, perfume, burnt toast, nutty, almond, caramel, biscuit dough, and petroleum aromas; very lively, large bubbles; slightly heavy flavors quite full, rich, with bread, biscuit dough, toast (dull?) mask light citrus fruit, pears; dry, crisp; clean, tart, short finish. (Repeat)

Roederer Estate
(nv) Brut
Anderson Valley -$18.

Pale straw; fruity aroma mingles apples, lime, yeast, shortbread, smoke, almonds, and toast; expansive mousse with tiny bubbles, slightly rich; fresh, light, fruity citrus, pippin apple, and mango flavors; excellent balance is slightly tart; long, clean finish. (Repeat)

Henri Abelé
(nv) Brut Champagne
Reims, France -$26.

Pale yellow; faintly yeasty, biscuit dough, oaky, over fruity, sweet aromas, evoke vanilla, cotton candy, apple-pie, overripe oranges; foamy mousse, somewhat creamy; dry, yet very fruity, yeasty, limey, apple pie-like flavors with some perfume, minerals and toastiness; good balance, crisp, slightly bittersweet; clean (sour?), short finish.

Gloria Ferrer
1992 "Royal Cuvée" Brut
Carneros -$22.

Pale straw; aromas are stinky, dank, moldy, cheesy, sulfurous, and possibly corked; expansive, coarse mousse; dry, petroleum flavor; sharply acidic. (NOTE: This bottle was decidedly "off"; in a previous tasting, two separate bottles placed 2nd and 8th and evoked different notes, certainly indicating some bottle variation or inconsistency.)

---

This Panel included Regulars Kevin, Glenn, Deanna, Jon, Ray, Jim, Ron, James, and Guests Tammy, Peter, and Mike

---

Previous Sparkling • About Sparkling Wine • Next Sparkling