Author: Bubbly

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Classy Crémants

Cave de Turkheim Crémant d’Alsace (France)

Bubbly’s take…

We think this is a wonderful Crémant! It’s a very pleasant wine that greets the palate with soft, lemony flavour. This wine is distinctive yet not overpowering. It has a refreshing and memorable profile but it’s certainly not overwhelming. This Crémant is also very reasonably priced, which makes it – in our humble opinion – an excellent buy.

Would go well with…

We would like to say most things. French, Italian or Spanish cuisine would make a fitting pairing for this particular Crémant. This wine could also probably tolerate a milder curry (…. i.e. not a vindaloo!).

Where to buy…

Waitrose

Categories
Classy Crémants

Cuvée Royale Crémant de Limoux (France)

Bubbly’s take…

This one is quite a potent Crémant. Another Limoux-produced sparkling, the Cuvée Royale conjures a bold and solid taste. We think this one would be best-suited to more seasoned purveyors of Crémant, who would appreciate this wine’s strong and layered flavour.

Would go well with…

We think this Crémant’s strength also gives it versatility. It should pair well with most dishes and it is also a fitting apéritif.

Where to buy…

Waitrose

Categories
Timeless Champagnes

Champagne Monopole Heidsieck & Co Blue Top Brut

Bubbly’s take…

This is a pleasant Champagne that offers remarkibly good value. We were really pleased to learn that the Heidsieck House recognises the intimate and timeless connection between good Champagne and great food. With a full and hearty palate of fruit, we think this Brut craves food. It comes out of the bottle with an enticing and golden shade that is sure to catch the eye. The Blue Top is an excellent choice if you’re after an engaging Cuvée that won’t break the bank.

Would go well with…

Fragrant pasta dishes. We enjoyed a couple of glasses of the Blue Top with some lovely Tuscan sausage pasta, pairing well with the dish’s fragrant flavours (of lemon and mustard).

Where to buy…

Tesco

Categories
Uncategorized

Thought for Food

CoViD 19 strikes again! In the UK, an emerging second wave of the virus has already prompted some reintroduction and renovation of lockdown measures. With a 10pm curfew curbing opportunities for bars and restaurants in the short-term, it’s great to see many establishments grappling with increasingly challenging trading conditions. The Telegraph have put together a handy “how-to guide” to help us best plan our social lives around the new requirements.

Within London, there are a growing number of restaurants adjusting to their new “new normal”. Eater have tracked some innovative adjustments, adopted by local restaurants, to the new requirements; including discounts for earlier bookings, “at-home” dining offerings and new delivery services. Many restaurants have also doubled-up to offer a takeaway service for their patrons. Within the UK, the revised CoViD 19 measures are anticipated to remain effective until March 2021 (perhaps with some devolved government adjustment). That said, adaptable as ever, we’re confident the hospitality industry will continue to help us all make the most of good food and fine wine in readiness for the festive period and beyond!

Categories
Classy Crémants

Crémant d’Alsace Paul Mittnacht (France)

Bubbly’s take…

A fair few years ago, there had been some talk (… and concern) of Alsace region wines becoming sweeter. While we’re certainly partial to a sweet dessert wine, we’re pleased to report this Crémant d’Alsace is conspicuously dry. The Crémant d’Alsace Paul Mittnacht is also reassuringly strong, with notes of honey and ripe fruit. Though a potent and effervescent sparkling, we found its palate was evocative of autumn and harvest. We think this is a fitting wine for those nights when you want some fizz but you’re not quite sure what… give this one a go!

Would go well with…

The Paul Mittnacht is a robust wine so we think this would pair well with even more pungent dishes. While we did enjoy this Crémant all by itself, we do think this one deserves, at the very least, some nice canapés or nibbles. Perhaps some cheese or smoked salmon?

Where to buy…

OddBins

Categories
Sassy White Wines

Me & Monsieur Jones Blanc (France)

Bubbly’s take…

This quintessential white wine is made by a talented expatriate wine-maker in a sunny corner of southern France. When misfortune struck this winery, Angel Wines stepped in to get them back in business and refining their fare. This wine has a clean, delicate and citrussy flavour, being particularly refreshing when well-chilled.

Would go well with…

Itself. This is quite a gentle wine hence it’s perfectly pleasing on its own, not being overshadowed by other flavours. That being said, it might suit a lighter fish or pasta dish (Carbonara?). Otherwise, we think Me & Monsieur Jones would pair perfectly with a sunny afternoon in the garden with some friends.

Where to buy…

Angel Wines

Categories
Brassy Red Wines

Galodoro (Portugal)

Bubbly’s take…

This delightful red wine is produced in the Lisbon region of Portugal and is bursting with all of the character you would expect from a capital city wine. Produced from four grape varieties, the Galodoro has a rich, fruity and colourful flavour. It’s not too intense however and we found it has a fairly light after-taste – this one is not like those “heavier” red wines that sometimes carry too much tannin. We think this is a wonderful pick, which offers a great flavour and superb value.

Would go well with…

It’s a robust Old World wine so we think this would make a good match for richer pasta- and risotto-based dishes. We enjoyed a glass of the Galodoro with our meat-free Vesuvius ragu – think chilli, tomato, red onion, smoked garlic, vegetarian pastrami, mushroom, courgette with some lovely fusilli and a solid topping of parmesan. Delicious!

Where to buy…

Naked Wines

Categories
Sassy White Wines

Janus Pinot Grigio (Italy)

Bubbly’s take…

This dearly beloved white wine represents another fine example of enlightened Italian wine-making. Made in the Veneto region of Italy, the Janus Pinot Grigio offers a floral bouquet and fruity bouquet. The Romans portrayed Janus as a two-faced deity but we think this enchanting wine is anything but deceptive. It’s a clear, direct and refreshing reincarnation of the Pinot Grigio tradition.

Would go well with…

This one can definitely stand on its own – there’s enough flavour and fruitiness to entertain the palate. We also enjoyed this with a delightful home-made pasta dish; the Janus Pinot Grigio paired very well with prevailing flavours of lemon, garlic, parsley and sardine. For its versatility and depth of flavour, we think this wine offers excellent quality and value.

Where to buy…

Naked Wines

Categories
Sassy White Wines

Spier Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa)

Bubbly’s take…

This Sauvignon Blanc hails from the New World though that’s a little hard to believe given the Spier winery has been in business for over 300 years! Placing emphasis on ecological and community sustainability and value, Spier seem to have an aptitude for making good wine that you can feel good about drinking. And this Sauvignon Blanc certainly is different. It’s a bold white wine that’s full of zesty fruit and a punchy fragrance. That said, it’s not an overpowering wine and we found ourselves eager for another glass of this spectacular Sauvignon Blanc. Served chilled, we think this would be a superb wine to enjoy on a sunny day.

Would go well with…

Interestingly, it’s difficult to say. Don’t get us wrong – this is a versatile wine. It comes with a full but not overpowering flavour hence it should suit many dishes. We enjoyed this with a Turkish Pide Pizza (- check out this blog for a recipe!), providing a solid counterbalance to a robust meal made of bread, cheese, olives and sausage. We definitely wouldn’t be afraid to share a bottle of this at a dinner party!

Where to buy…

The Drink Shop

Categories
Other Surprising Specialties

Corte Molino Prosecco (Italy)

Bubbly’s take…

This is one of the drier Proseccos that we’ve tried. We had, mistakenly, assumed Prosecco was one of the sweeter sparklings though this one proves us wrong. It has a brisk, lemony and uplifting taste, and pairs well with a Friday evening after long week at work! This is a dependable and well-priced sparkling that should interest any Prosecco-lover.

Would go well with…

Well, of course this would suit anything Italian or even Mediterranean cuisine. That said, we enjoyed this with a delicious Vietnamese takeaway, being well-suited to the fusion of sweet, sour and savoury flavours.

Where to buy…

Co-op