Characteristics: Argyle 2006 Brut…Widely considered to be the best producer of sparkling wine in Oregon, I’d include them amongst the list of top “domestic” producers. Made from traditional champagne ingredients, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, its deliciously fresh and bright with a sweet honeycrisp apple like fruitiness while wrapped in zingy lemon zest. A real charming bubbly for it’s price.
-Wine Tasting Note by CM, December 2009

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Characteristics: 52% Pinot Meunier, 48% Pinot Noir
Disgorged on demand, this wine has a smoky, caramelized red fruit nose with a little nuttiness and hint of potato peel. The palate is tangy with good cranberry/raspberry fruit present. The mousse seems a perfect balance to the weight of the fruit and intensity of the nose. Happy, happy, happy.
- wine tasting note by DYB, May 2010

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Characteristics: 100 percent Grenache Blanc. Slightly toasty on the nose with a hint of sourdough. Straw color, smooth and fresh aromas; fine and fruity palate with a dry aftertaste. Clean, dry and crisp with citrus and apple flavors. Dry but not austere.
- wine tasting note by KS, June 2010

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Characteristics: Delicate streams of bubbles send ripe cherry lifesaver and apricot aromas cascading off of the top of this wine. It is fresh, clean and fruity in the mouth while finishing dry and crisp. A great early evening sparkler!

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Characteristics: If you are even casually familiar with the wines of the Loire, you no doubt have heard of Domaine Baumard. Jean Baumard and now his son Florent have positioned themselves firmly at the helm of the Chenin Blanc ship most notably for Savennières and the Quarts de Chaume. You may not know that they are among the finest of the ‘other’ (read outside of AC Champagne) producers of sparkling wine on this planet. A side-project of sorts, the Baumards were early proponents of high-quality sparkling wine in the Loire, and the first to invest in technologies like the pneumatic press over 40 years ago; decades before their neighbors. We at The Wine Company have been huge fans of these wines for many years and I myself can probably be counted among Minnesota’s biggest consumers of Baumard Bubbly.
The ‘Le Rose’, like it’s little sister Carte Corail, is 100% Cabernet Franc. If you really want to experience how profoundly feminine and stunningly beautiful Cabernet Franc can be, this is your ticket. Extroverted, but also kind and well-mannered. It is highly perfumed of strawberries, roses and mandarin orange with a bit of pear. It has a firm attack, a wonderfully creamy mousse, ripe acids and only the faintest leesiness -not biscuit, but rather almond. You can afford Indulge your Champagne taste on a Cremant de Loire budget! -BH

Every sparkling wine I taste from this estate has been stunning, and the Brut Rose is no exception. Given today’s economy and the prices we are expected to pay for great French Champagne, this serves as a great option. It’s lean but forceful, spicy and playful, and really a great food wine. Try this with Salmon, sushi, or other seafood or fish dishes.
-Tasting Note by CM, December 2009

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