Perrier-Jouet NV Grand Brut
The Nitty Gritty:
- Vintage: None
- Varietal: Sparkling
- Winery: Perrier-Jouet
- Region: Epernay
- Country: France
- Price: About $45
- Rating: 88/100
- Tags: sparkling
A person who knows better once told me that the difference between fine Champagne and regular ol’ sparkling wine was the size of the bubbles, so I knew I was pouring something special when I popped this baby open and tiny, linear bubbles cascaded through their straw-colored stream, into my cheap Champagne flute.
If you’ve had enough sparkling wine you know to expect a dry, fizzy wine — unless you’re drinking Spumanti or a similar sweeter sparkling. It’s something pleasant to sip with appetizers, but might also accompany a nice risotto or creamy pasta quite nicely.
Perrier-Jouet proved no exception. The initial sip was crisp, dry, fizzy, exciting. But the difference between wines I’ve had before and this was that once the initial sip was gone, the flavor kept on going.
I tasted lemon, brine, chalk, other minerals, and almonds, with a smooth, creamy finish. I couldn’t believe how complex this cold, fizzy wine could be on my palate. The finish just kept on going.
I’ll leave the fate of the rest of the bottle to your imagination, but I’d recommend pairing this with a series of mild to medium goat cheeses, oysters, other seafood, and creamy pastas.
You could also do what I did and just enjoy it by itself… yourself. It’s not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Comments
By Lauren McNally
Lauren B. McNally is a New York City-based writer who spends her days on Madison Avenue and her evenings in Spain, France, Italy, South America, and beyond. She originally hails from Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College, spending time abroad at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Lauren passed The Court of Master Sommeliers’ Level I exam in August and will sit for her Certified Sommelier Exam in early 2010.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
The Humble Gourmand encourages users to comment on any and all of its features, but reserves the right to remove any material deemed inappropriate.
No one has posted any comments yet. Perhaps you'd like to be the first?
Post yours
You're not logged in. Would you like to register or log in?.