Who doesn’t love a crisp, chilled glass of bubbles? Nothing screams celebration and luxury like…bubbles. And if you ask me what bubbly trumps them all? In my humble opinion, I have only tasted one to be a life changing experience, and that was by the producers of Salon Champagne. 100% chardonnay, rich yet fresh, complex and expansive, and utterly delicious. With pinpoint bubbles and a finish that goes on for seconds, it is, to me, the best. Hard to find? Well, perhaps. Expensive? Is it ever. But if you find a couple hundred dollars on the floor of a cab, you should know there is no reason to hesitate. …it’s that good. Find nothing but someone’s leftover McD’s paper bag in the cab? You may need to look for an understudy for the king of champagne. Many reach for Veuve Cliquot or Moët Chandon, but I suggest you steer away from big houses and try something different like Gosset Brut Excellence NV. A blend of 42% chardonnay, 45% pinot noir and 13% pinot meunier with a high proportion of reserve wines from previous vintages (almost 25%). This champagne is under $40, relatively easy to find, and is versatile enough for toasting as an aperitif, yet complex enough to stand up to cream sauces and fish dishes if paired with a meal.
Now on to white wines. My pick, although not as over the top as the champagne, still rarely makes it on a Tuesday dinner table. Although I would probably never turn down any white wine from the Burgundy region of France (note: always chardonnay grape), if I had my pick, I would lean towards Montrachet, specifically the region of Chassagne Montrachet. This region tends to strike the best balance for my palate, offering both the rich nutty flavors one expects from French oak aged chardonnay, but also the mineral backbone that creates tension in the wine, preventing it from being flabby or boring in any way. For me, Domaine Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet is the go-to bottle when I want to be consistently wowed vintage after vintage. For under $100, nothing compares. For an everyday option, I adore the Wente Riva Ranch chardonnay from Monterey, California. For $20 a bottle, it packs a great amount of flavor, aroma, and complexity. At 13.5% alcohol, it’s a refreshing change from the heavy percentages we see from other areas of California, making this a great value without the great hangover.
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