Last blog of the 2011 year calls for a review of some of my favorites that I’ve reviewed in the past 12 months. I’ve included a mix of styles, genre’s, acoustic, and electric. There’s a lot here (47 songs) so take your time, grab some champagne, and welcome the New Year in with some of the best guitarists around.
Davy Knowles
Riverbed:
Mark Kroos
The demons were gone:
Guthrie Govan
Kelly Valleau
Michael Hedges
Tim Hawkins
Don Ross
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Roy Rogers
Matt Schofield
Gareth Pearson
Steven King
Rhapsody in blue:
Preston Reed
Eric Johnson
Lawson Rollins
Ben Lapps
Joe Robinson
So, it’s New Year’s Eve and what are you drinking? Beer…pullease! A fru fru martini? Get serious. New Years Eve calls for sparkling wine and lets face it, when it comes to sparkling wine, there is champagne and then there is everything else. The others are good, but they're not champagne.
But champagne is usually associated with megabucks, something that for most of us in this economy isn’t feasible. For that matter, it’s never feasible for me. No wine region in the world has done a better job than Champagne of creating a mystique about itself. The one common feeling associated with champagne is joy and happiness. But the trick is getting that happy feeling without breaking the bank while at the same time finding something that’s good.
Champagne is no sure thing. Producers baby their more expensive vintage Champagnes using the best grapes, grown in the best soils while basic champagnes may receive the consideration and resources of a neglected child. But fear not, there are good ones that are reasonably priced and consistent from year to year.
At the top of the price list, I recommend Pol Roger Brut Réserve ($35). This is a very consistent champagne and great value from one of the premier small Champagne houses. It’s medium bodied and well balanced.
One of my favorites, Nicolas Feuillatte, is a particularly reliable Champagne, a good value at almost every price level. The brut is full bodied, with lingering flavors and, although not completely dry, well balanced. It costs around $28 a bottle. I prefer the Rose ($39.00), which has delicious strawberry fruit overtones.
Lanson Black Label (~$30.00) has juicy acidity complemented by mineral and citrus flavors. Likewise, Louis de Sacy Brut Grand Cru NV (~$29.00) is full-bodied with a creamy texture and persistent flavors.
Depending upon your tastes, you may prefer a little sweetness in your champagne. If so, try Moët & Chandon's White Star (~$28.00) that’s specially formulated for the American market, which is thought to prefer some sweetness. It’s labeled Extra Dry, which paradoxically is a step sweeter than brut.
But just to be fair, California produces some excellent sparkling wines (only a wine made in the Champagne region of France can truly bear the moniker champagne) and many of the great French champagne houses have California properties that turn out great wines at great prices. Two examples are Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley (~$20.00) and Chandon Blanc de Noir ($20.00). The former is from the makers of Cristal, the champagne of Rock Stars and starts off with a bit of toasted brioche that transitions into flavors of citrus, green apples, and pears. The latter is from the makers of Dom Perignon and features the crispness of Chardonnay and deeper flavors of tart cherries and strawberries from Pinot Noir. It’s a wonderful wine that my wife and I love to drink just because.
I’m posting this early so you have time to pick up a bottle that suits your tastes in time for New Year’s Eve. So forget the other stuff and pick up a bottle or two from one of these producers and get happy for the New Year. Stay safe!
Cheers!
