Sparkling Wine Tasting

N.V. Brut, Tott's "California Champagne" (California)
Appearance: Big, random bubbles, light color
Aroma: Very little, if pressed gives off some plastic and the aroma of a low-scale fish market
Flavor: Like lemon seltzer, the mousse fades almost instantly
Finish: Non-existent
Rating: 50 points (minimum possible score)
Price: $7
Notes: This wine was horrific, for $7 buy yourself a hammer, hit yourself on the head and sleep well that night knowing you spent your money on an experience closer to drinking real wine.

N.V. Brut, Duval-Leroy, Champagne (Champagne, France)
Appearance: A light gold
Aroma: Fresh baked bread, cucumbers, hints of orange, a strong banana peel, a beautiful top of raw hazelnuts
Flavor: A concentrated, rich yeasty flavor filled out with oily lemon and chalk
Finish: A beautiful and rich fresh and perfectly ripe raspberry
Rating: 90 points
Price: $35
Notes: This was unanimously the winner of today's tasting, and I highly recommend it as a great intro to Champagne wine. Really a value at $35. It is not vintage champagne, or growers Champagne, but it is delicious. Buy it, put it in a flute, and spend time really smelling it and paying attention to it before enjoying it with some elegant crustacean or dover sole.

2004 Brut, Saint Hilaire, Blanquette de Limoux (Southern France)
Appearance: Straw yellow
Aroma: Somewhat limited, slightly yeasty, with a chlorine overtone.
Flavor: Like bark, a continuation of the chlorine theme with undercurrents of black olives
Finish: Short and citric
Rating: 84 pts
Price: $14
Notes: A slightly chemical smelling and understated wine (not niuanced, just limited), not worth the price

NV, Brut Cordoniu Cava (Spain)
Appearance: A light gold
Aroma: Lively lemon, mint, buttered toast
Flavor: Lemon zest and orange marmalade
Finish: A subtle hint of almonds
Rating: 87
Price: $8
Notes: This was not the bottle we had intended to try, the bottle the originally selected was corked. This is a wine that I've had dozens of time before. My advice, buy Cava, any cava, drink it often and enjoy. There is literally no better value for your dollar in the wine world.

NV Brut Yulupa Cuvee, Kenwood Winery (California)
Appearance: No notes
Aroma: Tangy, watermelon jolly rancher
Flavor: Sour patch kids, new bread starter
Finish: Sweet and tangy
Rating: 84+
Price: $10
Notes: A lot of people really liked this wine, and a lot of people will really love this wine. It exactly what I don't like in new world wine: overripe and candied. If you like these things, go to town, just not my thing.

NV, Brut, Gruet (New Mexico, cool, huh?)
Appearance: Straw and cloudy (frosted looking)
Aroma: Anchovies, crispy rice, hints of aluminum
Flavor: Strong ginger, followed up by slight herbal notes
Finish: Mousse fades into an apple juice flavor
Rating: 85
Price: $16
Notes: An interesting wine, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made by the son of a generations old Champagne making family making wine in New Mexico of all places. I don't personally think its worth the money but it had a lot of fans at the tasting.