Cremant d’Alsace is sparkling wine made using the same method as Champagne but the grapes allowed are a bit different. Cremants are made in 8 different regions around France and denote a sparkling wine using the same method but not made in the region of Champagne. Other examples include Bourgogne, Loire, and Savoie, to name a few. They all use hand harvested grapes, rather than machines. They also are sold at lower prices than Champagne but still undergo extended aging. Most commonly, Cremant d’Alsace is made using Pinot Blanc which can be blended with Auxerrois but Auxerrois can be listed as Pinot Blanc. Cremant d’Alsace rosé must be made from Pinot Noir, which is also used in Champagne. Cremant d’Alsace accounts for more than half of all Cremant production in France.
Last week while shopping at my local Costco, I took a stroll around the wine island. I do this every trip to see what treasures I can find. This time, I grabbed a bottle of Brut Cattin Cremant d’Alsace. Mostly I picked it up because I can always find a reason to drink sparkling wine! This wine is a blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois. This wine is a pale gold color with persistent streams of tiny bubbles that rose to the surface. The classic aroma of bread dough was apparent along with crisp green apple, yellow pears, and orange blossom. This dry sparkling wine had a creamy mousse that helped tone down the fresh acidity. This wine had a fuller body and moderate level of alcohol. Tastes of lemon curd, brioche bread, crisp apple, and Christmas pears combined with a touch of stony minerality on the palate then slowly faded. This bottle was ready to drink now and getting a bit of a chill. Sparkling wines are great food wines because they pair with a wide range of cuisine. This is a great bottle for Tuesday night TV watching or to pop for a Saturday celebration!
-TheLooseTannin
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