Pink bubbly is not just for Valentine’s Day (obviously), but it is the obvious choice to celebrate the day because of its lovely color. Beyond its beautiful hue, rosé crémant is a delicious and affordable choice over champagne that is perfect with food. Today we are tasting a Crémant de Bourgogne made with Burgundy’s two signature grapes. We received this wine as a tasting sample.
Crémant is made in the traditional method, as in Champagne, with the second, bubble-producing fermentation taking place in the bottle, but in French regions other than Champagne. Because crémant is made in other regions in France, it is a reflection of those local growing conditions and grape varieties. You will find a nice summary of crémants made around France on A Glass of Bubbly that explains some of their unique qualities. You might also use this list as a tasting guide to sample crémant in all its variations. Who doesn’t love wine homework?
Albert Bichot NV Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé — rosy salmon with generous, energetic bubbles and aromas of strawberries and raspberries. Flavors include strawberries, blackberries and citrus zest with juicy acidity. The bubbles are mouth filling and last a very long time.12% ABV. SRP $25
Begin sipping this beautiful crémant with appetizers, but don’t count it out as a partner for your main meal. It would pair deliciously with roasted chicken and vegetables or pork chops. The tech sheet suggest pairing it with Mediterranean or Asian dishes and fruit desserts.
This delightful and flavorful crémant is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The Pinot Noir was grown in Côte Chalonnaise and the Chardonnay in Auxerrois. Each grape variety was vinified separately. The still base wines were aged 8 to 9 months in stainless steel before undergoing a second fermentation in the bottle where it spent 12 months before disgorgement. The wine aged a further 3 months before release.
The flavors are reflective of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and remain fresh and fruit forward. That’s the beauty of crémant – it spends enough time in the bottle to produce those delightful bubbles and for the flavors of the wine to come together, but the time is short enough to maintain the fresh flavor profile.
Albert Bichot traces its history in the wine trade back to 1831 and remains a family operation. The company owns six estates around Burgundy and is committed to farming sustainably and organically. Each estate has its own winery and cellar with a team dedicated to that estate’s production. The Beaune winery’s focus is regional wines. In order to make quality regional wines, a close relationship is maintained with all of Albert Bichot’s grower partners.
Thanks to IT Public Relations for organizing our tasting.
Cheers!
