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Créé Avec Passion

Croix d’Irval
Premier Cru Extra Brut
Pinot Meunier (primarily), Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Sustainable, indigenous yeast, hand harvested
Coulommes la Montagne, Marne, Champagne, France
Owner & winemaker: Jean Servagnat

Golden with tiny very active bubbles tracing geographic patterns on the surface. Once the cork is popped elegant & rich/savory fragrances flow out. There’s biscuits/scones (maybe even almond scones), a soft blend of cherry, raspberry and dark plums almost heading toward dried, and a warm toasty vibe. All of the scents are in the taste joined with a squish of citrus, Marcona almonds, and a savory dry toasty depth that makes you feel special. Comfortably festive and romantic!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: crisp & delightful

Créé avec passion (created with passion) greets you when you first visit Croix d’Irval’s site. Reminds me of a quote by Elle Woods (“Legally Blonde” don’t judge I can see you shaking your head….)if you want to see why see below*. “On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise Professor quoted Aristotle: ‘The law is reason free from passion.’ Well, no offense to Aristotle, but in my three years at Harvard I have come to find that passion is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law — and of life.” Jean Servagnat has incredible passion for Pinot Meunier. He’s one of the few growers in Champagne making that grape his home grown star in his own label bottled creations. Hey, he even left a life in finance to follow that dream, and when you taste his bubbly, you’ll know what a wonderful thing that is for the rest of us that have a chance to experience his artful collaboration with nature.

*After 9/11, due to my job, my office was temporarily relocated out of state due to our building being damaged…very damaged…and holed up in a hotel for a very long stretch. “Legally Blonde” was one of the happy movies accessible to us, and I kept it on repeat. Was a good end to the day(s) of wondering where life would take us and you know what…I still love it.

#wine #vin #vino #葡萄酒 #ワイン #champagne #champagnepremiercru #bubble #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #ellewoods #aristotle #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #Marne #France #JeanServagnat #CroixdIrval @steephillwine @antosicurezza @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Drink Like Royals

Chapel Down Winery
Classic Non-Vintage Brut
50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 13% Pinot Blanc, 7% Pinot Meunier
Traditional Method
Tenterden, Kent, England, UK
Head Winemaker: Josh Donaghay-Spire

Crisp golden yellow with a lot of active bubbles. Popped the cork and there’s hints of vanilla at first, then apples, honey, and brioche which in some cases like this I love, but for crying out loud, why are so many people ruining delicious burgers with those buns. Go simple and let the contents shine not that overpowering bun. Back to the sparkler, there is a touch of darkness mixed with pear. It’s not herbal or mineral. It just gives it a little more depth. Raise that glass and take a sip of the crisp tart lemon, strawberries, and it reminds me of red delicious apples from home that are mellow and perfect for apple crumble. I know I reminisce warmly about growing up in an orchard, but there were times (especially in high school) where I didn’t want to see another apple. Whether it was in cakes, pies, crumbles, or sautéed with onions and served with pork chops. Now look at me, I love those wonderful flavors especially in anything with bubbles,

Pairs w Cheez-It’s: smooth drinking

This is my first UK sparkler, so I guess this means I’m no longer a virgin. I’ve been trying to track one down for years. I even reached out to one of my old colleagues/friends, Will Lyons for recommendations, but even then it was a hard find. The minute I’d be set to head to the store to grab one, poof! It was gone. Had been searching again recently and found one of these elusive bottles of bubbles, and again, within seconds, sold out. All of a sudden, last week this one popped up. I knew very little about the winery and vineyards, but at this point I didn’t care. Went ahead and paid online and dashed in for pickup. Turns out Chapel Down was on the menu of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding. Heck, if it’s good enough for the Royals then why not for us commoners too. LORDE – Royals

@chapeldown @ParkStreetCompanies @joshdspire @mrwill_lyons @cheezits #cheezit #wine #bubbly #sparklingwine #brut #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Kent #England #UK #PinotNoir #Chardonnay #PinotBlanc #PinotMeunier @lordemusic #lorde

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A Tip of the Hat

Flat Brim Wines
Fortune Teller 2019
Red Wine Blend
Columbia Valley
Produced and bottled in Portland Oregon
Pinot Meunier 70%, Pinot Gris 30%
Grapes are sourced from sustainable vineyards
Winemaker Ian Atkins

Gave this one a slight chill. Poured a glass and it’s cloudy, ruby and intriguing.

Breathe in and there’s heady floral perhaps orange blossoms, tart cherry, salt and slate. Sip and there’s cherry cola, orange peel, and smoke. Are we heading toward a cocktail feel? Keeping on swishing, and there raspberries, and a tangy tingle. Oh this is fun, and for some reason a certain Blue Nile song has become an earwig for me. Miss that band and love the album.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Smoothes any tart out into velvet. No rough edges. Just smooth love like Paul Buchanan’s voice.

@flatbrimwines @vinewinenyc @coeurwineco #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc @worldbyglass #PinotMeunier #PinotGris #ColumbiaValley #Portland #Oregon @thebluenileofficial