A California bubbly can be a nice change of pace now and then. I'm a fan of Gloria Ferrar over in Sonoma, and have had good experiences with Domaine Chandon, which is located in Yountville with the grapes for this wine coming from Carneros. It had been a while since I had a Domaine Chandon wine, and decided to give it a shot during my last trip to Costco, especially since the $15.99 price tag on this blanc de noirs is about the best you'll find.
This bubbly pours white in the glass but gets its blanc de noirs designation because it uses the juice from black skinned Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. This is common to the practices of Champagne France for designations. A blanc de blanc would be made from Chardonnay. The wine has a nice soft effervescence. Flavors of strawberry and cherry blossom, with nice acidity and a super dry finish. This is definitely a dry bubbly, very accessible and versatile for a range of purposes whether you are enjoying before dinner, after dinner or just on its own (we enjoyed it on its own on a nice Atlanta summer night).
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points
Costco item number: 22844
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Cumberland)
