I’m a big baseball fan and this time of year I watch a lot of playoff games on my HDTV. Yesterday, I couldn’t watch the A’s locker room celebration since they knocked off the hometown Twins in three straight games. But I did catch the Tigers eliminating the very hated Yankees and celebrating with Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne. A nice choice even if you are just pouring it over the managers’ head. It was great to see the famous label in great detail scattered around the Tigers locker room but I’m sure the guys in Reims are less than happy with this cavalier treatment to their beverage.

Now I’m watching my favorite Dodgers take a beating by the Mets. Should the boys from New York hold on to win, I’ll keep an eye out for their choice in Champagne

Update: The Mets have just gone up by 4 in the 8th, so the bubbly is on ice… I’m not sure if I can watch my second team go down in 3 for the second day in a row

Update 2: I did end up seeing the Mets locker room celebration but the brand of Champagne (or sparkling wine) was not one that I could decipher even in HD. If anyone caught it, just post to the comments.  I will be looking for what the Cardinals will pour later tonight unless San Diego pulls out another win.

It’s a new month and a Wednesday, so that means it’s time for another edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday, our monthly virtual wine tasting. This month it’s serial WBW host Sam from Becks & Posh who picked perhaps the world’s most festive and celebrated sparkling wine, Champagne. That’s right, with a capital “C”; the real stuff from Northern France’s Champagne region, not Andre from Modesto. I have to admit I don’t drink a lot of sparkling wine, particularly in the middle of the week, but when I do it is almost always Champagne. There is something about the balance of flavor, minerality and, yes, mystique that surrounds this wine. I’ve had excellent sparking wine made in California but nothing seems to equal Champagne from a price/value relationship. So I thought it would be interesting to see how many true Champagne could be had for under $40 USD a bottle, as well as trying to get some of Sam’s “Extra Brownie Points” by staying away from the big houses. A bit of online research turned up a list of over 10 wines that appeared to meet this criteria and I was off to the wine store.

The first store I went to had a reasonable selection of Champagne including one on my shopping list, the Comte Audoin de Dampierre, Brut “Cuvee des Ambassadeurs“. I’m not sure if Comte Audoin de Dampierre would qualify as a small producer, as they export to almost 30 countries, but it is a family owned house with a 700 year tradition in winemaking. According the the history on their website, they have been making sparkling wine since the late 19th century. This wine is a 50/50 blend of chardonnay from the grand cru villages of Avize, Cramant, and Mesnil-sur-Oger and Pinot Noir from Bouzy, Ambonnay, and Cumières. It gets it’s special designation from the fact that it is served at many French embassies worldwide and the Elysée Palace (home to the French President) so it has the makings of a decent value.

Tasting Notes:

Comte Audoin de Dampierre, Brut, “Cuvee des Ambassadeurs”, Premier Cru, NV ($35) - Pale straw-green in color with vigorous and fine bubbles. Very pronounced grapefruit, fresh bread and almond aromas proceed nicely balanced and elegant citrus, yeast and mineral flavors finishing with lively acidity. A textbook Champagne, perhaps a bit dryer than most Brut, with enough flavor to match with a light entrée or enjoy with hors d’oeuvres. It’s also a great value.

12% ABV
Natural cork closure (very difficult to remove)
Score: 90
Buy this wine online

Thanks again to Sam for a festive theme this month and bringing mucho celebration into my midweek (thanks, I needed some of that). I’ll be searching for a couple more value priced Champagne for a podcast later in the fall.

Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut-Reserve Particuliere 1er Cru, Epernay, NV ($19/375ml) - A blend of 40% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, this Champagne is straw in color with lively bubbles. Strong citrus, bread and mineral aromas set-up well balanced citrus and mineral flavors with a clean, dry finish. A very well made and tasty Champagne with more flavor than most. Score: 8.5/10