And so arrives a sparkling end
Year 14, No. 21
Highlights: Crémant de Bourgogne Report
I’ve been told that in the world of astrology and planet alignment, this past November saw a large shift into a new Age of Aquarius.
Apparently, from September to November there was a period of massive change. The issue was that no one really knew if it was good change or bad change and, depending upon your situation and political leanings, this is clearly open to a lot of interpretation. What I find key here is that at the end of 2024, there’s still a tremendous amount of unknown out there and whether or not these things get resolved in 2025 is, as of this moment, a tremendous mystery.
I attribute all the wobbling of the world as to why there’s been a lot of coverage of sparkling wines on the site lately. Yes, there was the annual Hudin Top 100 (*) that you should check out if you haven’t seen it, but there was also a lengthy report on the wines of Crémant de Bourgogne in France. That was a really surprising bit of research and one worth reading up on if you only think of this sparkling appellation as “budget Champagne”.
There was a great deal more in the bubble department as well with a review of Recaredo’s exquisite Homenatge a Josep Mata Capellades and the Pepé Raventós Clos del Serral. Don’t forget that the Corpinnat group continues to grow and is now a solid baker’s dozen in terms of members.
That’s a lot of sparkling news. Perhaps, there’s some kind of stability to be found in the chaos of bubbles? I haven’t a clue, but it is a festive drink and right about now I think we’re all more than happy to welcome something festive into our lives, at least for a little while.
On a housecleaning note, this is will be the last newsletter of 2024, so we’ll see you again shortly in whatever it is that 2025 has in store for us.
Drink well, be well.
-Miquel
(*) Free to read
The Featured Report
Crémant de Bourgogne 2024
Often dismissed and even more to the point, not often seen that much outside of France, these producers in Burgundy are making some truly excellent sparkling wines that one needs to have a look at.
And now this
Speaking of Burgundy, here’s a summary of the 2024 harvest (*) which was, as is often the case in the region, “tricky” and with lower production volumes as opposed to 2022 and 2023.
Or perhaps you’d enjoy moving a touch further south in France for a look at this smattering of producers making fine wines from warmer climes.
It seems that Penedès sparkling wines are still out there to surprise as well as be reliably amazing and we see both options in these two wines from the region.
And then, there’s a review of these fine Galician wines being produced by Pazo de la Cuesta in Ribeira Sacra.