NV Bouvet “Excellence Brut” Crémant de Loire, Loire Valley, France (Alcohol 12.5%) LCBO Vintages $19.95 (750ml bottle)
I’m forever on the hunt for new and interesting sparklers at a decent affordable price point, and this lovely offering from the historied Loire house of Bouvet Ladubay ticks all of the correct boxes for me.
Bouvet Ladubay have been around since 1851 and produce exclusively methode traditionnelle *cough* *Champagne* *cough* sparkling wines including AOP Cremant de Loire as well as Saumur Brut. Outside of Champagne, Bouvet Ladubay hold the distinction of being the most awarded sparkling wine producer in France.
This wonderfully accessible bottle of bubbles is fresh, clean, lively and delightfully linear, due in no small part to the wines composition of both Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, the Chenin bringing its firm and decisive acid profile to the mix. When I say linear, I by no means mean that in a derogatory manner, as for me the attraction of this wine is its focused simplicity. If you are looking for one of your Grower-Champagne-like autolytically aggressive glasses of turbidity, then this is probably not for you.
This is a wine with some gorgeous pure apple fruit character, Golden Delicious if I am being specific. There is a touch of nuttiness to be found here also, but that really comes through on the back of the palate more than anything else. The palate is lively, clean, and superbly refreshing with a refined, elegant, and pleasurable mousse.
Great value for the modest price. Grab some while you can, as I could only find one bottle left at the Queen’s Quay LCBO last Friday.
(Four apples out of a possible five)
Bouvet are represented in Ontario by Woodman Wines & Spirits.
Woodman Wines & Spirits are Good Food Fighters. Please support the businesses and organizations that support Good Food Revolution.
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And that’s quite lovely.
