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Larry Mawby's Talismon Brut is under $30 and has been picked as one of the best 40 wines made in North America in a recent book. Seems like nobody outside of Michigan ever tries it. You can order from the vineyard.
dave
http://www.lmawby.com/buy/wines.asp›2 Replies -
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Argyle IS one of this country's best producers of methode champenoise/methode traditionelle sparkling wines.
By good value, are you looking for a particular price point, or merely for a wine that "outperforms" others in its price range? In other words, are you looking for a wine under, say $20, that's really good, or a great wine at (e.g.) $50 that's better than most $100 bottles?
Of the large(er) scale producers of methode champenoise/methode traditionelle sparkling wines in the US, the "best for the least" is the already mentioned Gruet and Gloria Ferrer. These can be had in the $11-13, and they're hard to beat.
The three best large(er) scale producers of methode champenoise/methode traditionelle sparkling wines in the US (regardless of price) are, IMHO, Roederer Estate in the Anderson Valley of California, Domaine Carneros in the Carneros District of California, and Argyle up in Oregon. (Well, it's "up" from where I live.) Across their respective lines, the quality is excellent.
This is the "right" time to buy, of course, as with the holidays coming up, many sparkling wines (AND true Champagnes) are available at their lowest prices of the year. Roederer Estate's wines, for example, generally run from the mid-$20s through the $50s or higher. But I've seen Roederer Estate L'Ermitage on sale for as low as $34.99. (That said, you can also find a lot of tasty French Champagnes in the mid-$30s, so it's more of a "personal taste" decision as to which you pick up this time of year.)
Then again, of the SMALL producers, I have no doubt that Equinox makes the finest sparkling wines in the US, period. That is, regardless of price. And while I can certainly find true Champagnes for the same or less, I find that Equinox remains a great value, even with its high price tag.
Cheers,
Jason›4 Replies -
truefoodie
Nov 21, 2007 08:47 AM
Not a huge fan of domestic bubblies but Schramberg's blanc de blanc(Trader Joes $22) and Roederer's Brut Rose (you'll have to look around or call Roederer) are both decent...
I saw someone mention a wine in the $50 range and for my money, although not domestic, I'd go with the Veuve Cliquot Vintage Reserve for bubbles in the $50's - can not be beat!! As I recall J also makes some decent domestic bubblies. Enjoy! -
LNG212
Nov 21, 2007 08:41 AM
We've loved Glenora Brut (from upstate NY) and had it fairly regularly. Unfortunately, they weren't carrying it in the last few months at Vintage NY where we usually purchase these things. So we went with Chateau Frank Brut, also from the Finger Lakes region, and it was quite good too. Both are good values for under $30.
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scrappydog
Nov 21, 2007 06:21 AM
I like the Roeder Estate Brut (Anderson Valley). Picked up some last night for $15.99 on sale. The Rose is also good for a few dollars more.
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re: MMRuth
scrappydog
Nov 21, 2007 06:32 AM
Yes, I have not seen it at that price for a while. Purchased at Bevmo in SOCAL, on sale for $6 off their regular price. Accordingly, it is widely available for that price in this area. Not sure how long the sale goes on.
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I think Argyle Brut is one of th ebetter domestic sparklers.
Mumm's Napa Blanc de Noir is one of the best deals going on domestic sparklers. I buy it buy the case at $11.80/bottle at Safeway whenever it goes on sale. Even at $20 (the normal price) it is a very good deal.
All of Schmsberg's wines are good, but they can be a bit too pricey for what they are.
Perhaps the best deal for a domestic sparkler is Soter Brut Rose of Pinot Noir. It is $50 -- not cheap. But it is a *GREAT* bottle of wine and worthy of consideration over a similarly priced Rose Champagne.
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re: whiner
maria lorraine
Nov 26, 2007 04:00 PM
The Mumm Napa bubblies are fantastic buys when on sale, as they will be shortly. Can't be beat at $12.
The other great buy is the Roederer Estate Brut at $16, as mentioned below. That would be my first choice for bargain bubblies, though I have never seen it at that price. Now, of course, I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.
Will have to try the Argyle as it is not on my radar. Anything above $23 and I turn toward the great buys in grower Champagne (capital C). Cheers.
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I haven't had it but I've heard good things about Gruet. Also, Schramsberg...and Gloria Ferrer.
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re: domaine547
Gruet is perhaps the best of the "bargain" US-produced sparkling wines -- you can find in the the $12-13 range . . . not as great of a bargain as when it was $8.99, but still --
Gloria Ferrer is one of California's best (as opposed to New Mexico's best) "bargain" methode champenoise wines -- you can often find their "regular" Brut and Blanc de Noirs for as little as $10.99 on sale. But it's their Royal Cuvee that is exceptional -- in the $24-27 range. (Note: they have a relatively new "reserve" sparkling wine, called "Carn Cuvee" -- it's approximately $60, and I've not had it.
Schramsberg was great in the 1960s, hit a rough patch during the mid-1970s through 1990s, but is once again making very fine wines. Not very good value, though (IMHO). Their wines range from the mid-to-high $20s for their "regular" wines, to as much as $80 for their J. Schram top-of-the-line . . . clearly NOT bery good QPR.
Cheers,
Jason
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