You knew it would be coming, a New Year’s Eve champagne review! Probably the only time of the year, besides the occasional wedding, where all Americans feel comfortable with (or obliged to) drinking something bubbly. While we think this is ludicrous-sparkling wine if for every day- we’re happy to know that many of our friends out there will be sharing in something that brings us so much joy.
2011 was a pretty good year for us. I mean, we did get married, so we can’t say it was all bad. Between the two of us we also gained a niece, got a promotion, wrote a feature-length screenplay, and turned 30. And most of all, we’re still alive! Go team! Josh would also like to point out that Skyrim is the best video-game ever created. I don’t know what that has to do with the New Year, but that’s ok.
You might not feel like you have much to celebrate. Or you might feel like 2011 left you strapped for cash and not in the mood to splurge on fancypants wines. We hear you. But you should still drink, trust us. We might recommend you try the Piper Sonoma Brut Cuvee ($15). We drank this on our one week anniversary (awwww, ok, we’ll stop making you gag). It’s pleasantly carbonated, with enough kick to make you forget the tanking stock market and tar sands pipeline. It is smooth and playful, with hints of lemon and grass, or maybe even lemongrass. This one was easy to drink, but had no aftertaste or undertones. After a while, the lack of real flavor left a papery taste on our tongues. But this could be a good choice if you or your friends don’t really like sparkling wine and aren’t willing to go out on a limb with something that will knock you in the face with musky flavors.
If you are looking for some musky musk (we recently watched the Wizard of Oz), and you’re feeling like New Year’s Eve is a great time to spend a little more than your average reveler, we may have something right for you. Try the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Brut 2002 ($78). This is one of the champagnes we tried on our honeymoon, at a lovely little Italian restaurant in Carmel, out on their adorable covered courtyard (ok, now you can vomit). While we were still decompressing from the stress that surrounds a wedding, we were able to enjoy this refreshingly smooth champagne. It paired perfectly with our dinner, was tart but not sweet, and probably tasted even better because it was served to us out of a bucket of ice next to our table. We’re pretty sure everyone else in the restaurant was staring at us in awe. That’s how we do it!
But no matter what you do, make sure you’re drinking something that makes you smile. As long as it’s champagne. Or sparkling wine. Just do it right, ok guys? See you in the new year!
