Summer Champagne

I first had both of these wines by the glass at Lyon Hall in Arlington. Let me just pause for a moment to say how much I love the food and the wine selection at there. The steak frites and swordfish are excellent.


Now onto the wine...


The rosé champagne is considered low-dosage and the Cremant is zero-dosage, meaning they have little to no added residual sugars. I've found that this makes for a much more pleasant experience, (sans headache) the next morning. But, if you drink the whole bottle...well, you know.

Louis De Sacy Grand Cru Brut Rose Champagne

Varietal, Region: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, Champagne, France

Price: $40-$50/bottle, $15/glass

Where to buy: Whole Foods or Lyon Hall, Clarendon

My Tasting Notes: Aromatic, hints of strawberry and orange. Dry and crisp.

My Verdict: Perfect for a hot summer day. Goes great with food.

Domaine Zinck, Cremant d'Alsace

Varietal, Region: Blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Alsace, France

Price: $26/bottle, $11/glass

Where to buy: Grateful Red, or Lyon Hall, Clarendon

My Tasting Notes: Notes of apricot, peaches and apple. Rich in taste, yet light.

My Verdict: This sparkler even stayed fresh after we re-corked it with a champagne cork; the bubbles were just as crisp. Perfect for a refreshing summer sipper with or without food.

The amazing steak frites.

*Also notable: Lyon Hall recently added another sparkling rosé to their menu, Benoit Badoz. Also low-dosage and excellent.

If you'd like to learn more about dosage and champagne, this article from Wine Enthusiast has more.


Cheers!