The California-Australia Wine Shootout™

Sparkling Wine

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, NV Sparkling, Sonoma County, California, $18.00

Lovely color – gold with a slight pink tone and fine bubbles. Bright, raspberry, cherry, floral and flowery notes on the nose. Produced in the French style of bubbles with a wonderful structure…grips the palate then dances.

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Gloria Ferrer 2001 Blanc de Blancs, Carneros, California, $22.00

Lovely pale yellow with small-medium bubbles. Toasty and yeasty aromas with very crisp fruit forward aromas that expand into a great creaminess in the mouth with a nice lingering spritz on lemony finish.

(91)

Greg Norman Estates Australian Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir, South Australia, $16.00
5,000 cases imported

Yellow gold and day bright with clear fine bubbles and enticing aromas of spice, vanilla almonds, peach, green apple, melon, and baked bread. A complex sparkler…fresh, racy and crisp with a good length on the finish.

(90)

Barefoot Bubbly Exta Dry, California, $6.99
11,000 cases produced

A sweet and fragrant nose consisting of granny smith and Bartlett pear introduces this soft, pleasant sparkling wine with a refreshing lemon finish.

(85)

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, Sonoma County, $18

Delicate aromas of pear and lemon invite you to experience this clean, crisp and expressive sparkling wine. The Fuji apple and kiwi flavors endure through the long finish.

(85)

Barefoot Bubbly Brut, California, $6.99
5,000 cases produced

A simple and pleasant bubbly with a flashy nose of sweet golden delicious apple on the nose that carries through the palate and finish.

(84)

Gloria Ferrer 1995 Royal Cuvée, Carneros, $22.00

Sweet biscuits and lemon on the nose replicate mid-palate. The caramelly and lengthy but the fruit doesn’t extend past mid-palate.

(83)

Wolf Blass Sparkling Brut, South Australia, $10.00
1,000 cases imported

Sweet lemon, slightly caramelized aromas and flavors with yeast accents. Clean.

(83)

Marquee Brut (Methode Champenoise), Macedon Ranges, Victoria, $27.00
250 cases produced

Deep golden in color, with yeast and caramel in the nose. The mouth is syrupy. For those who like aged sparklers.

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