Pierre Sparr Réserve Brut

Cremant is a name given to French sparkling wines that don’t come from Champagne.  And that’s what this wine is, a Cremant d’Alsace (from Alsace).

Not only am I a fan of cremant, because you can often find much better values in cremant than Champagne, but I’m also a big fan of Alsacian wines.  Alsace is on the eastern side of France, bordering Germany, and was at one time a part of Germany.  The region is best known for crisp white wines, including aromatic riesling and gewürztraminer, but they also produce some fantastic cremant… and this one is no exception.

The grapes in this one are 80% Pinot Blanc and 20% Pinot Noir and come from different vineyards in both northern and southern Alsace.

The aromas aren’t very powerful on this wine, but it does show some apple, yeast and mineral characteristics.  The palate, however, has plenty of intensity and outstanding flavors, like lime, apple, yeast and mineral.  The acidity is perfect and the mouthfeel is superb.  Some sparkling wines are more bubbly than others and this one is super bubbly.  The finish is long with tart citrus flavors and a touch of saltiness.

While I’ve listed the price here as $20, I’ve seen it retail for as little as $16.

Wine: Pierre Sparr Réserve Brut
Variety: Cremant d’Alsace
Vintage: non-vintage
Alcohol: 12%
Rating: 90
Price: $19.99

Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.