Focus on food: December 27, 2008

Allison's New Year's Picks!

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut 750 ml $17.99
The Sonoma Brut has been carefully crafted entirely from hand-harvested Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Over forty different selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are planted on the 340-acre estate in the Sonoma Carneros district. This viticultural diversityallows consistent produce cuvées with complexity and clear fruit expressions. The above information is from www.gloriaferrer.com.

Duval-Leroy Brut 750 ml $29.99

A big, full-bodied bubbly, featuring graphite, toast, lemon and nut aromas and flavors. Balanced, with an assertive finish. Will improve with a few months of cellaring.

Freixenet Brut 750 ml $15.99

Cordon Negro Brut is crisp, clean with bright citrus flavors due to a well balanced low acidity,lower than most champagnes. The low acidity makes for a softer, smoother flavor. Cordon Negro Brut is medium-bodied with a moderately long and clean finish.

Cordon Negro is aged for up to eighteen months in a cave and goes through two fermentations with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle.