WTN: Two nice New World bubblies

2004 Schramsberg, Blanc de Noirs, California, $37, 11,700 cases. Complex aromas of baked peaches, berries and biscuit dough unfold on the nose and palate. Crisp and creamy, with roasted cashews lingering on the aftertaste; 90/90.

2004 Schramsberg, Brut Rosé, California, $40, 6,450 cases. This is a perfect wine for smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels. Aromas and flavors are an interesting mix of berries, orange slices, pie dough and toast; 88/88.

Crap. These are $40 now?

[James Roscoe]

Are any American sparkling wines worth $40? or even $30? We had the Dr. Franks sparkling wine on Saturday. It was excellent, everybit as good as the competition from California at $40. It was in the lower $20s. When I can get champagne at that price and prosecco in the teens, why get American? I haven't even mentioned cavas.

Joe, James, when I can buy Pol Roger Brut for $28 a bottle, guess which one is in my cellar...

[James Roscoe]

Joe, James, when I can buy Pol Roger Brut for $28 a bottle, guess which one is in my cellar...

BINGO!

I reported on the 2003 Bl de N and Bl de Bl very favourably recently. They are only available in one restaurant over here, and both are priced at the level of a good NV Champagne. Both are IMO also on the same qualitative level - i.e. still over-priced IMO. But lovely tipples for sure. Glad to hear '04 is nice. Does Schramsberg have as wide a range vintage to vintage as vintage Champagnes do?

-O-

$37.00? Wow...I purchased these wines last year in the $26.00-27.00 range. It was a good purchase for that amount. I'd have to think twice before buying Schramsburg at that price. There are other bubblies I'd buy first.

Richard

Keep in mind that I always list SRP. Discounters are often several dollars cheaper.