Gruet Brut
I will say this upfront and remind you again that this is the best sparkling wine/Methode Champenoise for the money! (And sometimes I cringe when I say “for the money” because truly this wine is at the top of my list of favorites at any price!) Gruet Brut easily tastes as good as its French counterparts at a third of their cost.
My husband and I came across this gem years ago while dining at our favorite seafood restaurant in Dallas, Café Pacific. Gruet is offered there by the glass and by the bottle. And back in the day when we are on a tighter budget, we chose this sparkler based on price. Now we return to it each and every time we dine here! We found no need to try another.
The Gruet winery, founded in 1984, is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has roots from Gilbert Gruet’s Champagne house in France. While it may seem surprising to find a winery in New Mexico, a quick study of the soil and climate reveals why the winery has been successful: the combination of sandy soil, high elevations and dramatic daily temperature swings. The Gruets have eight other sparkling wines including Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noir and a Rose and they offer several still wines as well. (Look for an upcoming comparison review of the sparklers!)
Gruet’s Brut NV is a blend of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir grapes. It is crisp with hints of green apple, citrus and yeast and provides a long finish. Wine Spectator rates it 89. (I’d give it a few more points than that!) And now for the price point: $11-$13 at most wine stores, which is why we will be pouring this sparkler at our son’s upcoming rehearsal dinner!!