Champagne vs Italian Bubbles Tasting

We started with Murgo Brut 2018, an uncommon Metodo Classico sparkling wine from Sicily made entirely from the native Nerello Mascallese grapes typically used in red wine production. 

To our surprise, Murgo Brut had brioche and apple notes we expect from Champagne despite its entirely different origin, starting with birthplace and finishing with grape variety. 

For some of our wine club members, it was the favorite of the flight.

Alta Langa Oudeis Brut 2016 came from Piedmonte, a region famous for Barolo and Barbaresco, the king and queen of Italian red wines. 

Since 1878, Enrico Serafino has been a family winery crafting a wide array of traditional Piemontese wines, both from the area around the winery in Roero and from Barolo and Gavi. Less often, Serafino produces classic bubbles from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. In the mid-20th century, Serafino recognized the Alta Langa potential and spearheaded the development of this Piedmontese area to become DOCG (appellation) designated for the production of Champagne-style bubbles. 

Alta Langa Oudeis Brut 2016 was made from the classic blend of 85% Pino Nero (Pinot Noir) and 15% Chardonnay. The ready wine was aged on lees for 36 months.

Tasting Notes

Oudeis Brut offered classic brioche, fresh-cut lemon, and green apple, yet, ripe pear, orange, and Nutella flavors set it apart from other contenders on our list. 

The tiny bubbles result in ample slowly dissipating mousse and create a creamy sensation on the palate. The aftertaste is relatively long and defined by Granny Smith apple and Meyer lemon.

Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut 2013 was the first Champagne on our tasting flight. We thought it was only fair that we picked millésimé (vintage) Champagne because all Italian bubbles were also millesimato.

Dream Vintage Brut 2013 comes from almost the 300-year old Champagne house with the Andre Clouet family intertwined in French history even longer than that. 

Our first Blanc de Blanc of the flight was made with 100% Chardonnay grape. 2013 was a challenging year for many vintners of Champagne, yet the favorable location of the vineyards resulted in the exceptional quality fruit and was declared vintage. It doesn't happen every year.

Only a tiny fraction of wine is made into a vintage Champagne in this infamous region and only when the conditions are right. So we were looking forward to tasting it and comparing it to other wines on the flight. 

Tasting Notes

Dream Brut had the scents of sweet freshly-baked brioche, warm apple pie, and lemon candy. The creamy mousse created a full-bodied sensation on the palate. 

The aromas and flavors having almost sherry-like notes lingered for a while on the palate. This bold apple and sherry-like note of 2013 Andre Clouet left no one indifferent. Our wine club members were split between those who appreciated this style of Champagne and those who preferred a more muted profile. It made our tasting even more interesting for sure.

Barone Pizzini Satèn Franciacorta 2015 is unique Italian Metodo Classico sparkling wine with a twist. In Champagne terms, it's Blanc de Blanc because it's 100% Chardonnay.

We purposely made sure that it followed the 2013 Andre Clouet Dream Vintage to give our club members a chance to compare the same kind of bubbles from different regions.

Barone Pizzini 2015 came from Franciacorta, the most prestigious Italian traditional sparkling wine region with the most demanding production requirements for some of its wines that exceed even the best Champagnes.

While technically, Barone Pizzini was made almost the same way as Andre Clouet, their difference was apparent from the start. As with the previous wine, there were no undecided.
Given a choice between the two, most sided with France. Again we had a split decision between us. So much fun!

2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal, the last on the flight, was of great significance to us. In 2008 we visited the Champagne region for the first time in Reims, and Pommery was among our favorite Champagne houses on the trip.
2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal had everything we expect from top-tiered vintage Brut: elegance, structure, creamy mousse with fine bubbles, and well-balanced acidity.