THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING 6-8PM:SPARKLING ROSÉ aka PINK BUBBLY akaA GOOD TIME!
Anita Klein, Angel Drinking Pink Champagne from the 'Ordinary Miracles' portfolio 2004, Screenprint with woodblock www.anitaklein.com
We hope y'all had/are having a great holiday. We love to celebrate here at Dandelion and when we do, we love to pop bottles of pink bubbly. There's something just so festive (and delicious) about it. So during this rosé season, consider drinking the fizzy version. Tonight our very own David Johnson will be manning the bar with 4 sparkling rosé from around Europe. You don't want to miss this one! It's gonna be a good time... plus as always cheese fromEastern District and bread from She-Wolf Bakery. DANDY LOVES YOU! XOXO
RAVENTOS I BLANC, CONCA DEL RIU ANOIA 'DE NIT' 2016
42% Xarel.lo, 37% Macabeo, 14% Parellada, 7% Monastrell
“Conca del Riu Anoia”, Catalunya
methode tradicional, 18 mos+ sur lies
Seriously Biodynamic & Certified Organic
This perfect pink bub is back! For years, it was my go-to wine for getting ready to go out, like the Beyoncé of pink bubbly, it always puts me in the right mood.
Dandelion's Jed says this abut it: “'De Nit'” means 'of the night' in Catalan, and that is definitely when I want to drink this. Everyone says the Monastrell is the key; for color and for kick. For me there’s a lot of soft, perfectly ripe and zesty pink fruit here, and a little citrus, draped over a well-structured backbone of high acid and fine, persistent bubbles. Nice volume and a clean, chalky finish. Unbeatable value at this price for those who value crisp over all things." $25
CAVES SÃO JOÃO ESPUMANTE ROSADO BRUTO 2016
40% Baga, 40% Touriga Nacional, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bairrada DOC, about halfway up the coast from Lisboa, coastal, clay & limestone
De-stemmed and lightly pressed, methode tradicional, 3 mos sur lies
One of my 'no brainer' picks after a trip to Portugal... it was so well-made and well-priced like many wines coming from this region, but hard to deny given the nature of this wine; pink and bubbly.
Olé Imports says this: "Touriga Nacional gives intense rose petal aromas and Baga a bright red fruit character. Cabernet lends depth and herbal notes. On the palate, delicate and persistent bead makes for a silky, rich texture. Bright strawberry and red raspberry on the mid palate, complemented by mineral, white pepper and more floral tones. Racy acidity cuts a beam through the middle, making for a food-friendly sparkler." $21
LISE & BERTRAND JOUSSET EXILÉ ROSÉ PETILLANT 2016 VDF
Organic, old-vine Gamay on clay and flint with siliceous limestone in Montlouis sur Loire and Touraine
Natural: “living soils”, hand-harvested, native yeast fermented in neutral barrels, disgorged after four months
unfiltered, unfined, minimal-zero sulfur at bottling
I was surprised to hear this would be in the line-up tonight as Exilé is one of those bottlings that is as often out-of-stock as it is in-stock. A popular Pét-Nat (Pétillant Naturel), this is very dry with strawberry and meyer lemon notes. Not as "natty" as some Pét-Nats... clean and crisp, like many of the wines that hail from the Loire. Lise and Bertrand believe in "living soils" with high microbial activity, a "living" vine, and a balanced life between plants and animals. There is zero use of herbicides or pesticides across the 25 parcels ranging in age from 30-130 years for the oldest vines. Drink it ice cold on a hot day on it's own or with a light lunch of mezze. I'd suggest grabbing a couple bottles, as one usually isn't enough of this stuff. Get it while you can. $24
GD VAJRA N.S. DELLA NEVE VINO SPUMANTE ROSATO NV
50% Nebbiolo, 50% Pinot Noir
Calcareous soil in Roddino, where Barolo meets Alta Langa in Piemonte
Saigneé, metodo classico, on lees for four to five years
The Vajra family of Barolo are some of the most charming people I've met in the industry. And this is a fun wine; the ruby red color, the flavors of wild strawberries and orange rind, the richness yet dryness suitable for a serious meal, and named after a small chapel (“Nostra Signora Della Neve”) that is situated on the slopes of the vineyard. How much more charming can you get?
Here's what Jed says: "Apparently inspired by some apocryphal story about Thomas Jefferson popping by Piemonte and proclaiming Nebbiolo 'about as sweet as the silky Madeira, as astringent on the palate as Bordeaux, and as brisk as Champagne.' I personally love this wine and find the combination of these grapes in a Spumante unsurprisingly racy and fun, the garnet color exciting and the deep red fruit flavor a fun detour in the world of sparkling. Pair with hangar steak and fries." $40