
Whenever there are festive days or special occasions in the year where family and dear friends get together, then bubbles are a must in the house. But the choice should not be made at random for just any sparkling wine. Especially when several guests are invited, you need a few more bottles. It should be special, but the cost shouldn't drain your wallet. One very fine wine immediately springs to mind - Crémant de Bourgogne. Crémant is always produced using the highest quality form of sparkling wine production - classic bottle fermentation. This is the same process used to make champagne, for example, except that it comes from a different corner of France. There is not only Bourgogne as an origin for a crémant, but also Alsace and Loire, among others. BUT, and here comes a very important piece of information in my opinion: a Crémant de Bourgogne is made from almost the same grape varieties as a Champagne and the terroir on which the grapes grow also has a certain similarity to Champagne. This means that a Crémant de Bourgogne is certainly comparable to a Champagne, but the price is nowhere near the range of a Champagne. For me, this is a perfect price/enjoyment ratio. If the producer knows his craft, then you can look forward to a really fine product. I have known the crémants from Parigot & Richard for many years and I really appreciate their invariably excellent qualities.
Profile
Winemaker: Parigot & Richard
Grape variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aligoté
Vintage: 2012
Region: Bourgogne
Soil: Limestone, calcareous marl
Ideal drinking temperature: 5 degrees Celsius
Price: from 13,90€ / bottle
The Crémant
Crémant de Bourgogne accounts for just 8% of the total wine production in Bourgogne. For this reason, it is definitely something special and cannot be found on every corner. The three grape varieties from which it is made each have their part to play in the cuvée. The Pinot Noir provides the structure and a certain fruitiness, the Chardonnay the finesse, elegance and graceful mineral notes, the Aligoté the lightness and freshness. As it is aged for a long time on the lees, it has a very fine perlage and therefore a very balanced and pleasant mouthfeel. As a brut, it is wonderfully dry - perfect for an aperitif to set the mood for a delicious meal.
The winemaker and the region
Parigot & Richard is an absolutely traditional house from Bourgogne that specializes exclusively in Crémant de Bourgogne. It is a family business from Savigny-les-Beaune - located in the heart of Bourgogne. Bourgogne itself is a very fascinating and diverse growing region in France. For many winegrowers worldwide, it is "THE" reference region for the two grape varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The region's climate and the unique soil conditions in combination with the two grape varieties create an unmistakable terroir. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir love limestone soil and this can be found in various compositions in the vineyards of Bourgogne.
Perfect as an aperitif
aperitif and is an ideal pick-me-up late at night.
Would you like to get more wine tips from Ina?
Let the sommelière inspire you! It's always worth taking a look at "Ina's wine tips" archive. From crémant to red wine, there is something for every taste!
