About Sparkling Wines from France

About Sparkling Wines from France
Where does one start when discussing wine and France? As well as being one of the two leading wine-producing countries in the world (along with Italy - the numbers are extremely close every year), it is the spiritual birthplace of so many famous wines, from the great red and white Burgundies to the esteemed red wines of Bordeaux as well as the world's finest sparkling wine, Champagne. While these wines have been celebrated and praised for many decades and can be found on the finest wine lists around the world, there have been problems for French wines in overall sales - the belief that French wines are necessarily expensive does not help. This is especially true with younger buyers, as strict French wine laws have meant that the country's producers are limited regarding innovation. Thus France has lost market share to numerous New World Countries such as the US, Chile and Argentina and even to its neighbor, Italy. Still, French wines are undisputed as far as respect around the world and there have been some marketing campaigns lately that have driven sales for wines such as Cotes-du-Rhone and those from Provence. It is obvious that French wines will always be held in great regard by consumers and critics alike.

Top Picks for France

Sparkling Wines

Perrier-Jouët 2016 Belle Époque Champagne
96 points
$220
Opulent layers of brioche, lemon curd and pineapple give sumptuous decadence on a palate that is accented with electricity, silky bubbles and refreshing opulence.
Perrier-Jouët 2015 Belle Époque Brut Champagne
94 points
$229
Complex and layered, this gem is drinking incredibly well now and will likely adapt and improve over the next decade or so in your cellar if you have the patience to wait to pop it.
Anne De K NV Brut Rosé Cremant Dalsace
93 points
$22
Tart red berry essence throughout with a lovely spritz and enough complexity to be a serious wine for meal pairings.
Victor Preiss NV Brut Cremant DAlsace
93 points
$45
Complex and delicious with ripe fruit, fresh flowers, and a touch of minerality; this is a seriously good sparkling wine.
G.H. Mumm NV Grand Cordon Brut Rosé Champagne
93 points
$64
Beautiful red fruit envelopes the nose and palate from the first sip; well structured, refreshing, and delicious at every turn.
Perrier-Jouët NV Grand Brut Champagne
93 points
$65
Citrus and sea salt forward, this crisp palate pleaser will provide as an amazing aperitif or oyster and shell fish pairing at your next dinner soirée.
Perrier-Jouët NV Blason Rosé Champagne
93 points
$75
A positively delicious menagerie of red berries on the palate with crisp acidity and just a touch of sweetness to pull it all together; it's hard to go wrong with Champagne, and this is a terrific example of why.
Perrier-Jouët NV Blanc De Blancs Champagne
93 points
$88
A clean, crisp, and refreshing category benchmark; a truly classic Blanc de Blanc with salinity and brioche layered over green apple and citrus flavors with a hint of white flowers.
Bennwihr NV Brut Rosé Cremant DAlsace
93 points
$50
The Pinot Noir is lively and present with crisp acidity and a beautiful rounded texture; a natural pairing for a charcuterie board or grilled wild salmon accented with fresh herbs.
Anne De K NV Brut Blanc De Blancs Cremant Dalsace
92 points
$20
Best Buy
Pretty and highly enjoyable, a great alternative for Champagne AKA exactly what you want from Cremant d'Alsace.
92 points $20 Best Buy