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StateWays | www.stateways.com | July/August 2017 36 RETAILER WINE SELECTIONS Sipping Sparklers We asked members of our panel to taste and evaluate SPARKLING WINES. As always, these selections include brief tasting notes, a rating and the wine's retail price (which can vary from store to store and market to market). If you're a beverage professional with a specialty in wine and you're interested in participating in the panel, please contact associate editor Kyle Swartz at kswartz@epgmediallc.com or 203-855-8499 x2225. ★★★★★ FIVE STARS (92-100) A top-flight wine. Superior in taste and character and providing an outstanding price/ value relationship. ★★★★ FOUR STARS (86-91) A very good wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back. ★★★ THREE STARS (80-85) An above-average wine, at a reasonable price point, which many customers will enjoy. RANKING SYSTEM Five Stars ««««« (96) Villa Sandi, Vigne La Rivetta, Cartizze, Prosecco Superiore 2016 (Italy). From the Valdobbiadene, D.O.C.G. If your customers think that prosecco is only a low-price bottle of Italian fi zz, this wine will set them on entirely different path. Car tizze is a vineyard shared by some of the region's top producers, and Villa Sandi knows exactly what to do with these grapes. Elegant, fi ne bubbles help showcase the quality of the wine. It is an exquisite example of world- class sparkling wine from northern Italy. ($45) (95) Bar tolomiol "Miol" Prosecco Brut NV (Italy). A classic style from the original produc- tion zone of Treviso in Italy's Veneto. Aromatic, crisp, dry and fully "Spumante," it's the perfect aperitif by itself or will be an ideal base for the fa- mous Bellini. Also excellent with Sunday brunch. ($19.99) (95) Champagne Collett NV, Aÿ (France). An outstanding illustration of a non-vintage champagne, from a smaller-but-high-qual- ity producer in Champagne. Toasty brioche notes accent the lovely fruit character. Well balanced, with good food-friendly acidity. ($49) (95) Gruet Blanc De Noirs NV (New Mexico). The French family Gruet founded their win- ery in Albuquerque, New Mexico more than 25 years ago, producing delightful wines by methode champenois using traditional Cham- pagne grapes. Their Blanc De Noirs is 75% pinot noir and 25% Chardonnay. It has a lovely pale salmon/coral color with a fl oral bouquet and hints of strawberry, peach and sweet spice on the palate. Its fi nish is long with racy, sweet/tart acidity. A simply beautiful style and a great value. ($19.99) (95) Jaume Serra Cristolino Rose' Brut NV (Spain). Produced by the Champagne method from 60% pinot noir and 40% trepat in the world's largest sparkling wine region. A bright ruby color leads to a bouquet of violets and not-quite-ripe berries. Bold, rich fl avors of cherry and strawberry coat the palate and linger in the lip-smacking, very-dry fi nish. This wine is surprisingly full bodied and will complement grilled salmon, prawns, paella, or even BBQ-sauced dishes. Try it with fresh fruits, or with brunch. It is also an amazing value. ($9.99)