Champalou NV Vouvray Brut, Loire Valley

This wonderful sparkler is a reminder that not all bubblies need be Champagne.  The impeccable Chenin Blancs produced by Champalou are in full display here.  Explosive flavor gives the impression of fruitiness at first taste, but quickly turns dry throughout the journey from middle to finish.  Indeed, at only 3 grams of sugar per liter, this is a dry bubbly, with a fine breed and full of distinctive flavor.  This is an absolutely delicious sparkler with a gentle fruit from the impeccable Loire Chenin Blanc grown by the Champalou family. 

“Recently, a chef-friend extended an invite for an impromptu dinner of scallops and steak, and the only answer was yes. Champalou’s traditional method Chenin Blanc, with its lively bubbles and nose of honeydew rind and golden apples, was the perfect way to awaken our palates to start the evening—festive yet unpretentious.”—Allyson Noman, Kermit Lynch