Crémant - Not just a pretty name
Over dinner at Le Garage last week, a fellow wine aficionado asked the classic question - 'If you were stranded on a deserted island with only one beverage, which would it be?' To a seemingly difficult dilemma, I replied without hesitation: Champagne!!! Is that even a question? What better to quench your thirst and refresh your parched palate than an ice-cold flute of sparkling French Pinot Noir? And for a prolonged séjour on a budget, I would take a case of Crémant de Bourgogne.
Speaking of Crémant, don't be confused by the très chic local versions from Northern California which have very little to do with the real gig. True Crémant comes from France and is the fruit of strict regulations defining every part of the winemaking process, from grape to bottle. I know what you are thinking - and have to agree that the French seem obnoxiously rule-happy! Besides the boasting factor, what's the point? Amazingly enough, these regulations are not intended to be cumbersome; they actually serve to sketch the outlines of a targeted taste profile within which each Crémant should fall. More importantly, they establish a standard of quality to which each Crémant should adhere.
Crémants are by definition vinified in la méthode tradionnelle, as in Champagne, and are subject to the pre-1994 yield limits of Champagne (100 liters from 150 kilograms of grapes). The most well-known are Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant de Loire, Crémant d'Alsace and Crémant de Limoux, although these sparklers are made in virtually every region from local varietals. Crémant de Bourgogne, for example, is composed of Chardonnay and/or Pinot Noir, and is typically a blend of over 50 different still wines from multiple vintages. This particular Crémant would more appropriately be dubbed petit champagne, for all the commonalities it shares with the more glamorous sparklers to the West. Crémants de Bourgogne can therefore be considered an inexpensive version of the world's most sought after wine!
Simonnet Febvre has specialized in and built a name for itself producing high-quality Crémants since 1840, sourcing its fruit exclusively within the appellation of Chablis. The Kimmeridgian limestone found in both Chablis and nearby Champagne translates into a mineral-driven wine that dances on the palate. Simonnet-Febvre takes great pride in its Crémants, and each cuvée is truly a labor of love. Many of the cellar tasks that would be automated elsewhere are performed by hand at Simonnet Febvre. A passion for purity and a respect for place guide each step of winemaker Jean-Philippe Archambaud's decisions in the cellar.
Crémants are ideal for refreshment on a desert island but they also serve as the perfect daily sparkler, the bubbly that affords you a daily celebration of life. They make a rejuvenating apéritif, a classy pairing for your favorite pasta and white meat dishes and a luxurious mimosa. Celebrate the beginning of September today with a glass of Simonnet Febvre Crémant Rosé.
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