Check out Tailor Store and get 20% OFF: https://www.tailorstore.com/konstantin
Check out Cellar Class to take your wine knowledge to the next level: https://www.cellarclass.com/
Learn from a Master of Wine at your pace, wherever you are with Cellar Class!
Follow me on …:
https://www.instagram.com/konstantinbaum_mw/
https://www.threads.net/@konstantinbaum_mw
@konstantinbaum_mw
Check out my website:
https://www.cellarclass.com/
https://www.konstantinbaum.com/
https://baumselection.com/
I use this wine key: Forge de Laguiole Ebony
I have used the following glass in this video: Spiegelau Definition Universal Glass
I have tasted the following wines in this Video:
Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle Brut, Bendigo, New Zealand
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/quartz+reef+methode+tradition+brut+bendigo+new+zealand+central+otago?referring_site=KSB
2019 Recaredo ‘Terrers’ Brut Nature Corpinnat, Penedes, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/recaredo+terrers+brut+nature+corpinnat+penedes+catalonia+spain/2019?referring_site=KSB
2018 Chapel Down Grand Reserve, Kent, England
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/chapel+down+grand+rsrv+kent+england/2018?referring_site=KSB
Roederer Estate Quartet Brut, Anderson Valley, USA
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/roederer+estate+brut+anderson+valley+mendocino+county+north+coast+california+usa?referring_site=KSB
Karl Schaefer Blanc de Blanc, Pfalz, Germany
2018 Graham Beck Cuvee Clive Blanc de Blancs Brut MCC – Methode Cap Classique, Western Cape, South Africa
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/graham+beck+cuvee+clive+blancdeblanc+brut+mcc+methode+cap+cls+western+cape+south+africa/2018?referring_site=KSB
Ca’ del Bosco Cuvee Prestige, Franciacorta DOCG, Italy
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/ca+bosco+cuvee+prestige+docg+franciacorta+lombardy+italy?referring_site=KSB
Canard-Duchene Iconic Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne, France
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/canard+duchene+iconic+blanc+de+noir+brut+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB
The 100 Point Scoring System (from www.robertparker.com):
96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.
90 – 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
80 – 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
70 – 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.
60 – 69: A below-average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.
50 – 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
I love sparkling wine, and when it comes to celebrating, Champagne is usually my go-to. But here’s the thing: Champagne isn’t just a drink — it’s a statement. Centuries of clever marketing and dedicated winemaking have built its reputation for excellence.
But that prestige comes at a price — and not always one that reflects quality alone. Over the years, I’ve been surprised (and fooled!) by sparkling wines from other corners of the world that taste just as good as Champagne.
So today, I’m putting my palate to the test with a blind tasting of sparkling wines from around the globe. Can you enjoy Champagne-like quality without the Champagne price tag? Let’s find out!”
44 Comments
Check out Tailor Store and get 20% OFF: https://www.tailorstore.com/konstantin
I like bubbles! Sparkling wines create a feeling of happiness faster.
I really enjoy the traditional bubbles of Northern Italy Trento DOC and the KENT region in the UK has also pleasantly surprised me.
I am always ready for champagne, but it is still a special festive drink also because of its considerable price.
And as my colleague says – we will piss it out anyway! 😅🤭😄🙌
Cave Geisse and Casa Valduga, Brazil.
I guessed from your description that No 4 was Chapel Down. I used to be able to afford it until they kept winning awards. I never understood terroir until I drove along the vineyards in the UK – I live in Sussex so have many to visit. I think it is easier to understand terroir here than in France. I can only really afford Cremants nowadays and the occasional sparkling English Bacchus (Denbies, et al) which is also my absolute favourite still English wine, just ahead of Ortega, also from England.
Very nice tasting! Watch out for England, lots of very good quality!
I was told you get a stunning crémant for the price of a shitty Champagne.
And I think I agree
Deine preise in Dollars kannst du vergessen mit den neuen Zolltarifs…
nop.
That Roederer Estate Quartet must be their only wine the owner lets into Europe. A window on the quality/power of US sparkling wine with the tasting winner made from the cheapest wines.
9 is a clear bottle, I can't help wonder if you were getting some light strike on the palate?
Sparkling wine was invented by the British
What does he mean when he says grippy? He uses that description quite often – thanks!
Hi Konstantin! Can you do a blind tasting with, say, 4 of the top Aldi red wines and 4 red wines from well known producers? That would be interesting as a comparison.
My most common sparkling wine is the more basic wine from Graham Beck, which is very good. What I particularly like is a Brazillian sparkling wine called Sur Lie by Casa Valduga which has a lot of those bready/yeasty flavours from spending a long time on the lees.
The Pfalz wine sounds interesting but I can't find a retailer in the UK. Any chance of bringing some over? 😉
You don’t know Recaredo (legendary Cava (now Corpinnat) producer) or Corpinnat? – a very interesting and quality oriented development in Spanish sparkling wine…
Ma chi è costui che agita champagne come fossero Borgogna o Sassicaia ancora prima di aver analizzato il perlage, un barbaro veramente un barbaro
Corpinnat it is a group of former cava DO producers, they decided that they did not want to stay at the DO. They are trying to create a new DO. So yes obviusly they have cava profile in their wines, cause they were cava producers. The name comes from the word Cor ( heart in catalan) and pinnat ( rock in latin), due to its soils. I recommend you Gramona´s sparkling wines.
Champagne tastes really good…its also a question of taste which has pushed the people to want it…marketing came only in the last 50 years when celebrities started wanting it !!!
Not all champagnes are better than all sparkling wines. But the worst champagne are mostly an ok wine, when some sparkling wines can be really terrible. Areas like Champagne, Alsace, Bordeaux has a higher lowest quality than some other areas. You know you get a good drinkable wine even if you buy some of the "cheaper" ones. That doesn't mean other areas can't make good wines way better than the the average Champagne, Bordeaux or Alsace wines.
My best non-champagne sparkling: Brazilian.
If we consider how complicated and demanding the production of champagne is, the question that remains unanswered is why anyone would make it if the base wine were anything but poor. I was almost kicked out when I asked that at Moët & Chandon. 🙂
Not the good stuff.
Perche agitare il vino? Si fa con i vini fermi.. non con le bolle.. o al massimo per il secondo assaggio
I really enjoy sparkling wines from Jura. Honestly, some of the best value for money sparkling wines I know.
Ca del bosco is not bad, but there are much better Franciacortas around.
I love German Sekt.
Riesling Sekt in particular
Mejor un buen cava español
I do hope that when Konstantin does these samplings all his chums are standing at the other end of the cellar waiting to pitch in when the camera stops rolling.. I would hate to think of all that lovely wine being poured away 😮
2 and 7?
before watching: yes, it is. I found a Pinot Noir Cremant. it is so lovely and easily overshadows many champagnes I have tried at 1/4 of the price
California, especially Mumm Napa, Domaine Carneros, and Chandon. Oregon, especially Argyle and Gran Moraine (rose). Prestige champagnes from France: Taittinger Comptes de Champagne, Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle, Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill. France NV–de Saint Gall gran cru, Laurent Perrier Rose, Louis Roederer and many more.
Cremant de Bourgogne is my go-to!
I've tried for years to find a less expensive everday, champagne alternative — but as far as I can tell, it doesn't exist. There are good sparkling wines, but they're sparkling wines. You can taste the differnce immediately.
As a French, I like wines but I don't understand the snobbery surrounding Champagne.
It's a boring wine, and even in France where it's cheaper, it's clearly not worth the price.
Interesting tasting. I checked my sparkling wine scores on Cellartracker from the last year and the highest scoring wine was actually a Champagne (2009 Pommery Champagne Grand Cru Royal 95/100; 66 €), but this is followed by a German sparkling wine (2017 Reinecker Badenweiler Römerberg Pinot Noir Extra Brut 93/100; 21 €) and another Champagne (Collery Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut 93/100; 57€), I also liked a really interesting Riesling sparkling wine from the Mosel (2018 Martin Müllen Riesling Sekt trocken 91/100; 15 €). So considering price I guess the German sparkling wines are winning in the PQR battle but in overall quality the best I tasted was actually Champagne indeed.
wine #9 DEFINITELY nobody can SAY what it is :))))))))))))
And Finally – Cellar is back!
16:46 – Corpinnat is NOT a Cava, they struggle to be named separately not to mix that. Not so many wineries make Corpinnat, but they have their style.
21:26 – English sparklings are very very nice – like them. Also it was interesting to try Tasmanian sparkling
you never tried a Brazilian wine? Try Valduga's Brut Nature and Pizzato's Semillon. I would be interested to know what an expert think of them. I thoroughly enjoy both.
The Quartet seems like a helluva buy!
Any Anderson valley sparkling wine will be excellent, particularly from the French vintners. The affordable prices are a bonus.
Banger intro Animation.
Had a lovely Cremant de Loire recently.. Interesting because it was not champagne. Totally different nose and palate.
Yes Indeed, not that good…