Bottega il Vino dell Amore Petalo Moscato Spumante Dolce N.V.

Date of Tasting: 15 November 2013

Wine Type: Sparkling Rose

Grape Varieties: 100% Moscato (Muscat)

Alcohol: 6.5%

Origin: Veneto, Italy

Appellation: Colli Euganei

Expect to Pay: ~ THB1,000 - 1,500 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://www.alexander.it/
Chubby Score: 87/100
Value for money: 3/10
Professional Rating: CT - 86/100

Appearance: light straw yellow

Aroma: pear and tropical fruits with floral floor

Palate: lightly fruity with tropical charms, candy sweetness but not overly done, hint of white flower fragrance, frothy with fine bubble texture, low in acid and perhaps insufficient to balance, short finish, lack of complexity

An enjoyable sparkling that you would surely please majority of women. The light taste with low alcohol make it easily drunk. Being moscato spumante with of course sweetness does not it putting off gentlemen, its freshness makes this Bottega Moscato accessible to gentlemen too. Though it is not my kind of sparkling, I would say I can enjoy it as aperitif but not with food. As for value for money, it can be a little overpriced from my view. By the way, do serve it cold to enjoy it. Anyway, this can be a choice for party.

Champagne Jacquesson Cuvee 736 Extra-Brut

Jacquesson is another big champagne house but rarely found in Thailand. Jacquesson Cuvee 736 is the latest release from the 700 series which is based mainly from 2008 harvest with some blend of 2007 and 2006. Well, let's see how it went.

Date of Tasting: 16 March 2013

Wine Type: Sparkling White

Grape Varieties: 53% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir, 18% Pinot Meunier

Alcohol: 12%

Origin: Champagne, France

Appellation: Champagne

Expect to Pay: THB1,500 – 2,500 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://www.champagnejacquesson.com/
Chubby Score: 89/100
Value for money: 6/10
Professional Rating: WA - 90-92/100

Appearance: pale golden yellow

Aroma: fresh citrus and flowers but rather mute

Palate: light and pure limestone with power of sea breeze, intense energy and power, rather fat bubbles but excellent acidity, very dry but easy to drink, still lack of complexity and dimensions

Perhaps this is the style of champagne I truly enjoy, unlike the great Dom Perignon 2003. Big and power but not elegant and classic. Though Champagne Jacquesson 736 may be ready to be consumed now, I would personally let it lay down and develop for a couple of years to show its true potential and let the fat bubbles fade away before enjoy it during the next decade.