Wine By Nine

Vintage by Iron Horse from Sonoma County, California. The most elegant and sophisticated of the Iron Horse cuvees, made from 100% Chardonnay, this vintage is aged an average of six years on the yeast. It is ethereal - like drinking a cloud. It seems to effervesce away in your mouth and tastes like, among other flavors, a perfectly browned, lightly buttered slice of sourdough toast. Food Pairing A natural on Sunday morning with a beautiful, juicy melon. It is a sensational match with oysters, smoked salmon, caviar and pate. Ideal with roast chicken because it adds a clean, lemony flavor to the dish.

Non-Vintage by Montaudon from Champagne, France - regions. The house style of Champagne at Montaudon is rich and toasty, with notes of almond and brioche toast, combined with crisp green apple and lime accents. Elegant yet energetic.

Non-Vintage by Piper Heidsieck from Champagne, France - regions. Piper-Heidsieck cuvee Brut combines 50 rigorously selected growths. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes give cuvee Brut its earlier years are used to create a more rounded blend and ensure the originality of the Piper-Heidsieck style. The wine's harmony develops over the course of slow ageing in Piper-Heidsieck's chalk cellars. Toasty aromas leap from the glass in this deliciously mature wine. It is soft but still very dry, with acidity tamed by both fine, mature fruit and a creamy texture that sits well in the mouth. This is a very fine, tasty wine. -Wine Enthusiast A gorgeous, toasty nose leads to candied citrus, honey and toast flavors in a medium-bodied, sumptuous profile. Very accessible and full of warmth and personality, with fine length. -Wine Spectator

Non-Vintage by Mumm from Champagne, France - regions. A long aging provides additional flavors of vanilla, roasted nuts and a hint of toast. A result of the carefully chosen infusion of terroir and reserve wines, the finish is long. Imparting to the finish is lightness from Chardonnay, fruitiness from Pinot Noir and roundness provided by Pinot Meunier. A toasty version, rich and creamy, with vanilla, hazelnut and citrus notes weaving through the rich texture...-Wine Spectator

Vintage by Schramsberg from California. Inviting toasty lemon limes and tropical aromas combine with hints of vanilla spice. On the palate, it has zesty citrus and baked pineapple flavors that lead to a long, seamless finish. It is crisp, refreshing, showcasing sparkling Chardonnay at it best. - Winemakers Hugh Davies and Craig Roemer While this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an aperitif, it is perfect with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass as well. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams.

Vintage by Iron Horse from Russian River, California. Russian Cuvee commemorates the style of Sparkling that Iron Horse made for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings, which ended the Cold War. It is the sweetest of their cuvees - right on the edge of Brut level dry and hits a perfect balance point. The higher dosage doesn't come across as sweet, per se, but makes the wine richer and more floral. Russian Cuvee was originally designed as a toasting wine. It is exceptional with foie gras (for the same reason Sauterne goes with foie gras) as well as the sweet and sour tastes of many Asian dishes. It is surprising with vine-ripened tomatoes and when October rolls around, a fabulous cocktail is Russian Cuvee with a handful of pomegranate seeds bobbing in the glass. For dessert, almond cake with strawberries and whipped cream, or anything to do with ginger.

Vintage by Dom. Carneros from Carneros, California. The 2004 vintage was the earliest harvest in memory. The early spring was followed by nearly ideal ripening conditions and the crop was small, as were 2002 and 2003. The resulting Brut cuvee is one of Dom. Carneros' most fragrant vintages. The 2004 cuvee is composed of 61% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 2% Pinot Blanc. Approximately 9% of the cuvee underwent malolactic fermentation prior to blending the cuvee for tirage bottling. The wine has been aged for three years prior to release and will further age gracefully in your cellar (if you can resist opening). This cuvee has wonderful fruit aromas of pears, baked apples and citrus peel enhanced with hints of caramel, spice. The wine is unusually round for its age, very mouth-filling and with a long creamy finish. Lovely served with double or triple cream cheeses, it also matches especially well with fish, shellfish, poultry and most Asian dishes.

Non-Vintage by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. The Champagne produced today by Veuve Clicquot still lives up to the high standards set by Madame Clicquot, a young widow (veuve in French) who took over her late husbands estate at the beginning of the 19th century. It was Madame Clicquot who developed the important riddling procedure for Champagne--a way to remove dead yeast cells from bottles.

Vintage by J from Sonoma County, California. Blend: 49% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir, 2% Pinot Meunier The 2002 J Brut exudes enticing aromas of Asian pears, nectarines, lime zest, and light honeydew melon in its initial aromas. The pear and lime notes follow through in the mouth with a mix of honeysuckle and vanilla cream flavors that lead to a lengthy finish highlighted with a hint of ginger. This wine will pair nicely with light brunches as well as elegant dinner fare.

Non-Vintage by J from Sonoma County, California. 69% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Meunier This J Brut Rose sparkles with a luminous cool pink hue and exudes delicate aromas of strawberry, nectarine and juicy red apples. On the palate, the wine opens with flavors of cherry, blood orange, citrus peel and the tropical star fruit that are underlined by a bright acidity that keeps the overall impression delightfully fresh with a lively, lingering finish. The wine engages the entire palate with balance wrapped in a refined body of elegance and effervescence.

Vintage by Iron Horse from Russian River, California. The same base wine as Classic Vintage Brut, but with a richer dosage, which makes it more opulent, slightly sweeter and heightens the fruit. Originally designed for the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings ending the Cold War. According to USA Today, an intertwining of the arts of diplomacy and gastronomy. Delicious before, during or even as dessert. Especially fun with a handful of pomegranate seeds bobbing in the glass.

Vintage by Dom. Carneros from Carneros, California. This superb, handcrafted sparkling wine, immediately reminiscent of the Taittinger style, is marked by an exceptional refinement and finesse. Its brilliant straw gold color is punctuated by strands of persistent, pinpoint bubbles. The subtle, ripe fruit richness of the Pinot Noir is balanced by the elegant depth and structure of the Chardonnay, converging in notes of toast and vanilla which linger in the extended finish.