Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Breathless Wines – Blanc de Noirs – N/V
Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸
100% Pinot Noir | Méthode Traditionnelle

Overview
A non-vintage Blanc de Noirs crafted entirely from Pinot Noir, showcasing both precision and personality. Sourced from Sonoma County fruit and produced in the traditional method, this sparkling wine balances freshness with depth, offering far more complexity than its playful label might suggest.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive and refined, opening with delicate floral notes, fresh red apple, wild strawberry skin, and hints of white cherry. Subtle brioche and almond tones follow, adding dimension without overwhelming the purity of the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Bright and energetic with a fine, persistent mousse. Crisp entry, clean mid-palate, and a refreshing, dry finish. The Pinot Noir structure provides enough weight to stand up to food while remaining elegant and lifted.

Food Pairings
Excellent on its own, but truly shines with food: crudo, sashimi, roasted poultry, mushroom dishes, or soft cheeses. Versatile and gastronomic without being heavy.

Verdict
A well-crafted Blanc de Noirs that delivers both freshness and complexity. Approachable yet serious, making it equally suitable for casual sipping or pairing at the table.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This is one of those sparklers that works effortlessly both solo and with food. Floral, fresh, and layered, proof that Sonoma Pinot Noir can translate beautifully into sparkling form.

Did You Know?
Breathless Wines focuses exclusively on sparkling wines made using the traditional Champagne method, emphasizing extended lees aging and Pinot-driven expressions to build texture and depth. — 5 months ago

Willie Carter

9.5

So young, so very young. But so pretty and so damned delicious. Sparkling pale salmon with effusive perlage. It’s a very aesthetically pleasing champagne. Strawberries in cream are prominent on the nose with rose petals. Fresh brioche and daisies. The nose just goes on and on.

As is typical with Bara champagnes, this is Pinot Noir from Bouzy. Complex, alluring, and lithe, this has all the trademarks of becoming a great wine in the future. As it is, it’s already an utterly felicitous wine. Nice acidity and typically wonderful structure. Silky and luxurious but you just know it’s going to get better.

A sudden burst of seductive fruit in the mouth. Red apples, red cherries, and more strawberry on the palate. Plenty of citrus here, as well. Just the faintest hint of fresh mint on the long finish for an added boost. I should say hold these for a years so it can truly become itself, but go ahead now. Why not, you only live the once. — 3 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.8

The new 2016 just released. I love their sparkling wines. It’s truly one of the best if not the best domestic sparking wines. — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Silk Road – Amber-Sec Semi-Sparkling 2022
Kakheti – Georgia 🇬🇪

Overview
A rare style, this is an amber wine made semi-sparkling and finished sec (off-dry). Produced in Kakheti, it combines Georgia’s ancient qvevri skin-contact tradition with a playful sparkling twist. (Educational note: Semi-sparkling wines usually have 1–2.5 bars of pressure, giving gentle bubbles rather than the intensity of Champagne.)

Aromas & Flavors
Apricot, dried orange peel, and candied ginger on the nose, layered with honey, tea leaf, and light floral tones. A touch of sweetness balances its earthy amber character.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied with a soft effervescence — lively but not aggressive. Gentle tannic grip from skin contact, rounded by off-dry sweetness. Clean, refreshing, and slightly savory on the finish.

Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with spicy Asian dishes, roasted duck with orange glaze, or Middle Eastern mezze. Also works well as an aperitif with aged cheeses or nut-based snacks.

Verdict
A fascinating crossover: the grip and depth of amber wine with the fun, festive lift of semi-sparkling bubbles. The 2022 vintage is lively, slightly sweet, and truly distinctive — both rustic and playful. 🍷✨

Did You Know?
Georgia’s amber wines are almost always still, making a semi-sparkling amber-sec highly unusual — a creative modern spin on an 8,000-year-old tradition.

Hidden Gem 💎
An amber-sec semi-sparkling wine from Kakheti is about as rare as it gets. This Silk Road 2022 shows Georgia’s winemakers aren’t just keepers of tradition — they’re also innovators. — 8 months ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

Marginally better than the prior vintages and most certainly the best Brazilian sparkling wine. Truly good stuff. — 2 years ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Willie Carter

9.0

You already know what it is. There’s not much to even say about it because you already know it’s delicious. Quite delicious. Romance in a bottle? Absolutely. Pale copper with salmon accents and energetic effervescence. The nose features sumptuous cranberries and raspberries, as well as baked apple tarts. Some wild strawberry notes to go with the brioche aromas.

This is no hidden gem of a wine, you’ve all tasted it before and you know how good and reliable it is. A benchmark and always impressive. Pleasing, not racy, acidity and that hard to describe essence of quality. 40/30/30 CH/PN/PM and those red grapes truly shine here. The palate references the nose with more sparkling red berries and autolytic notes. Impressively long finish of pure elegance. Flabbergastingly lovely. — 4 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Angelino Wine Company – “California Crackler” Albariño – NV
Los Angeles County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extremely limited sparkling release (only 55 cases made) by Angelino Wine Company, crafted from 100% Albariño sourced from the Sierra Pelona Valley in Los Angeles County. Produced using the Méthode Champenoise, this small-batch wine represents one of California’s most creative takes on Albariño, vibrant, textural, and truly distinctive.

Aromas & Flavors
A lively bouquet of yellow opal apple, grilled pineapple, and citrus zest, accented by subtle brioche notes from lees aging. On the palate, bright acidity and fine bubbles reveal layers of tropical fruit, lemon cream, and a hint of salinity.

Mouthfeel
Brilliantly crisp and refreshing with smooth, creamy undertones. The mousse is fine and persistent, delivering a polished texture and a moderate, lingering finish that balances fruitiness and dryness with precision.

Food Pairings
Perfect with oysters, sushi rolls, grilled prawns, or goat cheese crostini. Its acidity and effervescence make it a versatile companion to coastal cuisine.

Verdict
A dazzling California sparkler that redefines Albariño in bubbly form, youthful, expressive, and refreshingly local. A vibrant fusion of innovation and tradition that leaves a lasting impression.

Did You Know?
Sierra Pelona Valley is one of the few high-elevation vineyard areas in Los Angeles County, benefiting from cool nights that preserve Albariño’s natural acidity while showcasing its tropical personality.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A rare find and an absolute joy to taste, lively, original, and perfectly balanced. This bottle amplifies your palate with every sip. If you spot it, don’t hesitate. Cheers! — a year ago

Evan Roberts

9.4

Stunning wine with a tragic story. One man’s vision to show case a disappearing grape is truly magical. Gringet from the Haute-Savoie as a single varietal bottling is so good so many layers, such beauty and subtlety. The still wine is pretty dynamic but this sparkling wine is just a, well a Pearl. Bottles be a friend after the winemakers tragic death this will be the last vintage of the wine. I can only hope someone takes up his mantle. — 3 years ago

Barberry Garden

9.1

Served blind and I enjoyed the expression on other people's faces. Truly, it's a hidden gem. Intense and rewarding. Baked apples, sunflower oil, toast and amber. Well balanced, it has good (e.g. high) acidity and long persistent and flavourful aftertaste. Again, it's not complex yet delicious and well made. Good choice for those who enjoy Champagne.

Date of dégorgemenent: January 2017.

Tasted as part of Mixed Bag Vol. 1. — 4 years ago

Chris Zitzman

8.9

The Thibault-Jannison “FIZZ” sparkling wine is a simple joy & a half. The nose is a subtle, bright white peach, and when paired with any sort of seafood it becomes more than what it began as.

As it breathes and grows on the palate, I’m hard-pressed to find a sparkling wine that is this enjoyable- and yet this well-produced.

We’re having shrimp and buttery pasta tonight, and this simple-yet-truly-elegant wine just nailed it. — 5 years ago

with Beth