Each one a feast in itself!

In Focus: Sparkling wine

16 December, 2022

of Marcus Hofschuster in Tasting

One thing right away: We strongly advocate drinking good sparkling wine, , Sparkling, , , Cremant, or not only on festive days. "We need another toast" is actually the degrading sentence you can drop towards one of the glorious drinks in the world!

First-class sparkling wine is an art form all its own. In order for it to stand out from all the banal, faceless to dull, sugary mass-produced goods that discounters and supermarkets have in store for the "we need something to toast with" public, but also from the concoctions of all those producers who see sparkling wine merely as wine with carbon dioxide, it requires not only particularly suitable locations for the right basic material, but also extraordinary tact, experience and skill.

Top sparkling wine therefore does not need an occasion. It is the occasion. This does not mean, of course, that one should not drink anything sparkling on festive days of all days. Where would that get us? Especially since good sparkling wine is pretty much the most versatile accompaniment to food and perhaps the only drink that can be drunk from aperitif to dessert and can be paired with any course.

That's why we have once again selected the best wines from all the bottle-fermented wines we tasted this year. For every taste, for every budget. And each one is a feast in itself!

We have tasted around 300 sparkling wines in the last few weeks. As more wines have just arrived, especially from Spain, but also from other regions, we will continue to complete the lists over the next few days. So it may be worthwhile to check back here later.

In FocusSparkling wine Germany

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse 2016 Pinot Noir "Granit - F - " 80.00 €

Schloßgut Diel — Nahe 2014 VDP.Sekt Brut Nature Prestige Cuvée "MO" 93 WP excellent 55.00 €

Schloßgut Diel — Nahe 2013 Dorsheim Goldloch Riesling Extra Brut 92 WP excellent 45.00 €

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse Riesling "Réserve perpétuelle" 50.00 €

Battenfeld-Spanier — Rheinhessen 2012 Extra Brut Vintage Blanc de Blancs 40.00 €

Schloßgut Diel — Nahe 2017 Riesling Extra Brut Réserve 91 WP excellent 26.00 €

Wein- und Sektgut Barth — 2015 Hattenheim Hassel Riesling VDP.Grosse Lage Brut Nature 91 WP excellent 65.00 €

Weingut BIBO RUNGE — 2019 Hallgarten Schönhell Pinot Noir Zero Dosage "Crémant" 89 WP very good 29.00 €

Wein- und Sektgut Barth — 2016 Hattenheim Schützenhaus Riesling VDP.Erste Lage Brut Nature 90 WP excellent 37.00 €

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse 2017 Dosage zero "Grande Cuvée" 35.00 €

Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl GmbH — 2014 Brut Rosé "Prestige" 52.00 €

Weingut am Stein - Ludwig Knoll — Franconia/Franken 2017 Extra Brut Pinot Cuvée "Ludwig's" 90 WP excellent

Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl GmbH — Brut Blanc de Blancs "Prestige" 34.00 €

Weingut Peter Lauer — Mosel 2018 Riesling Brut Saar (Deg.: 08/2022)

Weingut May — Franconia/Franken 2017 Retzstadt Langenberg Silvaner Brut Nature (Deg. Juni 2022) 89 WP very good 30.00 €

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse 2018 Riesling Extra Brut "Prestige" 24.00 €

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse 2014 Réserve "Grande Cuvée" 65.00 €

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse 2018 Pinot Noir Brut Nature "Prestige" 26.00 €

Griesel & Compagnie — Hessische Bergstrasse 2018 Extra Brut Rosé 25.00 €

Weingut Franz Keller — Baden 2018 Brut "Pinot Rosé" (Deg. 05/2022) 89 WP very good

Weingut May — Franconia/Franken 2017 Retzstadt Langenberg Silvaner Brut 89 WP very good 24.00 €

Gut Wilhelmsberg — Franconia/Franken 2018 Silvaner Brut Nature 89 WP very good 20.00 €

All wines

In Focus: Sparkling Wine France

Pol Roger — Champagne 2002 Champagne AOC Brut Sir Winston Churchill Up to 300.00 €

Vincent Laval — Champagne 2004 Champagne AOC Cimiéres Premier Cru Brut Nature "Les Chênes" (Deg. 20.2.09) Up to 200.00 €

Champagne Diebolt Vallois — Champagne 2013 Champagne AOC Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs "Fleur de Passion" 110.00 €

Krug — Champagne Champagne AOC Brut Grande Cuvée "170ème Èdition" 220.00 €

Larmandier-Bernier — Champagne 2013 Champagne AOC Grand Cru "Vieille Vigne du Levant" Up to 150.00 €

Champagne Jacques Selosse — Champagne Champagne AOC Grand Cru Brut "Initial"

Champagne Doyard — Champagne 2015 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 97.00 €

Bollinger — Champagne 1996 Champagne AOC Extra Brut "R.D." (Deg. 8.8.07) Up to 400.00 €

Champagne Guiborat — Champagne 2015 Champagne AOC Chouilly Grand Cru Extra Brut "De Caurés à Mont Aigu" (Deg.:12/2021) 86.00 €

Champagne Doyard — Champagne 2015 Champagne AOC Premier Cru Extra Brut "Clos de l'Abbaye" 85.00 €

Champagne Pierre Moncuit — Champagne 2008 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut Millésime

Bollinger — Champagne 2002 Champagne AOC Brut "La Grande Année" (Deg. 7/11) Up to 200.00 €

Champagne Doyard — Champagne 2009 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs

Champagne Doyard — Champagne 2018 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut "œil de Perdrix" 97.00 €

Champagne Alexandre Bonnet — Champagne 2018 Champagne AOC Zero Dosage "La Géande - 7 Cépages" (Dos.: 17/03/22) Up to 75.00 €

Champagne Ruinart — Champagne 2010 Champagne AOC Extra Brut "Dom Ruinart" Blanc de Blanc (Deg.:03/2021) 275.00 €

Champagne Pascal Doquet — Champagne 2007 Champagne AOC Premier Cru Brut Nature "Le Mont Aimé" (Deg.10/20)

Bereche et Fils — Champagne 2012 Champagne AOC Ludes Premier Cru Extra Brut "Le Cran" Up to 100.00 €

Champagne Delamotte — Champagne 2008 Champagne AOC Brut Up to 150.00 €

Champagne Guiborat — Champagne Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut "Prisme.17" (Deg.: 11/2020) 49.50 €

Champagne Guiborat — Champagne Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut "Prisme.16" (Deg.: 12/2020) 48.00 €

Champagne Pascal Doquet — Champagne 2008 Champagne AOC Vertus Premier Cru Extra Brut "Coeur de Terroir" (Deg: 2/20) Up to 100.00 €

Hugues Godmé — Champagne 2009 Champagne AOC Les Champs Saint Martin Grand Cru Extra Brut Up to 70.00 €

Champagne Alexandre Bonnet — Champagne 2018 Champagne AOC Extra Brut "La Forêt - Rosé de Saignée" (Dos.: 24/04/22) Up to 75.00 €

Champagne Doyard — Champagne 2012 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 85.00 €

Champagne Doyard — Champagne Champagne AOC Premier Cru Brut "Vendémiaire, Blanc de Blancs" 39.50 €

Larmandier-Bernier — Champagne Champagne AOC Premier Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs "Longitude" Up to 60.00 €

Champagne Guiborat — Champagne Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut "Thétys.19" (Deg.:03/2022) 42.00 €

Champagne Guiborat — Champagne Champagne AOC Dosage zero "Prohibition" (Deg.:12/2021) 43.00 €

Champagne Doyard — Champagne Champagne AOC Grand Cru Dosage zero "Révolution, Blanc de Blancs" 51.50 €

Champagne J.M. Labruyère — Champagne 2016 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs "Page Blanche" 57.00 €

Pierre Gimonnet et Fils — Champagne 2015 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut "Special Club" 86.00 €

Champagne Leclaire-Thiefaine — Champagne Champagne AOC Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut "Constantin" 65.00 €

Champagne Pascal Doquet — Champagne 2006 Champagne AOC Vertus Premier Cru Extra Brut "Coeur de Terroir"

Piper-Heidsieck — Champagne Champagne AOC Chardonnay Extra Brut "Essentiel" Cuvée Reservée (Deg.:1/2019) Up to 45.00 €

Champagne Jean Velut — Champagne Champagne AOC Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs "L'Oubliée" (Deg. 02/22) 55.00 €

Champagne Alexandre Bonnet — Champagne 2018 Champagne AOC Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs (Deg.:07/04/22) Up to 40.00 €

Champagne Alexandre Bonnet — Champagne 2017 Champagne AOC Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs (Deg.:18/10/21) Up to 50.00 €

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon — Champagne 2013 Champagne AOC Premier Cru Extra Brut (Deg.11/2019)

Champagne Vauversin — Champagne 2016 Champagne AOC Grand Cru Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs 59.00 €

Champagne Pierre Moncuit — Champagne Champagne AOC Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs "Delos" 38.00 €

Champagne Douard — Champagne 2018 Champagne AOC Brut (Deg.:Mai 2021)

All wines

In FocusSparkling wine Italy

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2017 Franciacorta DOCG "Vintage Collection - Satèn" (Deg.: Autunno 2021) 92 WP excellent 49.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2017 Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut "Vintage Collection" (Deg.: Autunno 2021) 91 WP excellent 49.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy 2018 Franciacorta DOCG Brut "Vintage Collection - Satèn" (Deg.: Estate 2022) 90 WP excellent

Bonfadini Franciacorta — Lombardy 2015 Franciacorta DOCG "Aurora" Rosé 90 WP excellent Up to 60.00 €

Cantina di La Vis e Valle di Cembra sca — Trentino 2017 Trento DOC Riserva Dosage zero "Oro Rosso" (Deg. 2022)

Selva Capuzza Società Agricola — Lombardy 2018 Lugana DOC Brut "Hirundo" 89 WP very good Up to 22.00 €

Ca' del Bosco — Lombardy Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut Cuvée "Prestige Edizione 44" (Deg.:Inverno 21/22) 89 WP very good 31.60 €

Kellerei Kurtatsch — 2016 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva Pas Dosé "600 Blanc de Blancs" 89 WP very good 32.00 €

Lorenz Martini — 2018 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Riserva Pas Dosé "Comitissa" (Deg.:2022) 30.00 €

Azienda Agricola Quaquarini Francesco s.s. — Lombardy 2014 Oltrepò Pavese DOC Pinot Nero Brut "Cruasé" Rosé 89 WP very good 17.00 €

Sektkellerei ARUNDA — Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Extra Brut "Perpetuum" (Deg.:05/22) 89 WP very good 30.00 €

Col Sandago — Veneto 2021 Brut "Wildbacher" Rosé 89 WP very good

Giannitessari Soc. Agricola — Veneto 2014 Lessini Durello DOC Riserva Extra Brut "60 Mesi" 89 WP very good 30.00 €

All wines

In FocusSparkling wine Spain

Recaredo — 2017 Brut Nature "Serral del Vell®" (Deg.:03.10.2022) 91 WP excellent 40.00 €

Can Descregut, S.L. — 2016 Brut Nature "Memòria" (Deg.: 10/22)

Julia Bernet SCP — 2017 Brut Nature "130" (Deg.: 11.11.21)

Sabaté i Coca, SA — 2015 Brut Nature "Josep Coca" (Deg.:27-04-2022)

Recaredo — 2018 Brut Nature "Terrers®" (Deg.:08-11-22) 90 WP excellent 23.00 €

Gramona, S.A — 2014 Brut Nature "Ill Lustros" (Deg.: 07/2022)

Mas Bertran — 2013 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature "La Graua" (Deg.: 10/22)

Mas Bertran — 2012 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut "X80 - 5 Anys" (Deg.: 11/21)

Huguet de Can Feixes S.L. — 2015 Reserva Brut "6 Anys" (Deg.: 07/22)

Celler Pardas — 2018 Brut Nature "HERMÓS" (Deg.:04/2022)

Torelló Viticultors — 2016 Brut Nature "Traditional" (Deg.: 11/2022)

Torelló Viticultors — 2018 Brut "Can Martí" (Deg.: 11/2022)

Huguet de Can Feixes S.L. — 2015 Reserva Brut Nature "6 Anys" (Deg.: 11/22)

Colet — 2018 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature "Navazos" (Deg.: 09/2022) 28.00 €

Raventós i Blanc — 2019 Brut Nature Conca del Riu Anoia "De La Finca" (Deg.:14-10-22)

Alta Alella — 2018 Brut Nature "Mirgin Opus" (Deg:: 07-11-2022) 32.00 €

Gramona, S.A — 2012 Brut "Celler Batlle" (Deg.: 06/2022)

Mas Bertran — 2017 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature "Argila" Rosé (Deg.: 09/22)

Mas Bertran — 2013 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature "Argila" (Deg.: 02/22)

LLOPART VILAROS PERE HJ — 2018 Reserva Brut Nature (Deg.: 11/2022)

LLOPART VILAROS PERE HJ — 2017 Brut "Panoramic Imperial" (Deg.: 10/2022)

Mas Candi — 2017 Brut Nature "Segunyola" (Deg.: 04/11/2022) 14.50 €

AT Roca — 2020 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature Rosat (Deg.:11/2022)

Raventós i Blanc — 2020 Extra Brut Conca del Riu Anoia "Blanc de Blancs 1497" (Deg.:10-11-22)

Colet — 2016 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Extra Brut "Assemblage"(Deg.: 29-07-2022) 35.00 €

Mas Comtal — 2016 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature "Joan Milà" (Deg.:10-07-2022) 17.50 €

Alta Alella — 2018 D.O. Cava Comtats de Barcelona Gran Reserva Brut Nature "LAIETÁ" Rosé (Deg:: 14-11-2022) 21.85 €

Alta Alella — 2018 D.O. Cava Comtats de Barcelona Gran Reserva Brut Nature "LAIETÁ" (Deg:: 02-11-2022) 20.20 €

Alta Alella — 2020 D.O. Cava Comtats de Barcelona Brut Nature "Bruant" (Deg:: 17-10-2022) 17.50 €

Julia Bernet SCP — 2019 Brut Nature "60x40" (Deg.: 05.11.21)

Nadal — 2016 Brut Nature "Edició especial" (Deg.: 06.10.22)

All wines

In FocusSparkling wine Austria

Heribert Bayer - Kellerei In Signo Leonis GmbH — Burgenland 2017 Horitschon Sekt g.U. Grosse Reserve Brut Nature "In Signo Aquarii" 90 WP excellent 38.20 €

Weingut Georg Preisinger — Burgenland 2018 Neusiedlersee Brut Nature "Himmel voller Sterne" 88 WP very good Up to 29.00 €

Weingut Bründlmayer Langenlois — Lower Austria/Niederösterreich Sekt g.U. Reserve Extra Brut "Blanc de Blancs" Deg.02/2022 88 WP very good 36.00 €

All wines

In FocusSparkling wine Netherlands

MinZeven — Flevoland BGA 2018 Brut Nature "Bruut & Bruizend" (Deg.:01/2022)

MinZeven — Flevoland BGA 2019 Brut Nature "Bruut & Bruizend" (Deg.:06/2021)

In FocusSparkling wine PetNat

Weingut am Stein - Ludwig Knoll — Franconia/Franken Brut Nature "Pure & Naked - Pink & Pure" 89 WP very good

Hummel Pincészet - Weingut Hummel — Südliches Transdanubien 2021 Villány-Siklós trocken "Karasica" 88 WP very good 15.50 €

Weingut am Stein - Ludwig Knoll — Franconia/Franken Brut Nature "Pure & Naked" 88 WP very good

All wines

In FocusSparkling wine The best sparkling wines up to 20 euros

Azienda Agricola Quaquarini Francesco s.s. — Lombardy 2014 Oltrepò Pavese DOC Pinot Nero Brut "Cruasé" Rosé 89 WP very good 17.00 €

Gut Wilhelmsberg — Franconia/Franken 2018 Silvaner Brut Nature 89 WP very good 20.00 €

Mas Comtal — 2016 D.O. Clàssic Penedès Reserva Brut Nature "Joan Milà" (Deg.:10-07-2022) 17.50 €

Cosmowein Wörners Schloss Weingut — Franconia/Franken Brut "Freude in Weiss" 88 WP very good 16.50 €

Schloßgut Diel — Nahe 2019 Brut "Pinot de Diel" 88 WP very good 18.00 €

Azienda Agricola Quaquarini Francesco s.s. — Lombardy 2014 Oltrepò Pavese DOC Pinot Nero Brut "Classese®" 88 WP very good 19.00 €

Tamellini — Veneto 2018 Extra Brut Up to 20.00 €

Weingut Johannes B. — 2019 Brut Nature "Grand Cuvée B" (Deg. 11/21) 88 WP very good 7.00 €

Giannitessari Soc. Agricola — Veneto Lessini Durello DOC Brut "36 Mesi" 88 WP very good 20.00 €

	100 WP unique Wines that can only be made differently, but not better.
	95-99 WP great World-class wines whose depth, complexity, character and expressiveness give an unforgettable, sensual experience.
	90-94 WP excellent First class wines that are among the best of their kind. They are characterized by purity, harmony, depth and character.
	85-89 WP very good Remarkable wines with personality, expression, as well as a certain complexity and depth. They deserve every wine lover's attention.
	80-84 WP good Clean, harmonious, at best typical wines.
	75-79 WP passable
	70-74 WP schwach
	60-69 WP insufficient
	50-59 WP unacceptable

Welcome back!

Each one a feast in itself!

In Focus: Sparkling wine

In FocusSparkling wine Germany

In Focus: Sparkling Wine France

In FocusSparkling wine Italy

In FocusSparkling wine Spain

In FocusSparkling wine Austria

In FocusSparkling wine Netherlands

In FocusSparkling wine PetNat

In FocusSparkling wine The best sparkling wines up to 20 euros

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EVENTS NEAR YOU

100 WP unique

95-99 WP great

90-94 WP excellent

85-89 WP very good

80-84 WP good

75-79 WP passable

70-74 WP schwach

60-69 WP insufficient

50-59 WP unacceptable