Pierre Jourdan Brut

Pierre Jourdan Brut - a South African imitation of French champagne. Traditional champagne is largely a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, and this bubbly from South Africa is no different. Made from 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir, I've been a fan of the Pierre Jourdan since the first time I tried it.

The Brut pours out a bright golden-straw color, with plenty of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. A beautiful nose of delicate fruits, soft florals, and mild toast. The chardonnay is always used in champagne to give the wine an elegance, while the pinot is used for fruit and structure.

Taking a sip, my palate detects the same characters as my nose. Light and delicate fruit is balanced nicely with some mild richness, subtle toastiness, and great structure. Good acidity cleanses the palate quickly, but before long I'm diving in for another sip.

I've told numerous clients about the Pierre Jourdan Brut over the past couple years, and I stand by my statement.  The Pierre Jourdan Brut tastes more like "champagne" than many actual champagnes. Plus, at under $20 per bottle, this is a super-value! There are few $40 bottles of bubbly that do this good of a job in the world of sparkling wine.  I'd recommend the Pierre Jourdan for two distinct types of people: a) the person that says they only like 'real' champagne, and b) the person who says they don't like sparkling wine.

Pierre Jourdan Brut
TCSH Rating: 9/10
Aka - Doesn't get much better than this!

Eli
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