Big bubbles taste, small time operation

As I've mentioned time and again in previous posts, Ben and I have what can only be described as an addiction to the Vienna Vintner, a small, locally-owned wine shop on Maple Avenue in Vienna.  The guys that own this place, Kirby and Vic, really know their stuff, buy phenomenal wines at often more phenomenal prices, and really make the regulars feel like royalty as we duck in every Saturday to try the five or more wines they have on the tasting block and to spend plenty of our hard earned dollars on what is always an unintended half case or more of wine.

For Thanksgiving they put together a spectacular spread complete with all the homemade fixings - turkey, cornbread, you name it - AND thirteen different wines to taste.  Among those wines was Charles Orban "Le Carte Noire" Brut Champagne.

Now anyone who knows me well knows I love the bubbles!  And this bottle did not disappoint.  We tasted it first on it's own and then with turkey and were absolutely blown away.  This champagne, in addition to having great crispness, has a refreshing figgy flavor that is the perfect balance of sweet and dry.    

Additionally, this champagne is what is referred to as a "Grower Champagne."  Essentially what this means is that the same vineyard that grew the grapes produced the champagne.  There's a bit more to it that that, but you get the point.  These champagnes, because they are often produced in small quantities and much of wine pricing can be based on commodity, can be quite expensive.  This bottle, however, our fantastic hosts had managed to snag for such a good price, it retailed for only $45 dollars!  Knowing we couldn't pass up the incredible flavor and freshness of this champagne, especially at that price, we snatched it up.  It's been staying cool at our house ever since.  And tonight, in honor of the Hallmark Holiday du jour, we cracked into it with a meal of seared scallops, whipped potatoes and asparagus. We're just as happy with this fabulous bottle of bubbly now as we were when we first tasted it!!