Avenue Vine

HEIDSIECK MONOPOLE Brut Champagne Diamant Blanc NV $100.00 – Yumm!
Plenty of hazelnut, citrus and mineral notes in this tasty Champagne. It has a smooth texture and really glides across the palate. Its creaminess is balanced by a fresh acidity on the finish. Drink now through 2008.

NICOLAS FEUILLATTE Brut Rosé Champagne NV $40.00
A distinctive rosé Champagne that smells like potpourri or Christmas punch with its cinnamon and clove accents. There's depth and intensity to the berry and whole-grain bread notes, matched to a raw silk texture and vibrant structure. Excellent length. Drink now through 2010.

CHARLES HEIDSIECK Brut Champagne Réserve NV $40.00 -- Yum
Seductive toast, coffee and hazelnut aromas and flavors highlight this medium-bodied, elegant bubbly. It's intense, yet graceful, with balance and a long, mineral-tinged aftertaste. Would serve well as an aperitif or with food. Drink now through 2010. 4,700 cases imported.

DE ST.-GALL Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV $35.00
The toast and coffee notes suggest older reserve wines in this sumptuous bubbly. A mineral accent adds complexity, and it all remains elegant and focused, ending with a lingering mineral and candied fruit aftertaste. Drink now.

PIPER-HEIDSIECK Brut Champagne NV $35.00 -- Yum
This is creamy, enticing and bursting with honey, vanilla, hints of coffee and candied berry flavors, all matched to a rich texture and firm structure. Fine length and harmony, with time to give. Drink now through 2010.

DUVAL-LEROY Brut Champagne NV $30.00
Complex and beguiling, with floral, rosemary, candied citrus and mineral aromas and flavors. This is both elegant and intense, with a vibrant structure and long finish. Ideal as an aperitif or with light foods. Drink now through 2007.

ALFRED GRATIEN Brut Champagne NV $48.00
Plenty of graphite and mineral aromas. Shifts gears to peach, lemon and vanilla notes. Rich and mouthfilling, with a firm structure and power. Good, lingering finish. Drink now. 12,500 cases made.

HEIDSIECK MONOPOLE Brut Rosé Champagne Rose Top NV $39.00 – Yumm!
Here's a Pinot Noir with bubbles. Bracing, tight and expressive, it conveys its berry, currant and herb notes with authority and a sense of place. Muscular, but not massive, it finishes with a lingering aftertaste of berries. A wine for the table. Drink now through 2008.

LOUIS DE SACY Brut Champagne NV $38.00
This is intense and vinous, with apple and cheese notes initially giving way to bread dough and mineral flavors. It's dry, with fine grip and balance, ending with a long, honey and mineral aftertaste. Drink now through 2008.

CHARLES ELLNER Brut Champagne Carte d'Or NV $38.00
Packed with flavor, this distinctive, dry Champagne displays candied berry, vanilla pastry, honey and mineral notes. Its rich texture is offset by a bright acidity and it's well-integrated and long. Drink now.

PIPER-HEIDSIECK Brut Rosé Champagne Sauvage NV $45.00 –Yumm!
A boldly flavored bubbly, displaying vivid cherry and berry flavors with a fine texture. Bracing acidity and a lingering finish of freshly crushed berries completes the presentation. Drink now.

COMTE AUDOIN DE DAMPIERRE Brut Champagne Cuvée des Ambassadeurs NV $45.00
An appealing combination of richness and structure sets the stage for pencil shaving, berry and peach notes in this medium-bodied Champagne. It's balanced and lively, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2008.

GUESS IT’S EVIDENT I’M A LITTLE PARTIAL TO HEIDSIECK BY THE “YUMMS!”

Source: WS.com; “Cheers! It's New Year's,” Eric Arnold, December 23, 2005