Gruet Brut

You don’t really NEED a review, do you? Just buy - because it’s that good.

Buuuuut…I guess since it’s my job as a rat…I’ll do what I’m supposed to do. Le sigh

When I received the email that I was granted the opportunity to review another bottle, I excitedly texted my very best friend, @erisire that I had been chosen. “ME TOO” was her response. It was in that moment what we both knew what we had to do. We made plans to hang out together (virtually) and do our tasting in tandem.

When my bottle arrived, I let her know I had received a brute.
“Is it Gruet?!”
“Yes…how did you know?”
“I had a feeling”
About two hours later, she texts me back “IT’S GOING TO BE A BUBBLY CASE. I GOT THE SAUVAGE. I AM SO READY FOR THIS”

By then, I had already placed my bottle in the fridge. It was delivered during Florida “winter” (see: 85 degrees and then some), so I secretly worried that the contents might have been damaged because of the heat. “YOLO, or whatever the kids say these days” I said to myself.

It had been a rough week at work for both my husband and I, so he took on the task of making dinner while I wrestled with laundry. Unfortunately, we’re due for a grocery shop, so we had “crack chicken” (pulled buffalo chicken caramelized under the broiler) with cauliflower hashbrowns. I wasn’t sure about doing my tasting with that particular meal, but I figured “welp, sometimes, this is just how adult life is” so I threw caution to the wind and grabbed the bottle. Before I opened it, I had to let my boys inspect:

They found it satisfactory, and Grimmy (black) told me I should open it.

My cats LOVE wine bottles because it means they get to play with the cork, so they both excitedly followed me into the kitchen, tails held high, and waited patiently as I unwrapped the bottle and took the cage off. I barely wiggled the cork before it exploded out of the bottle and the cats went running to find their prize. Luckily I learned a long time ago to never have a bottle of bubbly pointed at your face when you’re opening it.

There was a lot of ‘smoke’ that lingered in the neck of the bottle, so I took a sniff and it was apples all the way down. “Yes. Yes. Excellent.”

I poured myself a glass, plopped myself on the couch, loaded up my Roku to watch the Weird Al biopic, and sent a message to @erisire “I opened mine - I was thirsty. Hurry up.”

“I’m making dinner right NOW” she responded.

I’ll spare you the entire exchange, but here are some highlights of our evening:

Me: “YOUR BOTTLE IS NAMED AFTER YOU” (She had the Savuage)

Also me: “LOL @ I had escargot around the house” (yanno, like one does)

Again, me: “I’m going to go grab some Halloween candy to pair this with”
@erisire “I have mnms and starburst, good candy representation”
Me: “I have PBC’s and snickers. WE’RE A CANDY COLLECTIVE”

Me: “It would be a crime to use this bubble as a mimosa”
five minutes later “Actually, BRB, I’ve got some citrus on the trees that is ripe”
Me, upon returning: “The possum in my backyard was incredibly unimpressed with me picking citrus in the dark of night”

We laughed about how that citrus tree was the best thing to come out of her (now defunct) marriage. We made jokes about how this vineyard ‘had everything’ ala Stefan from SNL. We talked about how much we loved our respective bottles and how tasty they were. We shared pictures of our cats with our glasses.

(Don’t judge. I have no idea where my champagne glasses are)

So I guess I should tell you about the actual experience of this brute, huh. You know that non-alcoholic apple cider from Mussleman that most of us had as kids (and probably adults)? It’s reminiscent of that, but in all the best ways. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. It’s tart, but not too tart. It’s bubbly, but not too bubbly.

And as much as I joked about it being a crime to use this in a mimosa, it really worked, especially with the sour citrus I have (calamondin/calamansi). It tasted like an alcoholic liquid form of Altoids tangerine sours.

It was wonderful with elderflower syrup. It was even better with yuzu juice, but I’m a citrus fan, so I’m really biased in that department.

It was delicious with sharp cheese, and delicious with reeses peanut butter cups. It was even delicious with crack chicken.

But best of all, it stood alone as a wonderful and incredibly drinkable brute.

I also loved that there is no aftertaste with this like I get with some sparkling wines and/or champagne. It’s crisp and refreshing. It left me wanting more.

Gruet has somehow managed to capture lightening in a bottle by creating something that is meant to be used for celebration, but also works in casual situations - even virtually.

You see what I mean when I say “Just buy - it’s that good”? It’s because it is. This is the type of thing one drinks when they’re creating memories. Even small ones.

Speaking of, I had a wonderful evening spending time with someone I dearly love, even though they’re states away. Yes, I would have had fun WITHOUT our individual rattage, but Gruet (and Casemates) made it so much better by being able to share the experience with someone close to my heart.

Sauvage

I NEVER BELIEVED IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME!

I got the coveted email along with another piece of news: my darling friend, @jtallant, had ALSO been selected for rattage. We immediately set a date to taste together via the internet - she’s in FL, I’m in NC. She got her package first and said it was a Brut, and I hoped in my soul it was Gruet. I asked if it was and she confirmed. For me, this might as well be Christmas.

Every year I look forward to the appearance of the Gruet Mixed case. I remember exactly when and where I tried a Gruet sparkler for the first time and what I paired it with. (Little Alley in Roswell, GA in 2011. Brut paired with bone marrow, absolutely outstanding.)

I received the Sauvage, which is the Gruet Blanc de Blanc. It’s lovely and well balanced, there’s incredible bubbles, like light pop rocks, and a green apple/apricot on the mid palate that develops into a complex creaminess. This feels rich and full bodied in the mouth with the balance of a lovely acidity. It’s easy to savor, and dangerous (in the best way) to quaff.

I paired this first with whatever I had around the house… which ended up being escargot and straw mushrooms in a garlic cream sauce with gnocchi. (Most of it was in the pantry, don’t @ me jt) This pairs extremely well with cream, garlic, and seafood - a difficult pairing. The bubbles help balance the richness of the dish, and compliments the salty, rich seafood.

jt and I are chatting about how lovely our drinks are, we discuss what else we can do with this incredible nectar. She gets calamansi - did that come from my wedding? - and declares it lovely as a modified mimosa. After that, we grab the Halloween candy: Starburst no, M&M’s yes. In FL: elderflower syrup. In NC: grapefruit/rose vodka French 75 with meyer lemon. Fabulous. With all our fun experimentation, we both agree: Gruet sparkles are best exactly as is.

At the end of it, this sparkler has EVERYTHING. Sauvage can mix into a cocktail, sure. It can pair with difficult to pair flavors. It’s even and delicious. It’s lively and engaging. It’s fun to drink and complex enough for thought, discussion, and experimentation.

Most importantly, though, is that bubbly is about celebrating. Today, thanks to Casemates and Gruet, I got to celebrate through ratting with my dearest friend from miles away. Like the first time I got to taste Gruet, I think we should take more opportunities to celebrate with the people we love for any and every reason. Sauvage (and I’d say any bottle in this offering, frankly) is a great excuse to turn whatever you’re doing into a special moment.

Typically an autobuy for me, but Indiana is mysteriously not on the ship-to list. Sadface. These are both wonderful sparklers and you’ll not find anything that compares at this price point.

Gruet Brut

Sorry so late to the party! Received the bottle Thursday evening after a brief chase of the UPS driver after she had left the dreaded “missed you” sticker. My wife circled the neighborhood on her way back from picking my son up from cross country practice. Yeah, she’s a keeper. Anyway, we left for Los Olivos Friday morning for a weekend of wine and food plus club pick ups and planned to taste this bottle on Friday but alas got distracted by tasting rooms.

Here we are though, tasting at 8:30am in the middle of an Olive orchard. Not bad.

Color is clear and bright. Nose somewhat muted but my wife is getting some green apple maybe a white flower but no yeasty nose. Taste is simple but delicious! A bit fruity but not overly so and great cleansing acidity. Bubbles are tight but not like mousse. Very nice. Crisp and satisfying. Cannot go wrong with Gruet in this house!

Perfect timing.

On our way to visit Larry at Tercero in a bit.

Cheers!

In for 2 cases. I only like the Sauvage, not sure what to do with the rest.
/giphy sore-handsomely-insect