NV Domaine Joseph Cattin Brut Cremant d'Alsace 750 ml

We’ve always loved crémants as alternatives to pricier French sparklers. For what they can deliver in elegant fruit, crisp acidity, fine bubbles, and luscious mouthfeel, they’re hard to beat. Exhibit A: Joseph Cattin’s captivating Brut Crémant d'Alsace.

Crémant d'Alsace is a singular expression of the style, and it’s everything you’d want from a classic French bubbly. More than half of all crémants hail from Alsace, France’s easternmost region, and they’re crisp, minerally, and exceptionally food-friendly. 

Domaine Joseph Cattin is one of the largest family-owned estates in Alsace. The Cattins have held it for over 300 years, so they’ve accumulated generations of winemaking know-how. Their approach may be old-school, but they put it to work in a state-of-the-art winery.

The Cattin Brut is a traditional blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois, a grape rarely found elsewhere in France. Auxerrois helps fill out the body of the wine, providing needed balance to Pinot Blanc’s natural acidity.

The domaine places a premium on aromatics, and this one delivers big-time, with a bounty of orchard fruit complemented by delicate notes of almond and spice. The palate has a wonderfully complex texture that’s rich yet lively—an impressive high-wire act that reveals the skill with which this wine was crafted.

Hand-harvested from Cattin’s sustainably farmed vines, the grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless-steel tanks before spending at least a year in bottle. AOC regulations stipulate that Crémant d'Alsace spend nine months on the lees, but Cattin ages their Brut Crémant for 15 months to add an extra measure of creaminess that lingers through a long finish. 

Ideal as an aperitif, it also pairs perfectly with shellfish, whitefish, and white meat. It’s even excellent with apple pie!