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Best inexpensive bubbly
- Better than other budget sparkling wine
- Well balanced
- Widely available
- Not as complex as more expensive wines
- Not as elegant as fine French Champagne
Reviewers agree that Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV sparkling wine is creamy, well balanced and festive. What's more, the flavors really linger on the palate. Some reviews point out that this California-made sparkling wine is fruitier and sweeter than fine French Champagne, and some say it's more of an introductory sparkling wine, but all agree that it's an excellent value. If you're looking for an inexpensive wine that's more Champagne-like, reviews point to Roederer Estate Brut NV (*Est. $20).
We read reviews of Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV in Wine Spectator, ConsumerReports.org and Epicurious.com. Of these, only Wine Spectator tasted this wine blind. We wish the other reviewers had done blind tastings as well, because labeling has a well-documented influence on perceptions of quality. We read several positive reviews of this wine at Corkd.com.
Our Sources
1. Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator awards Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV 90 points out of 100, calling it "a delicious mouthful of bubbly, with creamy layers of black cherry, vanilla and ginger."
Review: American Sparkling Wines Surge, Tim Fish, Dec. 31, 2006
2. ConsumerReports.org
Editors rate 23 sparkling wines, including Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV, but none receive a rating of "excellent" due to inconsistent quality, slight off-notes or lack of intensity. Some more expensive bottles rate lower on the chart. We're not sure how many testers were involved, and wines get only a short comment.
Review: Sparkling wine ratings, Editors of Consumer Reports, Oct. 2007
Beckett provides an overview of Champagne's history and production and lists six top sparkling wines. The least expensive is Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, which she calls "rich and creamy."
Review: Champagne Uncorked, Fiona Beckett, Dec. 2007
4. MSNBC
Wine Spectator executive editor Thomas Matthews offers tips on buying Champagnes as well as specific recommendations. Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV earns an overall score of 88 points out of 100. He describes it as "crisp, focused and concentrated, with a bright beam of tangy lemon and tart green apple intensity."
Review: Cheers! Bubbly basics for the holidays, Editors of MSNBC, Dec. 23, 2007
5. Corkd.com
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut earns an average score of 86.4 out of 100 in a small number of user reviews. Several reviewers call this wine crisp and clean, with cherry notes. One or two say it's somewhat one-dimensional.
Review: Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, Contributors to Cork'd
