Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope you all had a Spec-tacular Christmas! We are only a few days away from 2025! Here are some GREAT selections for you to POP for your Special New Year’s Eve Night!

SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut N/V

Champagne, France

Cash Price $67.97

Bollinger has long been one of my favorite sparkling wines in the world. The utmost quality, care, and brilliance is shown in each and every bottle popped! Bollinger won the Top Award at the Houston Rodeo Uncorked! Wine Competition this year, so I couldn’t be happier to recommend you all go pick up a bottle (or two!) of this delightful bubbly! Deliciously zesty and vibrant from the first sup, flavors of pear and citrus pop into the palate with a creamy brioche core with hints of white flowers and peach. The finish has a toasty cream with loads of freshly crushed walnuts. Barlow Score: 96 Points

RGNY Brut Sparkling N/V

North Fork of Long Island, New York

Cash Price $29.99

I tasted this in Mexico while visiting RGMX earlier this year. RGNY (Rivero Gonzalez New York) is their other passion project in New York. I was pleasantly pleased with the brilliant zesty complexity and price of this bubbly delight! Bright and Aromatic with plenty of citrus and apple flavors pop into the palate with electric acidity that zings cleanly into the core of the wine. I love the wet slate and salinity component of this wine showing nice minerality with low alcohol. The finish takes you to an apple orchard with hints of apricot and mango jam flickering throughout. YUM! Barlow 93 Points

Anne De Laweiss Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose N/V

Alsace, France

Cash Price $15.99 BUT ON SALE

2 FOR $20 THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR!!!

I often find some of the World’s Best Value Sparkling wines in Cremant format, as in sparkling wines in France outside the region of Champagne. I think the regular price of this wine makes it a Steal, but being 2 for $20 for the rest of the year is Ridiculous! Bright red cherry and strawberry pop into the palate with a delicious raspberry mousse flowing throughout. The finish is pure and ample with hints of more red fruit with whiffs of crushed rocks and red flowers. YUM! Barlow Score: 90 Points

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

James C. Barlow, CWE, CSS

Spec’s Fine Wine Buyer