Gloria Ferrer non-vintage Blanc de Noirs

Medium pale amber / copper color, vigorous tiny bubbles.

Smell of cherries and bread dough.

Taste of red berries, sweet red cherries, toast.

As so often is true of New World sparklers, exuberant fruit is expressed in sound winemaking, but there's a finesse that's seen in good Champagne but missing here. Still, this is a remarkable expression of Pinot fruit, and I'd buy it again for $19.99. I still prefer my Bollinger, but the difference in price argues strongly for this.

And Merry Christmas!