Wine of the Week: Champagne Paul Goerg Blanc de Blancs

Wine: Champagne Paul Goerg Blanc de Blancs

Grape: Chardonnay

Region: Vertus, Champagne, France

Vintage: Nonvintage

Price: $9.99 per half-bottle (375 millileters)

Availability: Lee’s Discount Liquor

In the glass: Paul Goerg Champagne is a bright citrine-yellow color with a clean, clear appearance showing microbubbles effervescing from the core going out into a glass-clear rim definition with light to medium viscosity.

On the nose: It is classic at first, with a plethora of mixed white fruits, dominated by crispy apple slices, crushed red currants, freshly baked pastry, freshly mowed straw, nuttiness like walnuts with shells and finally leavened dough over chalky minerals.

On the palate: It has a nicely creamy texture, before revealing the fresh, zippy citrus character of the fruit and the nuts, almond biscotti, yeast residue, then lovely balance between white fruit and acidity right through to the lingering, fresh finish.

Odds and ends: This was one of those almost too-good-to-be-true stories, where I saw a stack of cases of this Champagne sitting toward the back of the store at a giant warehouse location of Lee’s Discount Liquor. I noticed that these were Paul Goerg Champagnes, coming from one of my favorite little grower houses. And it was blanc de blancs, which means it is made from 100 percent chardonnay and highly desirable.

Paul Goerg likes to let his Champagnes sit for more than three years “on the lees” (no pun intended), which means that the liquid rests in bottles upside- down before being disgorged. The solids that have formed near the cap are flash frozen and expelled before the corks with the famous cage are applied on the bottles.

When I was told the price was $9.99 I did a double take; this usually sells for more than $60 per bottle, or $30 for the halves. I immediately knew I had probably the greatest recommendation for a buy-it-by-the-case-while-it-lasts wine so far in 2015.

Champagne is the most versatile of beverages. These halves are splendid to crack open and share, but they can also be enjoyed with salty snacks, especially Marcona almonds.

I’d also recommend you attend the Wine Spectator Grand Tour at The Mirage on Saturday night, where you can taste some amazing wines and Champagnes. It will cost you far less than boxing tickets.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears on Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.