Gruet Brut Sparkling New Mexico 750ml

Gruet Brut Gold Label — New Mexico, USA

The story of Gruet is one of the great surprises in American wine. In 1984, the Gruet family of Champagne, France — already celebrated producers in the heart of the world’s most famous sparkling wine region — planted vineyards at 4,300 feet elevation in the New Mexico desert. What they discovered was a high-altitude terroir of remarkable character: cool nights, intense sun, and volcanic soils that produce grapes of exceptional natural acidity and finesse. The Gold Label Brut is their flagship cuvée: a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend crafted in the traditional méthode champenoise, with fine persistent bubbles, elegant brioche notes, and a crisp, refreshing finish that rivals sparkling wines at twice the price. Decanter awarded it 90 points. At $16.99, it is one of the most exciting values in American sparkling wine.

The nose is elegant and inviting: meringue, hints of lavender, and a whisper of molten candle wax. On the palate, fresh-cut apple flesh, wild honey, and quince come forward with brisk, satisfying acidity and a clean, persistent finish. Fine bubbles carry the wine from start to finish with real Champagne-house precision.

Decanter 90 — "Meringue, hints of lavender with notes of molten candle wax on the nose. The palate brings out the fruitiness of fresh cut apple flesh, wild honey, and quince. Brisk and satisfying."

• Producer: Gruet Winery, New Mexico, USA
• Style: Brut Sparkling Wine
• Blend: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
• Method: Traditional Méthode Champenoise
• Elevation: 4,300 feet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Meringue, lavender, apple, wild honey, quince, brioche, fine persistent bubbles
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shrimp cocktail, sushi, soft cheeses, charcuterie, fried chicken, smoked salmon, brunch

A Champagne family’s New Mexico masterpiece — Gruet’s Gold Label Brut is the benchmark for what American sparkling wine can be at this price.