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Home > Articles > Seasonal > Mother's Day Delights

Mother's Day Delights

Brunch recipes and sparkling wines that are sure to please

Eric Arnold
Posted: Wednesday, May 10, 2006

It's almost Mother's Day, which means it's time to show Mom just how much you care. (In other words, not only are you taking over the kitchen, you're cleaning it, too.) Since Mother's Day falls in springtime, we've assembled a group of brunch recipes that suit the season as well as this special day. Mom is sure to enjoy any combination of these dishes or just one of them, if you have other favorites of hers in mind. There are even a few desserts if she has a sweet tooth.

We've also put together a list of some great sparkling wines that are perfect for a Sunday brunch and might taste even better if sipped with family. They're not all from Champagne, and there are some good value sparklers for making mimosas (just don't tell the winemakers!), if that's the sort of thing Mom likes. Remember, it's her day, so make sure she eats and drinks well, especially if she did the same for you every other day of the year until you left the house ... you did move out, right? If not, make sure to get the most expensive wine on the list.

Happy Mother's Day!

Brunch recipes

Sparkling wines

Wine Score Price
CHARLES HEIDSIECK Brut Champagne Réserve NV 92 $40
Seductive toast, coffee and hazelnut aromas and flavors highlight this medium-bodied, elegant bubbly. It's intense, yet graceful, with balance and a long, mineral-tinged aftertaste. Would serve well as an aperitif or with food. Drink now through 2010. 4,700 cases imported. —B.S.
 
DUVAL-LEROY Brut Champagne NV 91 $30
Complex and beguiling, with floral, rosemary, candied citrus and mineral aromas and flavors. This is both elegant and intense, with a vibrant structure and long finish. Ideal as an aperitif or with light foods. Drink now through 2007. 35,000 cases made. —B.S.
 
PIPER-HEIDSIECK Brut Champagne NV 91 $35
This is creamy, enticing and bursting with honey, vanilla, hints of coffee and candied berry flavors, all matched to a rich texture and firm structure. Fine length and harmony, with time to give. Drink now through 2010. 60,000 cases imported. —B.S.
 
ARGYLE Brut Willamette Valley 2000 90 $22
Subtle style has a burst of aromatics, offering grapefruit, apple, baked-bread and sweet spices, becoming gentler in the mouth, finishing with a bright level of acidity. Drink now. 10,873 cases made. —H.S.
 
HEIDSIECK MONOPOLE Brut Champagne Blue Top NV 89 $30
Honey, baking bread, citrus and hazelnut mingle in the creamy texture, all balanced by bright acidity. Good harmony and a moderate aftertaste of honey on whole-wheat toast. Drink now through 2007. 200,000 cases made. —B.S.
 
MONTAUDON Brut Champagne NV 89 $30
Broad and opulent, with apple, bread dough and mineral flavors picking up a hint of berry on the finish. It firms up on the finish, with a chalky sensation. Drink now through 2007. —B.S.
 
DOMAINE CARNEROS Brut Carneros 2002 88 $25
This wine combines ripe, rich pear, anise, apple and spice with a dash of hazelnut with a measure of finesse. The texture is smooth and creamy, ending with a hint of bread dough. Drink now. 39,000 cases made. —J.L.
 
DOMAINE CHANDON Brut California Classic NV 87 $18
Good intensity, with a solid center of ripe pear, apple, spice and a hint of ginger and lemon twist. It leaves you hoping for another sip, as it gains complexity and length. Drink now. 180,000 cases made. —J.L.
 
DOMAINE CHANDON Riche California NV 87 $18
Floral, muscat and fruit cocktail aromas become rich and complex on the palate, showing a touch of sweetness and finishing with a clean, fresh aftertaste. Drink now. 12,000 cases made. —J.L.
 
SCHARFFENBERGER Brut Mendocino County NV 87 $16
Distinctive for its baked pear, orange zest and spice notes with crisp apple and lemon flavors blended nicely, adding richness on the finish. Drink now. 25,000 cases made. —J.L.
 
LA SPINETTA Moscato d'Asti Bricco Quaglia 2004 87 $18
Subtle aromas of pineapple, lemon and peaches follow through to a medium-bodied palate. Light and medium-sweet, with a bright finish. Delicious. Drink now. 9,165 cases made. —J.S.
 
CERETTO Moscato d'Asti Vignaioli di S. Stefano 2004 87 $20
Well-balanced Moscato, with a fresh apple, floral and mineral nose. Medium-bodied, with a subtle froth and a clean lemon and mineral finish. Drink now. 15,000 cases made.
 
CODORNÍU Brut Pinot Noir Cava NV 86 $13
Smoke and earth aromas give way to berry fruit in this subtle, elegant cava. Though not as overtly fruity as other rosés, it shows grace and harmony. Drink now. 10,000 cases imported. —B.S.
 
GRUET Brut Blanc de Noirs New Mexico NV 86 $13
Mature, with good richness and complexity built around a core of earthy pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. Finishes with a nice dry aftertaste. Drink now. 35,000 cases made. —J.L.
 
GRAHAM BECK Brut Blanc de Blancs Robertson 2000 86 $21
Plump, rich sparkler, with brioche, fig and toast flavors. Clean, broad finish. Drink now. 3,600 cases made. —J.M.
 
CODORNÍU Brut Cava NV 85 $9
A rich, toasty cava, it offers honey and peach notes too, matched to an open texture. It's balanced and easy to like. Drink now. 30,000 cases imported. —B.S.
 
MONT-MARÇAL Brut Cava Reserva NV 85 $12
Light-bodied and clean, with a lemon flavor and a hint of pencil shavings. Good crisp structure keeps it well-focused and lingering. Drink now. 30,000 cases made. —B.S.

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