Champagne is great and all, but it's not the be-all and end-all of sparkling wine. Once again, we're thrilled to (re)introduce one of our favorite Crémant producers: Bruno Dangin.
 
Champagne's Aube region is home to many of the region's hottest growers, like Cedric Bouchard (Roses de Jeanne), Vouette & Sorbée, and Marie Courtin. Just a few kilometers away, on the Burgundy side of the border, lies the village of Molesme, home of the Dangin family. It's chock-full (chalk full?) of kimmeridgian  limestone, and clay soils, and has a microclimate which makes it perfect for low and no-dosage wines.

When the new border was mapped in the 1910s, the family's vines fell just on the Burgundian side of the dividing line. But Bruno Dangin saw an enormous opportunity in that arbitrary classification. He could start his own project for a fraction of the cost of setting up in Champagne, and make exactly the wines he wanted to: terroir expressive crémants that are both deliciously drinkable and complex.

Cuvée Blanche is a stunner — not to mention a shockingly great deal. It has the complexity of legit Blanc de Noirs Champagne, with power and ripeness from the warm microclimate and clay soils, and beautiful acidity from the limestone. It's an extra brut, with just 2 grams of dosage (just a hint of seasoning!), fresh and both easy to drink and transparent to the terroir.
 
And of course, Dangin applies the same unbelievable care to rosé. In fact, he starts with the same fruit. To make the white wines, he separates the juice from the Pinot Noir grapes before it absorbs any color. To make the rosé, he lets some of the delicate pressed juice ("tailles") take on a little Pinot pinkness, then adds a touch of still Pinot Noir to get the color and fruit levels just where he wants them: bold but delicate.
 
These are the perfect sparkling wines for the long weekend ahead, but really, they're wines we should all keep in our arsenal for whenever the occasion arises. Bubbles are for every day, especially at these prices:

Domaine Bruno Dangin, Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noir “Cuvée Blanche”, NV $36.99

Domaine Bruno Dangin, Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé, NV $38.99