Thursday, July 24, 2014

Unnumbered review: not Champagne

beach blogging #2


A good time to open a bottle (or 7) of sparkling wine! No scores because I'm completely at sea on how to score them, and who cares.


Zardetto Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut nv
abv 11.5%

wet stones, lemon and pear, very forward nose, slightly floral, spiced dates
palate not particularly expressive, slight herbal bitterness

the nose is really appealing – I don’t think I conveyed how pleasurable it is


Mumm Napa Brut Prestige Napa Valley Sparkling Wine nv
abv: 12.5%

austere: gravel, chalk, and grapefruit
extremely tart citrus palate
some muscat-y grapeness on the finish

needs a good food pairing


Lamarca Prosecco DOC nv
abv: 11%
muskmelon and granite
curiously sweet, slightly honeyed palate – raisins and pears
finishes sweet, too.
I guess this isn’t a Brut, now that I think about it


Ruffino Prosecco DOC Extra-Dry Sparkling wine nv
abv: 11%
not much on the nose. some broken seashells and lemon verbena maybe.
palate is granny smith apples, finish is sweet and mostly indistinct.

isn’t Ruffino a Tuscan producer?


Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut nv
abv: 12%

simple floral-citrus nose.
nice tartatic snap on the palate,
sweet, grapey finish. well balanced.

nice, but a little too simple and modest


Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley Sparkling wine nv
abv: 12%

nice chalky nose, with plenty of apple orchard, some dark fruit and boiled beetroot. lots of Pinot influence – it has an interesting fruity-vegetal-woodsy character.
palate is dry but has sweet dried fruit (raisins and figs) flavors. good body.
astringent-fruity-creamy finish, with a little lemon.


this is the best of the bunch, although rather serious for beachside drinking.


I consider this drinking to be a complete success. Next year I'll have to find a Cava, maybe even a Shiraz.

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