Sparkling Wine Tselepos Amalia Brut 2017. No need to decant. The Tselepos Estate was founded in 1989. Its founder Ghiannis Tselepos had conducted intense research on the Arcadian ecosystem for a decade and identified the poor, clayey and stony soils of the first slopes of Mount Parnon, the ideal place for the cultivation of autochthonous vine Moschofilero. Here in Arcadia, within the Mantineia DOC production area and at 750 m above sea level, the variety called Fileri, grown in the Peloponnese, is transformed into Moschofilero, with the particular characteristics of aromas and flavors, reminiscent of a combination of Gewurztraminer and Moscato . This Classic Method wine with the second fermentation in the bottle, is made from 100% Moschofilero grapes, an indigenous variety from the Peloponnese. The vineyard is located in central Peloponnese. The harvest takes place in early September to obtain the basic wine with low alcohol content (12%) and high acidity. The wine has a pale straw yellow color, with fine, quite intense, and persistent perlage. The nose reveals very pleasant floral aromas, especially of rose and lemon blossom, with an evident base of yeasts. In the mouth, it is balanced and harmonious, with a lively freshness and remarkable acidity. Served well chilled, it makes an excellent aperitif, but it also goes well with raw fish preparations, fish salads, and soft cheeses.
2017
Sparkling Wine Tselepos Amalia Brut 2017
Sparkling Wine Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Brut 2018. This elegant sparkling wine opens with notes of honeycomb, key lime and citrus zest and a fine stream of tiny bubbles which persist long in the glass. The first sip reveals a smooth mousse accompanied by attractive white peach, baked pear and orange blossom flavours and a bright freshness to refresh the palate. The crispness of the Chardonnay make this an excellent aperitif or partner for fresh seafood, salmon and summer salads. Located in Napa Valley in California, Domaine Carneros is one of America’s finest producers of methóde traditionnelle sparkling wine. The estate was founded by the Taittinger Champagne house following Claude Taittinger’s thorough search in the late 1970s for excellent terroir in Napa which would be suitable for making America’s equivalent to the famous French bubbly. In 1987 Claude Taittinger purchased an ideal 138-hectare site in Napa. Appointed to oversee the operation was Eileen Crane who is today considered America’s most experienced sparkling winemaker. Crane insists on an exceptional level of quality control throughout the whole winemaking process with grapes hand-harvested at night and carefully transported in shallow bins to minimise damage to the fruit. She also uses only the first pressings to produce the finest quality wines possible.
2018
Sparkling Wine Antech Heritage Cremant Brut 2018. Serve well chilled. The French sparkling wine market may be dominated by the Champagne region in the north, but there are also sensational alternatives to be found in other corners of France. The Antech family have been making traditional method sparkling wines using exactly the same techniques used for Champagne for six generations. Today the estate is headed up by Francoise Antech who has built a reputation as one of France’s most respected female winemakers. Their estate is located in the Limoux region of Languedoc in southern France where they specialise in making exquisite Cremant and Blanquette de Limoux sparkling wines. Their Cuvee Heritage is made from Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc along with smaller quantities of Mauzac and Pinot Noir to add extra complexity. As soon as you pour out a glass of this delicious bubbly you’ll notice the fine stream of bubbles and delicate peach, pear and white flower aromas. The first sip reveals a clean and bright acidity, smooth bubbles, and lingering flavours of citrus zest, baked apple and honey. The lively, uplifting character of this wine makes it an ideal aperitif, and it can also be served alongside green salads, Mediterranean vegetable dishes, a generous platter of seafood or pan-fried fish.
2018