When Gloria Met Henry: Weekend at Bubblies (California / Ontario)
08 Dec 2014- Details
- Category: Uncorked Tonight
(October 10 & 11, 2014) ... This was a weekend of bubbles, we only opened two wines this weekend, but both were sparkling wines and both were fantastic corks to pop. We started on Friday night, as we often do through the year when it comes to sparkling wine, with a wine I recently tasted Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir out of California, I had sipped on some at a Sonoma tasting and was enthralled enough to bring a few bottles home. A blend of 92% Pinot Noir with just a touch of Chardonnay and enough skin contact to give it a touch of colour. This is one vibrant bubbly with acidity that sings on the palate making it fresh and lively in the mouth with delicate and delicious raspberry and tangerine notes on the finish.
On Saturday I was lucky enough to have in my possession a bottle of the exquisite, long-aged Chardonnay, recently released Henry of Pelham 2009 Carte Blanche, one of Ontario premier and long-time sparkling wine producers, the 2009 of this wine is even better than the 2008, to read my full review click here.
(October 1, 2014) ... At a recently long winded Wine Writers' Circle of Canada meeting we decided to break for lunch, and considering we hadn't planned it that way their were only a few spontaneous bottles to chose from. Thankfully, it just so happened that two interesting bottles were scheduled to be opened at this certain writer's house and we jumped onboard for a tasting of each; starting with the Maison des Bulliats 2012 Regnie, a cru wine from Beaujolais. Many may laugh and snicker but if you let go of your snide-side you'll find some really great bottles from that region. The nose was lovely with lots of black cherry and white pepper, which then all followed onto the palate mixing it all up with good acidity and silky tannins. We followed that up with a white, CedarCreek 2013 Pinot Gris, which possessed lovely aromatics of pear, white flowers and vanilla cream along with a touch of lemon pith; the palate I took a little longer to "warm up to", it had character (not a usual thing for a Pinot Gris) with peach, pear and a creamy mouth-feel starting mid-mouth all the way to the finish, where it also showed off a nice acidic balance. Might prove to be a little "hot" for some at 13.8% alcohol, but a good chill seemed to cool it off. Former Ontario winemaker Darryl Brooker has made a characterful Gris that has Riesling-style bones and, as an extra aside, there might be a touch of some orange rind kicks around as well.
