11
Mar
2016
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Category: Lost & Found / Taste it Again
(September 10, 2015) ... Gotta love a good aged Sparkling, but before you open it you're just looking at a bottle of promise ... Though I'd have to say that a 6 year old Sauvignon Blanc sparkling is a crap shoot - aged Savvy B can be quite the odd-ball wine, but with bubbly you never know what's going to happen. Aroma-wise this one started with hints of grapefruit pith (and that's about it) ... the palate showed off much more: a mineral, zesty nature with plenty of vibrant acidity, a touch of melon rind, and a grapefruit pith/zest finish. It has stood up well to time; and there's still life left in those old bones (so to speak).
To see the original review of the 2009 Showcase Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, click here
07
Mar
2016
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Category: Lost & Found / Taste it Again
(September 4, 2015) ... It's been 5 years since my girlfriend and I tied the marital knot, and for such an occasion it only seemed right to crack open the wine we got engaged with: Chateau des Charmes 2005 Methode Traditionelle Rose. At now ten years of age it is both a time capsule type of wine for us as well as a educational wine to me: how often does one get to taste a 10 year old Sparkling Rose. When poured the first thing we noticed was that the wine is a tad on the browner side of Rose, but it is still definitely Rose. There's also some oxidative notes creeping in which are bathed mainly in strawberry pith; acidity continues to be good and crisp, while the wine remains lively with bubbles in the glass. Our second glass was a little better, as a little raspberry and lime crept in and repressed those oxidized notes. Not sure how long I should be keeping the other few bottles I have of this - as soon it'll lose its character and charm and just become a curiosity.
We also opened a bottle of Hillebrand 2007 Oliveira Vineyard Chardonnay ... This was a hard one to get through. Colour was deep yellow, and oaky with a distinct almondine note - wait, isn't that supposed to be the smell of arsenic? Has five years been too long for this one?
I have no original review for the Hillebrand - but the original Sparkling Rose review can be found here.
