2007 Leeuwin Estate Sparkling Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay
Margaret River, Western Australia
Anytime is the best time to pop a bottle of fizz but any of the cork popping opportunities over the long Australian summer come a close second. If you are looking for a brand of fizz that you don’t normally see on the shelves – this one from Leeuwin Estate is one to try. Leeuwin is a wine producer that is better known for the fineness of their Art Series wines, particularly their Chardonnay, than as a fizz producer.
With all the hallmarks a vintage fizz spending 30 months on lees, there is plenty of nutty almond brioche notes to flesh out the ripe apple and citrusy lemon character. The Pinot Noir lives up to its end of the bargain in the blend with some berry aromas on the nose. The palate is generously endowed with a softly creamy mousse.
This is a refreshingly fuller bodied sparkling that is not only seductive enough to sip by itself, but it will be a tempting companion with food: seafood, canapés, or it may even make that seemingly endless left over turkey in the fridge seem more appetising.
Don’t make the mistake of serving your finer fuller flavoured sparklings such as this too cold. To fully enjoy the rounded nuttiness and citrusy characters, serve cool but not cold. Do keep the bottle cool on a handful of ice in the ice bucket in summer however, as it will quickly warm up in the glass.
Distribution: Fine restaurants around Australia, Cellar Door; on-line.
Value: $35.00
© Lisa Johnston November 2010
Wine Diva Wines of the Month, December 2010
