NV Blanc de Blancs

VQA Niagara Escarpment

About This Wine:

Our Blanc de Blancs is made entirely from Chardonnay grapes, which we grow in the limestone-clay soils of our vineyards along the benchlands of the Niagara Escarpment. Vinified in the Traditional Method, it was fermented and aged sur lie in bottle for a minimum of 30 months prior to disgorging. The result is a dry, Brut-style sparkling wine exhibiting delicate effervescence mineral nuances that are true to its cool-climate origins.

Origin:

Niagara Escarpment

Soil:

Stony clay till composed primarily of limestone and dolostone mixed with sandstone, shale and traces of granite and gneiss; soils overlie moraine and sandstone/shale bedrock; depth ranges from 4 to 8 m

Composition:

60% Chardonnay, 40% Chardonnay Musqué

Harvest Data:

Non-Vintage Cuvée 48% 2011, 52% 2013
Sugar- 18.6º Brix
Titratable Acitity- 9.5 g/L
pH- 3.11
4.6 m/t (73 hl/ha)

Vinification:

The base wine was re-fermented in bottle and aged sur lie for 35 months prior to disgorging; dosage brought the wine to a Brut level of dryness.

Bottling Data:

Tirage/Disgorging Sept.14/Aug. 17
Alc./Vol. 12%
Residual Sugar- 5.7 g/L
Titratable Acidity- 8.9 g/L
pH- 3.06

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, aromas of bread dough, green apple and lemon meringue lead the way over top nuances of wet stone and hazelnuts. The palate is dry with a very fine, tight and vivacious mousse. It is creamy in feel up front, becoming richly textured and mineral on the mid-palate, with lively apple fruit throughout. The finish is long and full, with intense toast and yeast overtones alongside hints of citrus.

Taste Profile:

Dry (D)

Serving Suggestions:

A classic aperitif; or with raw oysters, lobster bisque, battered shellfish, sushi, game terrine, quiches/omellettes, grilled seafood, smoked duck

Ageability:

Best consumed 2018 through 2025 will hold through at least 2024

Ontario Retail Price:

$29.95

Availability:

Winery, LCBO (213983), selected Grocery Stores

Reviews & Accolades:

WINE ACCESS: This wine is the flagship for Cave Spring's increasingly important sparkling wine focus, which now involves four labels. It won a Lieutenant-Governor's Award in 2012. This 100% chardonnay was aged for three years, building subtle almond complexity into the dried apple, lemon and shortbread aromas. It is light-bodied, lively, gentle, delicate and a touch sweet, yet built on a beam of mineral acidity. There's excellent length on the finish. This is a terrific blanc de blanc. 91 points. David Lawrason