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:

100% Chardonnay

Harvest Data:

Non-Vintage Cuvée
Sugar- 19º Brix
Titratable Acitity- 9.12 g/L
pH- 3.13

Vinification:

The base wine was re-fermented in bottle and aged sur lie for 36 months prior to disgorging; dosage brought the wine to a Brut level of dryness.

Bottling Data:

Tirage- April 2016;Disgorging April 2019
Alc./Vol. 12%
Residual Sugar- 4 g/L
Titratable Acidity- 7.8 g/L
pH- 3.02

Tasting Notes:

A dry, Brut-style sparkling wine with aromas of ripe Golden Delicious apple, Bartlett pear, bread dough and wet stones. Medium in body and quite rich in feel overall, the palate bursts forth with a tight, vivacious mousse and a seductive kiss of sweetness. The mid-palate contrasts ripe, opulent textures with loads of crisp apple fruit that carry onto the finish alongside subtle notes of toast and minerals.

Taste Profile:

Dry (D)

Serving Suggestions:

Raw oysters; lobster bisque or clam chowder; game terrine; fried or lightly battered shellfish; sushi/sashimi; omelettes and quiches; heavier seafood off the grill (e.g., halibut, prawns); smoked duck; or as an aperitif.

Ageability:

This crisp, Crémant-style sparkler, driven by its primary fruit character, will gain in complexity until at least 2020.

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