Re: September Wine Focus: Bubblies, not Champagne
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:23 pm
Hmm, this thread is a bit moribund... so here is a contribution.
2008 Quinta das Bageiras, Bruto Natural Reserva, Vinho Espumante de Qualidade (Portugal):
Made in Bairrada (central Portugal, near Coimbra), a region where the winemakers produce quite a bit of wine by the Metodo Classico, i.e. fermented in the bottle. Mario Sergio Alves Nuno is one of those producers where just about everything is worthwhile; this is one of the more inexpensive sparklers in his lineup, made from Bical, Maria Gomes and Cercial. No dosage. This is great wine for the price (around $10) - chalky, with bright lime and cherry, bone dry (but not austere) with a slightly smokey character. In fact there are similarities between this and their still Branco Garrafeira (old vine Bical and Maria Gomes), which I dare say is one of the best white wines made in Portugal. I'd like to think it is the Bical, but I'm not sure.
I enjoyed this quite a bit more than the '06, which for some reason seemed slightly ponderous. Reasonably fine carbonation with some toasty notes on the nose - sees 18 months on the lees. Speaking of riddling, I've been in the cellar at Bageiras and just about everything is done by hand. Amazing value here. 12.5% abv.
2008 Quinta das Bageiras, Bruto Natural Reserva, Vinho Espumante de Qualidade (Portugal):
Made in Bairrada (central Portugal, near Coimbra), a region where the winemakers produce quite a bit of wine by the Metodo Classico, i.e. fermented in the bottle. Mario Sergio Alves Nuno is one of those producers where just about everything is worthwhile; this is one of the more inexpensive sparklers in his lineup, made from Bical, Maria Gomes and Cercial. No dosage. This is great wine for the price (around $10) - chalky, with bright lime and cherry, bone dry (but not austere) with a slightly smokey character. In fact there are similarities between this and their still Branco Garrafeira (old vine Bical and Maria Gomes), which I dare say is one of the best white wines made in Portugal. I'd like to think it is the Bical, but I'm not sure.
I enjoyed this quite a bit more than the '06, which for some reason seemed slightly ponderous. Reasonably fine carbonation with some toasty notes on the nose - sees 18 months on the lees. Speaking of riddling, I've been in the cellar at Bageiras and just about everything is done by hand. Amazing value here. 12.5% abv.