Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives
So here is my wine review for the week of August 11th...
GLORIA FERRER 1997 CARNEROS CUVEE
Description: In the wine world, a “cuvee” is a blend of different grapes (at least two) to create a sparkling wine. In the case of this Ferrer 1998, they also age the wine for seven years as well, which is why the 1997 & 1998 are their current release, 10 years later (accounting for the initial 2-3 years it takes to pick the grapes and ferment). This bottle is 58% Pinot and 42% Chardonnay.
Gloria Ferrer is a Sonoma winery of 20 years in age that produces both still and sparkling wines, though their sparkling wines are vastly superior to their other products.
Keep in mind that no wine can be called a “champagne” unless it is grown in the champagne region of France and/or utilizes the Methode Champenoise.
How and when I drank it: Monday evening, August 4th at Biba Restaurant on Capitol Avenue in Sacramento, where they serve it by the bottle for $78
How to get it: Since Ferrer is a moderately priced sparkling wine, many restaurants feature it on their wine list. It is also found easily in almost all Bevmos and other wine stores, as well as some grocery stores and online on the winery’s website.
How Much: The winery sells it for $50.
My Thoughts: There are tons of different flavors to various sparkling wines, ranging from super sweet to tongue-numbingly dry. This Cuvee is what I describe as a nearly perfectly balanced sparkling wine. Not too sweet or fruity, not too dry, but right down the middle and exceptionally refreshing. The color is the traditional sparkling gold (despite the overwhelming presence of Pinot grapes) and the flavors are of refreshing citrus, kiwi and pear, offset by spectacular bubbles and a perfect finish with just the right amount of bite.
Overall Score: There are a handful of sparkling wines in the $30 range that are pretty reliable including Pommery and Schramsburg. Once you get to the $50-$100 range the quality of wine gets surprisingly lame. In fact, sparkling wine is stunningly dissapoitning as it gets more expensive. Dom Perignon and Christal are two of the worst I have ever had, yet both range from $150 - $1000 per bottle. At $50, this is an excellent, balanced sparkling wine, perfect for any occasion. 4 vines
GLORIA FERRER 1997 CARNEROS CUVEE = 
|
