Score: 88/100
A decent Méthode Traditionelle out of Marlborough, hence the name: ‘Marlborough Cuvée’.
This sparkling wine is made by one of New Zealand and Marlborough biggest wine producer Brancott Estate and Chief Winemaker Patrick Materman. It is the modern result of an historic agreement signed in 1988 between the then Montana winery and the Champagne house of Deutz, and a 10 year consultation that saw the French winemakers sharing their knowledge of sparkling winemaking and viticulture.
The wine is made of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties.
To learn more about the 10 main types of sparkling wines, see my article on Vivino: A Simple Guide to Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines
Tasting Notes:
The nose is grassy and lemony, with a touch of butteriness and nuttiness from the ageing on lees.
The bubbles aren’t so fine for a Méthode Traditionnelle and the palate feels quite acidic. It’s balanced by a touch of sweetness (though it feels dry overall) but keeps the citrus juice-like feel.
Some length and complexity though the first impression is dominated by primary fruit characters.
I found the wine actually more enjoyable one day after opening as the grassiness had faded away, leaving room for the more delicate lees, nuts, and creamy tones to shine through.
Enjoy 🙂
Find out more about the producing winery at Brancott Estate:
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