Coruncopia Whistler 2009 - Bubble-icious

Following up on my articles on www.vendormagazine.ca, here are tasting notes from the Cornucopia wine events I attended in Whistler in 2009.

Bubble-icious

Luna Argenta Prosecco $20
Fairly new to BC, this has been available for about two months. Crisp with a touch of sweetness and Granny Smith apple and pear drop notes.

Sumac Ridge Tribute Sparkling Brut Blanc des Blancs $30
Vincor’s Olympics sparkling contribution is 100% Chardonnay. A bit tropical on the nose with hints of mango and peach, it open up into red Macintosh apple and baked pastry.

Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva Cava
A hint of rubber on the nose, reminiscent of a Riesling. Creamier and richer than the first two, with notes of yeast and almond. Delicious.

Graham Beck Brut $21
A South African blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this is nicely balanced with small, creamy bubbles. A great buy for $21. Yeasty, toasty and buttery, my event companion says, “You can taste the sun.”

Lucien Albrecht Cremant Rose $30
This versatile Alsacian was the hit of the tasting, with most people picking it as their favourite over other, much more expensive options. This one’s 100% Pinot Noir and a pretty pale salmon colour. It has a nice hit of raspberry acidity and will be great with any dish you’re serving.

Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut Champagne $110
A gorgeous sunset pink with delicate bubbles, it’s got the complexity you’d expect and a lingering finish you won’t find on any budget bubbly. Strawberries and cream all the way – yum.

Penny’s Hill Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz $
Yep, it’s the colour of Shiraz. A sparkling red that goes great with Christmas, and all the chocolate you’ve got around the house that time of year. It’s pretty sweet with lots of blueberry jam and blackberry going on. Bring it out for a crowd of fun friends.