It's made in Monterey County, California, $19, 12.6% abv. 81% Pinot Blanc, 12% Sauvignon Blanc, and 7% Muscat--a fascinating blend quite different from the Champagne tradition, even if Pinot Blanc is allowed in tiny amounts. Lovely melon and peach aroma, hints of Bartlett pear after it warms up, and the dark scent of the Muscat just barely comes through. Very crisp, firm acidity no doubt helped by the Sauvignon Blanc, with a mild apple/pear flavor and good minerality. I was expecting some sweetness but was pleasantly surprised to find it dry and refreshing. I would strongly recommend this if you want a tasty blanc de blancs that's not made out of Chardonnay. Just because it comes wrapped in pink cellophane doesn't mean a man can't enjoy this on his own. In fact, I've long maintained that fried chicken is a perfect accompaniment for sparkling wine (hardly an original concept), so I grabbed a box from Popeye's. I mean no disrespect to the chicken or the wine; the crunchy, spicy poultry is a natural foil for the bubbly, crisp sparkler. Reference a recent post by Randy Kemner (guest on Samantha Sans Dosage) on the pairing concepts of harmony vs. complimentary contrast. Simplified version: when you're sad, do you want to listen to happy pop or the blues? There's no one right answer.
The same thing is true for wine. Sometimes you want a wine that tastes a lot like what you're eating, and other times you want a contrasting element, either something missing from the dish (like a squeeze of lemony acidity) or something different enough to wake up your tongue between mouthfuls of food.
As always, I try wines straight, with food, and afterward to make sure my notes aren't adversely impacted by the dish. Do you have to get takeout fried chicken? Certainly not. I'd recommend this wine for a wide range of hard-to-pair foods, including the chicken, seafood, or vegetable dishes of Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese cuisines. It would work well with Cajun or many Indian dishes as well; a good rule of thumb is that if you can't think of a wine that could possibly pair with a certain dish due to texture or spices or intensity, pick a sparkling wine and you'll be happy.
4 comments:
Benito,
Finally a wine that you feature is one that we also have, (so funny that what we have access to is so different). I think the Sophia is a fun little sparkler and I could no agree more on your pairing suggestions. It is also a wine that I recommend to people that don't drink very often or when someone wants to buy a gift for their neice or whatever, that just turned 21. That little hit of sweetness seems to please the newer palate but has enough going on for the veteran wine drinker as well.
Thanks for the blog shout out, took your advice and asked my boss to guest blog rather than pester him to start a blog...just gonna pounce every time I hear him rant, "Why don't you type that up and send it to me, I'll post it" we shall see how it goes.
Sparkling wine and Popeye's (or other fried chicken) is a heavenly experience!
Trying to wrap my head around a blanc d. B, that isn't all Chard. But then again, that's CA.
Lost in Translation is a great flick..
Samantha,
It is really strange what wines are available where. I always wonder about the vast number of bottles that I'll probably never see in my lifetime.
Also, I enjoyed Randy's post and hope to see more from him in the future.
Dirty,
Gotta keep it real here in the MEM, dog. Check this wine out if you get a chance--I feel like I have a better understanding of Pinot Blanc as a result. I do give Coppola credit for thinking outside the box on this blend.
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