South Ridge, Blanc de Noirs, 2009
It seems like everyone lately is trying to help out their fellow citizens by buying local products, both with food and textiles. That goes for wine too; and in England, producers are working hard to up the quality of what has been a flourishing product. England is definitely not known for being a great wine country, but with temperatures rising, this typically cool country is becoming more suitable for grapes. South Ridge, produced by Ridgeview Wine Estate, is a wine made exclusively for an online sales company called Laithwaites. Unfortunately, that means that this wine will be difficult to find outside of the UK, but if you are in town for a visit, it’s a definite must try. The Blanc de Noir 2009 Brut I drank at a friends while in London surprised me. I wasn’t expecting to find an English wine that was so good! This traditionally made sparkler is a beautiful salmon-peach color, with a numerous amount of fine bubbles. The bouquet reminded me of a Chardonnay because of its roundness and lower amounts of acid. Floral aromas of tulip and lily filled the glass, hiding the always present yeast or bread smells typical to sparkling wines. The taste was dry and round, cleaning the palate nicely. Hints of fuzzy peach tickled my tongue, and the slight touch of tannin from the pinot nero grape, gave clarity and uniformity. Personally, I think this wine is at its peak and is best to consume now, perhaps with a cucumber and smoked salmon sandwich.
