Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon-green, bubbles noted
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, candied pear, banana, bubble gum, confection, apple, slight unripe/vegetal character
Mouth: dry, aggressive mousse, med acid, med- body, med+ flavour intensity, med- alcohol, confectionary, candied pear, banana, mineral, short length
All in all: Acceptable quality: though the wine has intense aromas and flavours, the sparkling wine lacks persistence, complexity, and acid to balance the sweeter fruit. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Inexpensive tank method Non-Vintage sparkling wine from France.
Is really: Inexpensive tank method Non-Vintage sparkling wine from France.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 1]

The rows of sub-15 French sparkling at the BCL always intrigue me but I’m always too afraid to commit to what might be a bottle of sad, but it goes down faster anyways. This class beat me to the punch, but it’s not like I’m complaining.

I could tell that I was in for a ride by the first sniff. But really, “ride” could, at both end of the spectrums, designate either a fun roller coaster ride or really bad sex. Like really bad, like two cardboard puzzle pieces that won’t fit and you have to force them together only to realize hey that piece doesn’t go there! I expected the latter (woo!), but chances are always to be given. And they need to be formally written down to shame certain bottles of wine.

The first sniffs were an all-too-familiar estery gift box stemming from cooler fermentation temperatures. Candied pear, apple, bubble gum, and a bit of banana exploded into my nose (not literally) with a hint of an unripe greenish character. Acidity on the palate for wines like this is key, because it acts as the broom that sweeps up the food fight. That wasn’t the case in this wine, and there was a bit of a slight cloy to the palate which is an ironically difficult feat considering the short length. A quick and simple, in-and-out party that no one helped clean up.

Bottles of wine like this are always a bit of a boring mystery, with grapes being sourced from who-knows-where in France. This wine, literally, has gotten around. You know?

I promise that I won’t judge you if this is your jam, but I hope you know that you’re drinking a bottle of quick and awkward sex. Which may or may not appeal to you.

Producer: Veuve du Vernay
Designation: Brut
Region: France
Sub-Region: N/A
Variety: N/A
ABV: 11%
Vintage: NV
Tasted: January 8, 2014
Price: $15