Aroma – Honey, lemon-limeade, unsalted butter, pear, white peach, blue cheese, juniper or mint?
Taste – Sparkling on tongue, like a well-made sugar-sweet apricot tart, low acid, green grapes, orange peel, honey, brie, flinty, exuberant mouthfeel.
Finish – Long, though low acidity the sparkling effervescent quality holds on.
Conclusion – Just coming from a Chinese dinner, this was perfect to cleanse my palate and make for a nice, light dessert. No fortune, or fortune cookie, required. Definitely a fun wine.
To me the word “prickly” brings up cactus, scary movies and pickles. I love the word on the label, don’t get me wrong, but if it brings up those connotations for you to think of it the way I do: “joyful”, “fresh”, “spirited”…
Full disclosure: Wine was not purchased but sent unsolicited for review.
http://www.oldbridgecellars.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=133&idproduct=713
From website:
About Old Bridge Cellars
In this age of ‘big company’ buyouts, increasing consolidation and mass production, Old Bridge Cellars brings you a group of Australian winemakers who retain their belief in artisan winemaking. Respecting the land and with minimal intervention in the winery, their wines remain true to the soils from which they come.
They share a fierce commitment to quality and a determination to preserve their independence and regional heritage. Many are the second, third and even fourth generations of their family to work the vineyards. It’s their intuitive understanding, quiet confidence and desire to produce only the best they can from each vintage that has made them Australian benchmarks, universally acclaimed by wine critics across the globe.
Founded in 1990, Old Bridge Cellars embraces the intense passion of these winemakers and remains one of only a few US importers dedicated solely to the best of regional Australia. Our knowledge of Australian wine runs deep and has been recognized in such publications as The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine and Spirits, International Wine Cellar and Wine Enthusiast. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has gone so far as to say, “thanks in large part to the work of such talented importers as Old Bridge Cellars et al… American consumers have never had such an enormous selection of Australia’s finest as well as rarest wines.”
We see as our mission the promotion of Australia’s ‘real wines, ‘ championing those winemakers who give everything in their pursuit of truly distinctive, regionally defined styles that sit comfortably with the world’s best. And who believe they can do it even better again next vintage!
It’s an enlightening, exhilarating journey. Welcome aboard.
Highlights from the SCV Wine Calendar
Eve’s Wine on Wednesday: Taste three wines for free every Wednesday at Mixers, starts at 7pm, 50% off select bottles that night too. 661-750-2649.
Wine 661 has speed dating on Nov. 9: 661-288-2980.
Sunset in the Vineyard, the only event highlighting the efforts of local winemakers, is – sold out.
“Art, Wine and Music” with my friend and artist, Jane Mick, at The Cellar Nov.13 from 2-5 pm. 661-799-7979.
Perlis Pick: The Garagiste Festival, Paso Robles, 11/12, highlights small-lot winemakers, rule-breakers, pioneers, and mavericks driven by passion.
Daily events can be viewed on the SCV Wine Calendar.
Yours, in wine and out,
Eve Bushman
Eve Bushman is a local writer that specializes in writing about wine. You can find great articles by Eve on her blog at http://www.evewine101.com or email her at [email protected]. Her commentaries represent her own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization she may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon. Eve also writes at http://scvelitemagazine.com and you can follow Eve’s Wine 101 on Facebook and Twitter!