Did you know that Robert Hall in Paso Robles makes a Sparkling wine, made from 100% Grenache Blanc, and is super amazing? I do! When I received my bottle for review I invited a few guests over to taste it with me and we agreed: yummy! There is a lot of technical information below from the winery, but let me share some of our collective tasting notes first:
A plethora of aromas were found by our group that included crisp green apple, fresh pear slices, lemon zest, cheddar and a clean sidewalk after the rain. On the palate we noted lemon-lime, kiwi, more juicy apple, fruit cocktail and cantaloupe melon. The general consensus was that the wine was very clean and fresh tasting, and the tiny bubbles that raced to the top reminded me of reverse fireworks that fall from the sky. We enjoyed the wine with hard cheeses, summer sausage and a chutney relish.
Haven’t visited the winery on 46 East in a few years, now we (my friends in this tasting and those reading our notes) have an excuse to visit again!
From Robert Hall
There is a new summer sparkling in town and it’s fire hazard free! Robert Hall’s 2021 Cavern Select Sparkling Grenache Blanc (SRP $40) is the quintessential summer wine…
Crafted in the heart of Paso Robles, on the Central coast of California by seasoned winemaker Amanda Gorter, this fine bubbly is produced using méthode champenoise. This centuries-honored winemaking technique allows the wine to undergo a second round of fermentation in the bottle with new yeast and sugar to create those magical bubbles. This labor-intensive process requires daily quarter-turning of each bottle, a technique known as riddling, also originating from the Champagne region of France. To ensure every bottle is riddled to bubbly perfection, it undergoes an extensive 11 month second fermentation to produce a balanced and mature brut (very dry) sparkling wine.
Bubbles aside, another important factor contributing to the overall balance and uniqueness of the wine is the grape varietal Amanda chose to use. The 2021 Sparkling Grenache Blanc is composed of 100% Grenache Blanc grapes, a variety originating from northern Spain. This variety contains the ideal amount of acidity desired to produce a dry sparkling like this. The warm growing conditions of Paso Robles results in an excellent concentration of flavors that truly stand out and work harmoniously with the carbonation. Though Grenache Blanc is rising in popularity amongst US growers it is still considered a unique grape in the states, especially in the case of a sparkling wine.
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Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
