A fine Chardonnay alternative, similar in weight—heftier than many—but with its own character. The lively peach, pear and vanilla nose sets up a round, fullish palate with dry pear fruit and pepper accents. Hefty but not flabby; good underlying acidity holds this together. It finishes long, with more pepper.
— M.M.
(11/1/2001)
Bright in color and full of snappy cherries on the nose. This cherry-dominated profile follows suit on the palate, where the fruit-to-wood-balance swings in favor of the crisp, dry fruit. Charged-up acids provide a jolt, as do the full tannins. It seems to have the right structure to age for a few years.
— M.S.
(12/1/2000)
Plummy, toasty fruit launches this into a friendly orbit right out of the bottle. It’s got nice weight and some depth, and there is plenty of tannin to finish it out. The clean, attractive fruit tastes of beet root and ripe cherries. —P.G.
— P.G.
(4/1/2002)
This very ripe wine hits a rich fruit note suspended midway between spicy apple and fresh-cut pear. Alcohol is on the high side (14.5%). It’s bigger overall than many Pinot Blancs, but generous and flavorful. Drink up.
— P.G.
(12/1/2003)
The nose is lovely, with a smoky edge. On the palate there are touches of melon and lime, with just a drop of fresh peach. The finish is creamy and elegant as it lingers on the palate.
— L.W.
(12/31/1999)
Smells like Muscat, with pretty apricot and orange-blossom aromas, and as the name suggests, it’s just a little bubbly. The sweetness level is high, but not exceptional. This clean wine is fun and perfect for fresh fruits or wedding cake.
— S.H.
(12/1/2002)
Light and fragrant in the nose, with a hint of lemon and canned pineapple. The palate seems rich and creamy, partially a result of age but also due to relative low acidity. In the mouth, there’s banana, papaya and cinnamon, while the finish is nicely textured and rich (again a result of maturity). All in all, there seems to be more coconut and tropical influences…
— M.S.
(9/1/2003)
Mildly spritzy, sweet and orange flavored, this low-alcohol, frizzanté-style bubbly is a very pleasant springtime quaffer. Serve it quite cold, and it can open or close a picnic in style.
— P.G.
(6/1/2010)