2012 Henry of Pelham Carte Blanche – Vintages 315200 – $44.95 – ****½ – Cuvée Catherine Sparkling from Henry of Pelham is a benchmark for Sparkling wine in the province. It would seem the Speck brothers aren’t content with setting the bar without exceeding it themselves. The nose offers a hint of vanilla, orchard fruit, bright citrus notes and rising pizza dough. On the palate this opens up with a slight creaminess and it fills your mouth from cheek to cheek with lemon, peach and golden delicious apple. Bright crisp acidity keeps the palate cleansed but the creaminess on the palate lingers with such subtlety it leaves you in anticipation of your next sip. Just under forty five dollars this does make it one of the more expensive bottles in the province, but compared to french counterparts this is a friggin’ steal and easily on par with entry level Champagne in terms of quality.
2015 Cave Spring CSV Riesling – Vintages 566026 – $29.95 – ****½ – This is a bottle that will make a fine addition to a cellar – this has the ability to mature nicely over the next 10-15 years. The mineral note goes from nose to finish and is wrapped in beeswax that helps this open up on the palate with nice weight. Yet, this somehow remains light and crisp because of it’s perfectly balanced acidity. A stellar bottle from the house that Riesling built.
