IT’S a Kiwi tradition to break open the bubbles to toast the New Year.
It’s also a tradition for the most celebratory people at the party to promptly fall over (or worse) after consuming said celebratory drink. One of my favourite memories of post sparkling shennanigans is of the forward roll race that followed our toast to the new millenium. I’m getting dizzy just thinking about it.
A new phenomenon on the sparkling wine scene this year is bound to have an effect on New Year’s celebrations. The ubiquitous sparkling savvy. A curse to some, and rightly so in many cases since bubbles intensify already big flavours, there are some gems to be had out there. A little glass of sunshine is Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Bubbles ($16). Aromas of passionfruit pips and melon, off-dry flavours of toffee apple and passionfruit and impressive length make this the ideal thirst quencher and tongue loosener.
One of my favourite special occasion southern hemisphere traditional sparkling wines of the year is Brown Brothers Patricia Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Brut 2005 ($40) from Australia. Much more sophisticated than sparkling sav, old-fashioned apple aromas mingle with almonds and yeasty bread to remind you of Nana’s garden, while in the mouth she’s a fairground of caramel, toffee and burnt-sugar sweetness, rich and creamy with a smooth texture.
Wine of the week: Lindauer Rosé ($12 on special) has a watermelon blush to its colour, lively bubbles, a delicate water melon nose with a strawberry hit at the end (much more subtle than the Fraise strawberry bomb). While it lacks the complexity and elegance of the Patricia, it has classic champagnesque toffee apple flavours with a nice dry finish. We had it to celebrate the sale of our old car. I reckon this Lindauer would also make a good start to NYE celebrations, since the more appropriate time for bubbles is at the beginning of the evening, as they set a fine festive mood with their knack of entering the blood stream at a supersonic rate.