I'd forgotten that I'd tasted it with a cold a few weeks ago. From my notes then: Super creamy mouthfeel, hint of nuttiness on the finish. Not getting a lot on the nose but I'm congested. Need to re-taste. Long finish, totally dry. Technically it's not totally dry but the perception is such and I found that to be true on the re-visit as well. I also found the wine to be incredibly delicious, so much so that we went in for a second bottle.
When I saw it on the shelf at Carriage on Court, the wine bar and retail shop I've partnered with for a new monthly wine club - The Vine Club - the other day, I asked Jason to chill a bottle for us. I must have subconsciously remembered something about the wine; the label called me.
Mom joined me late Friday afternoon for the experience. The sun was still shining, the streets taped off for the Christmas parade, and before long, lighted floats and firetrucks eased past the windows we sat facing. An experience indeed. As soon as the wine crossed my lips I knew it was a good decision.
The first bottle went down so well we ordered a second and, while that was chilling, sipped on a Jacques Pelvas Brut sparkling rosé interim, another elegantly, dry treat I recommend trying. The Bailly Lapierre is a Crémant de Bourgogne, a sparkling wine made the same way as Champagne only this is from Burgundy, a little further south. These wines can be excellent values that drink beautifully at a fraction of the Champagne price. The Bailly Lapierre house makes several cuvées from the traditional Champagne and Burgundy varieties - chardonnay and pinot noir. This, my new love, is the pinot noir.
Lean and nuanced, slightly yeasty-nutty, like raw cashew and hazelnut, just-ripe red fruit with a long, satisfying dry finish. It had a complexity common for pinot noir bubblies, and plenty of jazz to keep it interesting. In my celebratory, buzzy notes, there's a comment about suffering no heart burn, a common side effect for this girl and high acid wines. This is a boon to my bubbly drinking days, though it may simply be a reflection of how well things are going of late. Living the dream, dear readers, I'm living the dream.
Grab this one for your holiday celebrations. At $25 retail at Carriage on Court, it promises instant popularity if you bring it to a party and guaranteed pleasure if you keep it all to yourself.
And if you live in the Shoals area, check out our new wine club here. We kick off the first month this week!