No. 1 Family Estate – Brilliant Bubbles

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• No. 1 Family Estate ‘Cuvee No. 1’ Methode Tradittionnelle NV
  Sparkling Wine from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 02-Nov-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, even, light golden-yellow colour, a little lighter on the rim, the bubbles moderately fine and persistent. The nose is very elegant in proportion, with very good depth and intensity, with tightly bound aromas and a harmonious amalgam of white and yellow stonefruits with citrus fruit and floral elements, entwined with refined bready-yeasty autolysis. This has finesse and class. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate possesses a refined and taut core of white stonefruits and florals, complexed by a fine layer of bread and yeast. The wine has good mouthfeel and flows along a lightly-textured phenolic line balanced by the effervescence and fresh, crisp acidity. This has a positive linearity and the wine carries to a long finish. This is a refined and tightly bound Blanc de Blancs method traditionnelle with fine autolysis and textures with good presence. Serve as an aperitif and with seafood over the next 3 years. 100% Chardonnay, fermented to 12.5% alc. and 7.0 g/L dosage, the wine spending at least 2 years on lees. Lot L15275. 18.5/20 Nov 2018 RRP $36.00 This label was the first release under No. 1 Family Estate. This is 100% Chardonnay, fermented to 13.0% alc and carries 7.0 g/L dosage. This bottling, Lot 09020, spent nearly 3 years on lees. Light straw-yellow with a pale edge, this has a fine bubble. The aromatics are classical Blanc de Blancs, with fresh, vibrant citrus and floral characters. The autolysis is subtle, but definite, with bready-toasty elements, and in excellent harmony with the fruit. Dry on palate, there is a richness to the fruit and the faintest phenolic texture providing some backbone. The floral-nutty fruit is predominant over the yeastiness and makes this a wine of sweet delicacy. The mousse opens and adds flourish to the finish. A lovely aperitif or seafood wine. 18.0-/20 Jan 2011 RRP $37.50 Made by Daniel Le Brun, a 100% Marlborough sourced Chardonnay methode at 13.0% alc. and 7.0 g/L dosage. This release is approx. 80% 2007 vintage and the remainder from 2006. It was an ideal aperitif, with very fine floral and citrus aromas and flavours, clearly expressing Chardonnay. Technically dry, this had lovely sweetness of fruit and excellent acidity and freshness, making it wonderfully elegant. A little more of the yeasty-brioche-like autolysis complexity would make it outstanding.  Dec 2010
• Shooting Star Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Methode Traditionnelle NV
  Sparkling Wine from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 13-Feb-2011

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Joining the growing ranks of wines in this style is ‘Shooting Star' created by talented winemaker Eveline Fraser. 100% Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc fermented to 13.5% alc. with 7.4 g/L residual sugar, given some time on lees before disgorging. This is a simple, uncomplicated bubbly for summer drinking. Very pale straw-yellow in colour, this has a restrained, soft and gentle nose of passionfruit with the faintest earth and spice nuances to add interest. Dryish to taste, elements of tropical fruits, spice and citrus fruits show softly, possibly moderated by the yeast lees contact. There is a textural line through the length of the palate, but the creaminess of texture and soft acidity keeps that very approachable. Soft and subtle. This is Lot 10235 16.5+/20 Jan 2011 RRP $24.00