Posted by Matt
I will attempt to write an objective review of this
sparkling wine, despite the fact that the circumstances in which I drank this
were less than ideal. I thought my wife
was joking when she approached me on Saturday night and said “In honor of
Edward and Bella’s wedding, we should open that bottle of bubbly.” Sadly she was not kidding. The PLR Legacy Blanc de Noirs is a fine
sparkling wine that deserved much better than to be consumed during a viewing
of any installment of the Twilight
franchise. Happily, the PLR Legacy
helped eased the pain.
The PLR Legacy is a limited-release exclusive from
Parker-rated winemaker Reed Renaudin – and, it’s already racking up acclaim. Wine
Spectator gave it a 90-point rating and called it “A bubbly that’s both festive
and serious, with floral raspberry and citrus aromas and supple yet bone-dry
flavors of lemon, almond and spicy vanilla.) The PLR Legacy is a great value in sparkling
wine. Under a different label, it might
fetch $50 or more a bottle, but this elegant blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot
Meunier can be found closer to $30.
'Blanc de Noir' refers to the fact that PLR Legacy is
crafted from dark-skinned ('black') grapes. But don't be alarmed, it has a
brilliant golden color. After a gentle pressing, the skins (which contain the
color pigments) were removed from the juice.
This sparkling wine has strong aromas of roasted nuts and
almond biscotti combined with citrus aromas and hints of spice and Bing
cherry. The wine’s bright fruit and
acidity give way to a delicate creamy finish in this elegant, complex sparkler.
The Winemaker
Reed was destined to make great sparkling wine: his great,
great great grandfather, Paul Levieux Renaudin, was one of the founding owners
of the Bollinger Champagne house. Reed, who
did extensive graduate research at highly regarded UC Davis wine program, is
continuing the family's legacy in California.
With Food
This is the perfect bottle to open when celebrating a
special occasion. Its elegant mousse (bubbly foam), crisp green apple and
citrus flavors along with a creamy texture make it a winning apéritif. We enjoyed ours with a plate of soft cheeses
and pistachios; the nuttiness of this sparkling wine was a fine
accompaniment. Fine sparkling wine can
also be a delicious accompaniment to food. Great matches would be a ground
nut-crusted halibut or herbed pork tenderloin.
Alternatively, the PLR would be an excellent match with grilled oysters
or other shellfish.
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