wine
nicole 2010 hand disgorged methode traditional black sparkling cabernet sauvignon shiraz
74% cabernet sauvignon 25% shiraz in a nv cuvee from 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 tirage late 2006, hand disgorged december 2010 2010 vp shiraz liqueurTotal production 760 bottles .
Colour:
Bright deep purple red with a visually delicious pink creamy mousse when first poured.
Nose:
Complex cassis over eucalypti mint and satsuma plum, rounded out with mushroom tea, old cigar box leather and crusty bread yeast notes.
Palate:
A light creamy mousse seductively fills the palate with deliciously lifted and spiced rich cabernet round red berry.
Mouth prickling zip gives slowly way to palate filling richness. complex layers of summer fruits and balanced sweetness linger on the palate long after the wine has gone.
Purchase:
3 bottle case.
Philosophy:
methode champenoise and robust red wine inhabiting the same glass seems to leave the rest of the world a little confused. "you do what with what!??!! here in australia its one of our favourite gurgles. although it's traditionally made with shiraz there a few mavericks like myself out there who like it a little different. altogether more laidback and refined, sparkling cabernet will always get my vote as the bubbles of choice when christmas comes around.
the 2010 hand disgorged nicole nv is the 4th release of my version of this soulful style. from the very beginning i’ve always been determined to take the traditional methode sparkling red in a slightly different direction to the australian norm. cabernet, particularly barossa cabernet seemed to be so suited to this style. the black currants cherries and chocolate of the barossa cabernet coupled with the rich plums liquorice and spice of the more often used shiraz was perfect. i found that i was achieving the richness and elegance needed to match the wine to my beautiful wife nicole, or ‘nicki’ as she is usally known.
i certainly could not pick a better match to her personality. cabernet sauvignon is usually her tipple of choice and shiraz reflects the richness of our love... afterall, what better way to celebrate the love of my life than to say it with bubbles.
the 2010 disgorged nicole cuvee is built from every vintage since 2000. built on a base of 2000 cabernet and shiraz i continued the blend with 2001 cabernet, 2002 cabernet and 2003 cabernet. 2004 contributed again both cabernet and shiraz while 2005 was purely cabernet. 2006 the tirage was laid down with a freshening dose of cabernet and shiraz. while the percentages of years has become too complicated to bore you with here, the varietal breakdown is 75% cabernet to 25% shiraz.
methode champenoise, or methode traditional as we who do not wished to be sued now call it, is the ultimate process for producing sparkling wines. ‘tirage’ (where you add sugar, yeast and bottle under crown seal for secondary fermentation) is the first step. once the tirage had been laid down time as always is the next step in the process. each ‘nicole’ has spent 4 years on yeast lees to mature and enrich both the mouthfeel and the depth of the palate. the nicole is then taken from its gentle slumber and through a hand process called riddling, the yeast from the secondary fermentation is shaken down into the neck of the bottle. i then hand disgorged each bottle of nicole and topped with a rediculously decadent 2010 liqueur shiraz which brings out the richness of the fruit and adds a wonderful developed complexity.so now the wine is every bit as delicious as my wife is beautiful (and as beautiful as she is delicious too). please enjoy the wine as much as i enjoy its namesake!
