A Toast to the Earth
To help you celebrate earth day, here are three delicious wines made by producers who take numerous steps to work in harmony with nature and minimize their impact on the environment. Links below to learn about their initiatives.
Benjamin Bridge NV Méthode Classique, Nova Scotia, Canada ($30 CAD)
When I travel to wine regions, I often put sparkling wine from Benjamin Bridge into my luggage. I like to pour it blind to colleagues and ask them where they think it’s from. Champagne and occasionally top-notch bubbles from England are usually what people guess. The wines do share the bracing acidity, the fine mousse and pleasant brioche notes of the sparkling wines from those regions. But for those who had wines from Nova Scotia, it speaks to the typicity of the Gaspereau Valley where the winery is located.
This particular cuvée is made from 45% Chardonnay and 55% Acadie (a hybrid popular in the region). Nice bright notes of lemon, green apple and red currants are in symbiosis with the pastry notes and delicate salty tang so typical of the region. All you need is a fresh plate of oysters.
https://benjaminbridge.com/
Mission Estate Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2017, New Zealand ($22 CAD)
When you train in preparation for a blind tasting exam, Syrah from Hawke’s Bay is a tricky wine to get. The wines share the pleasant violet, plum, peppery and smoky character of some of the Northern Rhône reds. They remind me of a riper Crozes-Hermitage. This great value Syrah from Mission-Estate offers exactly that. Savoury with fine supple tannins and a generous yet fresh palate. If you enjoy game meat, this is the wine!
https://missionestate.co.nz/mission-estate-winery-sustainability/
Cosse et Maisonneuve Le Combal 2016 Cahors, France ($21 CAD)
I have so much admiration for the meticulous work of Catherine Maisonneuve and Matthieu Cosse. Their passion and holistic approach have led them to create a remarkable ecosystem made of 28 hectares. The wines they produce always have energy and a beautiful minerality.
Le Combal offers an elegance rarely seen in Cahors, especially for that price! Full body with firm polished tannins with a beautiful purity of fruit. Great freshness on the palate with notes of cassis, dark cherries and black liquorish that mingle.
https://rezin.com/producteur/cosse-maisonneuve
