Pot Luck #WBW74

Tonight a group of Napa educators and Brix Chicks Liza and Heidi took a break from paper correcting and lesson planning to join in the #WBW74 fun with a value sparkling wine pot luck. Not unlike in one of our classes, we “jig sawed” our wine tasting notes. And we ate good food and laughed. Here’s what we said in the order we drank them:

2010 Sofia Blanc de Blancs (Francis Ford Coppola Wines) (86% Pinot Blanc, 12% Muscat, 2% Riesling): crisp & fresh citrus but also “mushroomy”; “smells nice and funky”

NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs: fresh apple smells, “very light, disappears in your mouth,” “flash of green apple,” “Yum! I like it!” “Plus!” This wine was a favorite of the evening for several of the tasters and it paired extremely well with all the food. And it was just plain fun for Brix Chick Heidi to finally try this wine from New Mexico.

NV Mumm Napa “Cuvee M”: smells of cream, strawberries, and bread/ toast, nice acid, screams out “Asian food,” smooth, crème brulee notes, fizzy, “plus.” This wine was also among the favorites for several tasters and shared by Brix Chick Liza who blogged about it earlier today.

NV Dibon Cava Rosado: smells like a party and looks like a pink party dress; “skittle-aged,” fresh strawberry cream, currant and almond on the finish, fizzy, ""check or check-plus.” The group was divided on this one.

NV Piper Hiedsieck Champagne Brut: unripe kiwi notes, “Yummy!” clean, classic flavor with flinty hints of green fruit; clean and crisp; great with quiche Lorraine and reminiscent of a late lunch in a French bistro a long time ago. “Plus, plus!” This wine was among the favorites for the evening.

2008 Taltarni “Taché” (Pinot Noir-Chardonnay-Pinot Meunier): A clear favorite of the tasters; “Plus, plus!” strawberries and cream; herby and sage-like notes, peach. Brix Chick Heidi was happy to try this sparkler from New South Wales.

NV Chandon “DKNY 20 Year Cuvee”: perfumy nose, cantelope, toasted mallow, a birthday treat.

NV Schloss Biebrich Sekt: smells like a perm but tastes different; mineral splash and like raspberry or peach BonneBell Lip Smacker, sweet; perfume in your mouth; good with dark chocolate cake.

NV Zonin Prosecco: fresh with some almonds or hazelnuts and pairs surprisingly well with the dark chocolate cake; dry.

And last, and probably most colorfully commented on: Peach Amour de Paris: old-school Bath & Body Works; peachy keen jelly bean; peach Schnapps; sophomore year of college; body splash; potpourri."
After this pot luck, Brix Chick Heidi will be on the look out for more Gruet and Taltarni-- and might just pour a glass of Piper Heidsieck the next time she has quiche.