Today we’re going to taste some of the best sparkling wines made in Mumm Napa. Mumm Napa was founded by Guy Devaux in California in the late 70s, with its roots coming from G.H. Mumm Champagne.
Entrance to Mumm Napa was a unique experience, it gives the feeling of sparkles that’ll be added to our still life to make it more lively.
We started with three sparkling wines. Before going any further, even the roots of Mumm Napa are coming from Champagne, the sparkling wines produced here cannot be called Champagne. They are still made with la méthode traditionnelle, the same method that is used in Champagne region. On the other hand, being out of the Champagne regulations gives the producers a little bit of more freedom in the production, they can enrich their sparklings with different varieties than in Champagne or they can choose their aging time according to the style that they want to obtain.
Going back to three sparklings we had in the beginning:
- Blanc de Blancs Reserve (80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Gris, 48 months aging)
- Brut Reserve Rosé (66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay, 36 months aging)
- DVX 2007 (50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay, 6 years aging)
The first things to be noticed in my glasses were their tiny little bubbles that moved to the top of the glass, without rushing and with all their persistence. After this important detail, I started to taste them.
Blanc de Blancs Reserve has all the fresh aromas in the nose; citrus, peach, apple… On the palate, it’s crispy and fresh with its mouth-watering acidity.
Brut Reserve Rosé is like entering an orchard full of strawberries and raspberries and in the exit you also meet with other red fruits which make your visit even more delightful.
DVX 2007 has all the elegance with its complex aromas of apricot, pear, white flowers such as linden and jasmine, and some hints of vanilla. It’s sliding smoothly in the mouth with its creamy texture by leaving a pleasant after-taste.
In this trio my favorite was the Brut Reserve Rosé, with all the charm that it has. So, the sommelier guiding us understood our taste and brought us 2 other rosés:
- Brut Rosé (85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, 18 months aging)
- DVX Rosé 2010 (50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay, 48 aging)
These two sparklings are firstly distinguished from each other with their color, Brut Rosé has a coral color while DVX Rosé is more likely to have a salmon to pink color. It’d be a good idea to drink them on different occasions; for example Brut Rosé on a lazy Sunday in the garden or at a small picnic, while DVX Rosé on a nice dinner event around a delicious table or when there’s something exceptional to toast for.
In the end, we had a picturesque view at our table surrounded by a pleasant atmosphere. The charming panorama of the vineyards, open air and happy people around make the wines taste even better. All of them were very well made and tasty, and they’re absolutely valuable considering all the work and patience needed to create them. Finally, the price/quality ratio of the sparklings is absolutely balanced.
If your road passes from Napa, consider visiting this amazing place. After the tasting, you can visit the photograph galleries next to the tasting area. After all, you’ll have a sparkling experience.
Cheers,
Nesli
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Categories: Wine Stories, Wines
Wines of Nesli 