WINERY REFLECTIONS

Sour dark cherry, baker's yeast, lemon pith. Fuji apple, mint leaf, underripe plum. Intense beams of grapefruit peel, tart strawberry, and nectarine lead an astoundingly edgy and electric attack that comes across as surprisingly bold yet still tremendously fierce. Hints of bread dough and flaky croissant gently emerge to provide layers of pretty autolytic charm further complicated by sage, shaved ginger, and soft herbal undertones. Notes of citrus blossom, dandelions, and wildflowers complement mild floral lift that rises above wonderful earthy tones of limestone, rock salt, and chalky minerality. Bright, bone dry, and quite serious on the palate with lively effervescence and impressive depth; exhibiting a tense and nervy presentation with booming energy that balances out its substantial concentration. Medium plus in body and absolutely brimming with high acidity. This NV Brut Nature Mendoza Rosé by Alma Negra is an intriguing and well made sparkling wine from Argentina.

Though primarily known internationally as a source for dense and deeply concentrated red wine, the high elevation vineyards of Mendoza Argentina are capable of producing surprisingly delicious sparkling wine as well. This bottling, crafted by Alma Negra using an unconventional blend of Malbec & Pinot Noir and then aged in Méthode Champenoise, pushes the limits of what the terroir of Mendoza is thought to be capable of shaping. Though it contains a richer and more concentrated fruit profile than most sparkling Rosé this wine absolutely writhes with powerful acidity that keeps it exciting and squarely in balance. Its Méthode Champenoise treatment provides subtle yet interesting bready qualities that help further cement it as a unique yet serious bubbly. Well done.