n.v. Les Glories, Crémant de Loire, Brut Cuvée, Loire Valley, France.
The nicely refreshing, pale gold hued and elegant Les Glories Crémant Brut bubbly, a blend of 70% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, with its stylish, lively but yeasty profile and creamy mousse makes for a good starter aperitif or party sparkler.The palate is lemony, rounded and crisply dry with peach, apple and fig fruits, along with clove, ginger, brioche and a nutty almond note. Fermentation, according to the winery, is conducted in separate temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks based on a plot selection of grapes. No malolactic fermentation occurs here and the still wines from the dfferent grape varieties are then blended with a view to obtaining optimum balance. Wines are then left to mature for 24 months on the yeast and then see a minimal dosage to stay vividly dry in style, but with the subtle richness of the time spent on the lees. So, even though this is part of a big production, this Crémant was a pleasing experience and better than a the flood of not so interesting Prosecco that’s out there in this price range.
Riboli Family, who bring in and market Les Glories, say they pat tribute to the monks who safeguarded and advanced viticulture in France by quietly continuing their work to protect the vines and experiment with different grape varieties, ensuring the survival of French viticulture, thought the ancient times. Since the 1920s, Les Glories has honored the winemaking traditions upheld by these monks, making a nice selection of Loire Valley offerings, such as this sparkling wine. The name “Les Glories’” itself pays tribute to the men, and the monks, who wrote the history of wine in the period of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, perfecting techniques brought to them by the Romans. The Riboli Family, most known for their Stella Rossa label and the sweet red wines, have branched out and have added some up scale properties to their portfolio in recent years, including a recent purchase of The Doctor’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey, looking to make a more serious Pinot Noir lineup. Les Glories offers a solid value and again, makes for a nice bubbly, sometimes you need a little celebration of the day, and this was a little lift from the weight of current events.
($28 Est.) 88 Points, grapelive