St. Innocent Brut 00 Sparkling Wine

New, and last, vintage. Quite, quite good for the price, we reach for this sparkler when there's a special occasion at the store.

Winemaker's tasting notes for 99 vintage: "We were blown away when we tasted the first test bottle of 1999 Brut. The nose had delicate aromas of ripe apple, nuts, and toast. It was the flavors and finish that were the most amazing. Delicate floral fruit and cocoa flavors intermingled with a beautiful fine texture of its mousse and persisted into a very long nuanced finish. Potentially our best ever."

Oregon's cool climate is well suited to the grapes used to produce sparkling wine. Pinot noir and Chardonnay grapes ripen slowly without losing their natural acidity. The wines produced have a balance of flavors and a richness that is enhanced by extended lees aging.

The methode champenoise is a technique developed by French monks and refined by the great French Champagne houses. The sparkle or mousse is created by a second fermentation in this bottle. The wine is then aged for three years to develop flavors and aromas typical vintage sparkling wine before being disgorged.

The 1999 Brut is made with 80% Pinot noir and 20% Chardonnay grapes. The dosage is 0.5% sugar.

Disgorged: May and June 2003

The 1999 Brut complements richly flavored foods-smoked salmon, oysters, sushi-and may be aged up to a decade.