Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaCuvée de l'île marks the top of the Unsworth sparkling wine program and a completely different attack than the Charmat-method Charme de L'île. It is all pinot noir and all estate fruit. The first fermentation occurs in neutral French barrels before a three year sleep in the bottle on its lees. The style is bone dry with intense acidity that sets the stage for a tightly drawn Island bubble that craves food. West coast oysters come quickly to mind. The palate is a mix of fresh green apples sprinkled with lemon juice and lime pith before a gentle hazelnut finish. It is interesting now, but it will age well into the 2030s. It is best to cellar this for a minimum of five years.Tasted: 27 July 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaCuvée de L'île is Unsworth's traditional method sparkler, an alternative to the charmat-method Charme de L'île. The 2018 is entirely pinot noir, making this a proper blanc de noirs, all from estate fruit. The free-run juice was fermented in neutral barrique before heading to bottle for three years on lees. This bottle was disgorged in February 2023, leaving 1.5 g/L RS. A shearing edge of island acidity sharpens this 11% sparkler, leaving rainier cherry, earthy lees, green apple, and pithy lemon skimming along a toasted nut backdrop. It's early days for this aspirational wine, and I look forward to tracking its progression.Tasted: 29 August 2023Tasted by: Prices:
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