Tasting - Underwood 'The Bubbles' Sparkling Wine

 

Name: Underwood - Union Wine Co. Vineyards - 'The Bubbles' Sparkling Wine
Variety: blend of 40% Pinot Gris, 32% Pinot Noir and 28% Chardonnay
Region: Tualatin, Oregon
Country: USA
Year: 2018
Price: $4.50

Wine Critic Notes: From the Union Wine Company, this value bubbly is 40% Pinot Gris, 32% Pinot Noir and 28% Chardonnay. Aromas of bubblegum, cherry and lemon drop candy carry the nose, with fruit-driven flavors on the palate that are crisp and balanced. For an inexpensive, mass-produced bottle of fizz, it raises the bar for the entire region. - Paul Gregutt; Wine Enthusiast; 90pts

Wine Folly: pg 289 Oregon Pinot Gris - Pinot Gris is Oregon's most important white wine grape, as it grows quite well in the southern parts of the Willamette Valley. The Pinot Gris from this region have a focus on peach and pear flavors, as well as emparting an oily mid-palate, and a tingly, citrus-driven finish. They typically contain notes of nectarine, ripe pear, citrus bolossom, lemon oil, and almond cream.
pg 289 Oregon Pinot Noir - Roughly 50% of Oregon's vinyards are planted to grow Pinot Noir, growing with great ease within the Willamette Valley. The Pinot Noir of this region offer rich, red berry aromas, a light body, juicy acidity, and spice flavors drawn from the oak staves that make up it's aging vessel. They tend to typically have notes of pomegranate, red plum, allspice, vanilla, and black tea.
pg 296 Oregon Chardonnay - A grape that is hardly grown outside of the state, but draws much attention due to it's likeness to white Burgundy. The climate here runs cooler than other areas, giving the wines a much lighter body that's light on fruit, more mineral forward, and with high acidity. The grape from this region typically has notes of yellow apple, meyer lemon, preserved lemon, buttered toast, and sour cream.

My review: The name does not lie, there are bubbles, and there are a lot of them! Highly aromatic aroma of white floral notes and peaches, with an effervescent mouthfeel paired with notes of oak, lemon zest, unripe pear, and a minerality akin to some dark herbal teas. The body is light, with a mouth watering acidity, and crisp, lightly dry, finish. The plentiful bubbles really place the citrus, fruity, notes on center stage, making for quite a delightful and tasty sparkling wine! Now if only I still had some cheese...


No food was had, while tasting this wine - just a glass, and a good netflix series.