With an extra hour of evening sunshine and finally some, albeit bashful, hints of spring sunshine, N&P’s early April wine tasting in the Stourbridge Cellars was aptly scrutinizing a flight of refreshing Sparkling Wines.

Tasting the wines blind is always so much more fun I find and somehow concentrates your senses. When reputation and with it of course price is taken out the wines all become equal from the off and the old adage that wine appreciation is a personal thing becomes truer than Phil Taylor’s right arm.

Suitably wrapped up in an N & P carrier bag – we lost the usual socks – the first wine was poured and amongst much umming and ahrring it was almost universally enjoyed. James Baker our resident expert explained there are several methods of making sparkling wines. Carbonation, used for inexpensive wines; the tank method where the secondary fermentation takes place as suggested in the tank before bottling; method champenoise or traditional method where the secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle; and the transfer method where the wine is transferred to bottle for the secondary fermentation, before being transferred back to tank after a suitable time spent on its lees.

1.Cava Robert J Mur

The first wine tasted Cava Robert J Mur was made by the more expensive traditional method and at £7.50 proved to be the most popular on the evening.

Made from 33% Xarel-lo, 33% Macabeo and 33% Parellada, all indigenous grapes, this is a fantastic value Cava which deservedly sells very well.

<img ” alt=”Prosecco Spumante DOCG Conegliano E Valdobbiadene Ca´ Morlin” src=”http://blog.nickollsandperks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Prosecco-Spumante-DOCG-Conegliano-E-Valdobbiadene-Ca-Morlin.jpg” width=”240″ height=”240″ /> Prosecco Spumante DOCG Conegliano E Valdobbiadene Ca´ Morlin £14.25

2. Prosecco Spumante DOCG Conegliano E Valdobbiadene Ca’ Morlin

The second wine certainly had its fans but was perhaps a little less expressive for most. With slightly tamer fizz and a touch more sweetness it was successfully recognised by the numerous Prosseco lovers. But at twice the price of the former was perhaps a little disappointing. Prosecco Spumante DOCG Conegliano E Valdobbiadene Ca’ Morlin (£14.25)

3.Castellblanch Cava Brut Rose

The Castellblanch Cava Brut Rose (£10.50) was as enchanting as ever, the Grenache grape full of strawberry notes works so well in sparking wine.

4.Coutelas Brut Origin

We were treated to mini hotdogs with the third wine, which was obviously a step up in complexity and recognised by many as champagne. The food matching was fun and certainly worked with the delicious Coutelas Brut Origin (£24.90), quite yeasty and full of flavour.

5.Champagne Palmer & Co Blanc de Blancs

It was eclipsed however by the fifth wine which for me was way out in front, I guessed it correctly as a Blanc de Blancs Champagne, slightly drier and subtler than the Coutelas with flowery aromas brioche and honey, excellent balance and really fine. It turned out to be a vintage Champagne, Champagne Palmer & Co Blanc de Blancs (£31.20), a real treat. It was paired very cleverly with salty chips a match made in heaven.

6. Valentin Bianchi Sparkling Brut

The final wine caught us all out, coming from Argentina, Valentin Bianchi Sparkling Brut (£11.10) a classic 50/50 Champagne blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, again from the traditional method it was yeasty, but lacked a little weight and complexity but good value all the same.

Next up Spanish wines Friday May 10th…

Special Offer: Try this great selection of Sparkling Wines  – a full case of twelve bottles (two of each) for just £214.80 and save 10% (£24).