Sparkling + Rosé = Celebrate Spring and Summer with BC Wine

It is Spring now, the cherry blossoms have passed, we are getting into our gardens and summer is one month away.  It is time to get outside on our patios and enjoy some tasty BC wine.  I think sparkling wine and Rosé wine fits the bill (white too).  I received a bottle of Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut Nature Zero Dosage Organic sparkling wine and a bottle of Spearhead Winery Pinot Noir Rosé 2020.  The Rosé is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, while the sparkling wine is made with a blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay.  I picked these two wines as suggestions for Spring and Summer sippers with food as we have lots of fresh BC seafood, spot prawns right now, and should start getting lettuces and other early maturing vegetables for salads that together will make lovely accompaniments to these types of wines.  Let me tell you about these two wines.

My Wine Tasting Notes

 Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut Nature Zero Dosage Organic Sparkling Wine, NV (BC $30)

Zero Dosage means that there is no additional Dosage, wine + sugar, added to the bottle once it has been disgorged, so the wine should be 100% dry. This is an interesting wine as it is a blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay.  Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are common grapes for sparkling wines, but not Riesling or Pinot Blanc, at least in BC.  These two grapes add different aroma and flavour profiles to the sparkling wine.  This wine is organic and is suitable for vegans.

Appearance: A pale lemon in colour, with no mousse after being poured in the glass.
Nose: Medium intensity mix of lemon, petrol (from the Riesling), brioche and lees.
Palate: This wine is very dry, with a high level of acidity.  Small, almost creamy bubble.  It does have some creamy texture.  Pronounced lemon and petrol flavours, along with a hint of floral and peach.  There is a mix of stoniness and steeliness toward the finish.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with stoniness and steeliness, and light lingering flavour of lemon and a touch of pears.

Rating: A very dry sparkling wine with pronounced lemon and petrol aromas and flavours.  A high level of acidity but still some creamy texture.  Not heavy, so easy to finish a bottle. Try with crab cakes.

Spearhead Winery Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 (BC $23)

This wine is hand-harvested, destemmed and crushed to ferment in small stainless steel tanks. The grapes are cold-soaked with skins for 48 hours to extract the desired colour and light phenolics then gently pressed, settled and cold fermented to dryness. 542 cases produced.

Appearance: A bright, medium intensity red rhubarb and crushed strawberry colour.
Nose: A medium intensity nose with rhubarb, red fruits, and red cherry aromas.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-bodied, very smooth and round, with lower acidity.  No tannins to mention.  Delicious red fruits, red cherries, some candied red cherries, rhubarb and cut red apple.  The red fruit gets a little tart starting on the mid-palate.  
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with a mix of sweet and tart red fruits. 

Rating: –   This is a delicious Rosé wine. Buy multiple bottles.  The red fruits and rhubarb aromas and flavours are enticing as well as the very smooth mouthfeel.  Try with a salad topped with goat cheese and grilled shrimps.

Where Can I Buy These Wines?

You can purchase the  Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut Nature Zero Dosage Organic Sparkling Wine via their website.  You can purchase the Spearhead Winery Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 at their website and via Everything Wine and BC Liquor Stores.