While I enjoy bubbly in all its guises, I must admit to it being a wine style I don’t drink all that often. This summer though, the allure of bubbles has well and truly captured me, either shared with friends or simply at home with family. A trio of pairs today, led by a new company combining great ingredients and cool packaging: canned bubbly — great for a picnic — or a glass with your loved one. Two fresh, vibrant Pet-Nats follow, while two classic methode traditionelle styles showcase their charms. Something for everyone. NV The Uncommon Wine of NZ Sauvignon Blanc Bubbly 250 ml can Price RRP $29.99 4 pack Rating Very Good to Excellent Fresh & fruity nose, hints of grass and gooseberry, snowpea. Fruit sweetness, a hint of wine gums, underlying grassy notes, evolving to tropical fruit notes (pineapple) with time. A tingly quality and a tangy touch that neatly counters the sweetness. Playful and very nicely done as there’s some good ingredient here. Uncommonly good… www.wearetheuncommon.co.nz NV The Uncommon Wine of NZ Sauvignon Pinot Noir Rose Bubbly 250 ml can Price RRP $29.99 4 pack Rating Very Good to Excellent A deeper register to this, red berries, florality, strawberry. Mixed berries and cream on the palate, a touch drier than its Sav Blanc sibling, and nicely balanced. Fresh, effervescent, and a chewy hint to keep it interesting. A touch more serious but still fun drinking. Nice concept, cool packaging, excellent visual & flavour appeal. www.wearetheuncommon.co.nz 2022 Hunters Offshoot Pet-Nat Price RRP $24.90 Rating Excellent Attractively vibrant nose, hints of musk, a wisp of funk, grassy notes, lovely freshness too. Fresh, vibrant, grassy, gooseberry, bready elements, the Sav Blanc becoming more evident on nose and palate. Fruit sweetness yet dry. Tangy, zesty, crisp, wears its heart on its sleeve. Would be delicious alfresco on a summer’s day. www.hunters.co.nz 2021 Judge Rock Guilty Pet-Nat Price RRP $29.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Pale orangey-peach hue. Yeasty nose, marmitey tang, white flowers, summer fruits. Fresh, bright, a fruit jube-like sweet note leads the way evolving to a tangy ‘sour worms’-like quality that brings a lovely vibrancy. Adds an almondy nuttiness to the close. Cloudy with the natural yeast. Effervescent, pleasure in a glass that demands another sip. www.judgerock.co.nz NV Hunters Miru Miru Price RRP $29.90 Rating Very Good to Excellent Subtle nose at first, quietly expressive, opening up nicely to bready elements, peach fuzz & citrus. Carries those qualities on to the palate, the citrusy element grows with aeration as the palate builds in flavour intensity and length. Wonderfully fresh. A bright line of acidity would make a nice foil for the oiliness in smoked salmon. www.hunters.co.nz 2017 Quartz Reef Blanc de Blancs Methode Traditionelle Price RRP $85 Rating Excellent Fragrant lift, warm baguette, oatmeal, biscuity moving to lemon and a tangy nuance. Racy, crisp, drive and energy with an almondy bittersweet touch on the close. Among a flight of kiwi methode I have to re-calibrate my palate: drier and tauter, not as immediately accessible, but shone with food later. www.quartzreef.co.nz
