New World sparkling wine isn’t my happiest hunting ground. But this is really good: full flavoured, complex, intense. I can’t find any UK stockists, but I reckon it will come in about the same price as Pelorus, the sparkling wine from Cloudy Bay.
Huia Blanc de Blancs 2004 Marlborough, New Zealand
A sparkling Chardonnay with the base wine aged in used French oak. Deep yellow colour. Lovely complex, toasty nose with notes of nuts, honey and vanilla, as well as fresh citrus fruit and some richer apricot character. The palate is powerful, savoury and spicy with bold toasty notes alongside fresh citrus fruit. Robust, full flavoured, complex and satisfying for current drinking. 91/100 (UK agent Bibendum Wine)
Find this wine with wine-searcher.com
3 Comments on A really good Kiwi fizz: Huia Blanc de Blancs 2004
This is indeed very good. It was on sale in the Bibendum summer sale last year for £9 per bottle – an absolute steal. The 2005 vintage is listed at £19.50. Another Kiwi sparkler to look out for is Hunter’s “Miru Miru” (the Maori word for bubbles), which usually retails for around £15/16. A lot of the best ones, such as those made by Daniel Le Brun under his “No 1 Family” label and some boutiques in Martinborough, are very hard to find over here.
I’ve still yet to try a bottle of NZ bubbles, but it’s not for want of trying it find it!
The 2005 is current release and I shall be trying it soon
Wish I’d bought a case of this at £9