Rating: NNN
WHAT: Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee (sparkling) Rating: NNN
WHERE: Australia
THE DAMAGE: $14.25, LCBO #210633
THE NOTES: Irrepressible Antipodean character asserts itself with a touch of mango in the bouquet and a similar tropical enthusiasm on the palate that tells you you’re not in France any more. Nice mousse, aka bubbles.
THE SCENE: You’ve dressed up, set the table and cooked your signature dish. You could crack a bottle of red or white, but this is a real romance multiplier. With Champagne grapes and Champagne methods but Aussie ripeness, this versatile bubbly is a good answer to “What wine goes with that?”