Just Sparklings

By Andrea La Forgia - Special Contributor in Buenos Aires
Sommelier de Cava

Cruzat is a winery which is dedicated exclusively to the production of sparkling wines only by champenoise or classic method.
In this event, that took place at Ser y Tiempo, a small and warm wine bar and resto in Palermo, Buenos Aires city, we could taste 12 different sparkling wines of the three commercial segments.
In this case we found Premier, which stays for a year on lees, that is to say, in contact with the yeast after finishing its second fermentation. Also Premier especial which has limited number of bottles produced and Cuvée which stays for two years on lees.
These wines with bubbles come from different areas in Mendoza as well, making the characteristics of the terroir express clearly.
The most interesting moment was when we could taste four base wines, that means, wines obtained after the first fermentation and before going under the second one, imagining the final result. And of course, we confirmed such result after tasting the finished sparkling wines. In this way, from four different bottles without a commercial label we tasted two samples of Chardonnay and another two of Pinot Noir after the first fermentation, from the regions Lujan de Cuyo and from Valle de Uco. 
We continued tasting the final Sparklings that are made of varying percentages of these varietals.
This unusual experience was very well explained together with the details of the production process by the winemaker Lorena Mulet.
In the following sparkling wines we sensed their differences, due to the percentage of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, or the quantity of sugar added, being classified as Brut, Extra Brut , Demi Sec or Nature, in this case with no addition of sugar.
All of them are under the guidance of Pedro Rosell Boher, who obviously will never reveal the secret of the liquor added at the end of the process.
Finally, we had the opportunity  of tasting Cuvée Milesime from the region of Gualtallary, a no sugar added 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay. 
Quality and elegance for the most exquisite palates.

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