Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut NV

Henry of Pelham Family Estate
Cuvée Catharine Brut NV
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
www.henryofpelham.com

$30-35 +616441 available at select private liquor stores

This past weekend the local wineratti descended on Whistler for the annual Cornucopia weekend. One part tastings, one part dinners, one (larger) part partying, Cornucopia is about indulging all the senses, and this year’s event was no exception.

One of my favourite seminars this year was East Meets West – Best of the Canadian Wine Awards, presented by an all star panel of Canadian wine judges. The annual Wine Access Magazine ranking of Canada’s top wines and wineries was condensed for the crowd, and merits discussed by WA contributors DJ Kearney, Sid Cross, Rhys Pender and Tom Firth. This Ontario sparkling wine stole the seminar for me.

Henry of Pelham Family Estate has been owned and operated by the Speck family since 1988, but their connections to the land reach back far further than that. The winery was founded by brothers Paul, Matthew and Daniel Speck on the limestone bench land that was deeded to their great, great, great grandfather, Henry Smith, in 1794. Cuvée Catharine is in dedication to his wife Catharine, and this lovely sparkling wine is a beautiful brut tribute. This Traditional Method blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is aged en triage (on the lees) for 24-30 months. Toast and apple aromas are echoed on the medium bodied palate, with more creamy lees and bright, meyer lemon acidity. There’s a fluid seamlessness to this wine – round in the mouth, with fresh juicy fruit and fantastic minerality on the lingering finish.  They also make a Rose Brut NV (more Pinot Noir than Chardonnay) and for next year’s 25^th anniversary, they’re releasing a vintage dated Blanc de Blanc (all Chardonnay) tete de cuvée which will have seen 60 months of bottle aging. Though you can’t find the other bubbles in BC (grr), Cuvée Catharine Brut is available in limited quantities (yea!). Terrific value for only $30 – if you see this bottle, buy it.

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Henry of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut NV

This Traditional Method blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is aged en triage (on the lees) for 24-30 months. Toast and apple aromas are echoed on the medium bodied palate, with more creamy lees and bright, meyer lemon acidity. There’s a fluid seamlessness to this wine – round in the mouth, with fresh juicy fruit and fantastic minerality on the lingering finish.