April 15, 2024
We were not celebrating tax day, but rather “Locals Week” in the wineries. So we called up our friends the winery aficionados and headed to Sparkling Pointe, where they were offering two tastings for the price of one. Since both couples prefer to split tastings, it worked out perfectly.
The weather, in this fickle month of April, was also perfect, warm and sunny, so we opted to sit outside on their lovely terrace overlooking the vineyard. As soon as we settled ourselves, a waitress appeared with four glasses of their NV (non-vintage) Cuvée Carnaval Rosé, a “welcome toast” offered to everyone. More about that later.
After we told our waitress that we would be getting the two-for-one flights, the “Grand Tasting Flight,” ($25 for four tastes) plus a package of Z Crackers ($6), which were slim and light and salty, we began chatting. It had been a while since we were out together, so there was plenty to talk about, plus we always enjoy discussing various winery issues, such as price points. For example, we wonder whether North Fork wines tend to cost more than some similar wines from elsewhere due to the high cost of living on the Fork.
As we were chatting, a tall blond man came over to our table, and introduced himself as Tom Rosicki, one of the owners. We asked him about the Brazilian connection evident in the “Carnaval” names of some of his wines and some of the décor of the tasting room and shop. He said that he and his wife Cynthia, the inspiration for the name of his new favorite of their wines, had gone to Rio and fallen in love with the place and the people. Carnaval is a reference to what they call Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or Fat Tuesday, and is a huge celebration in Rio, with elaborate parades and costumes. “Guess how many times I’ve been there?” he asked. “Twenty?” Nope. “Sixty-three! And we’re going again next week.” He also pointed out a statue far away at the end of a row of vines, and informed us that it is a (small) replica of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue which has become a symbol of Rio, like the Eiffel Tower for Paris.
After he left our table, I wondered if his chattiness had anything to do with my notebook, but he then ambled over to the other tables on the terrace and visited with everyone else who was there. So I guess he just enjoys visiting with his guests. By the way, he also offered that the winery is a popular wedding venue.
Sparkling Pointe, as hinted in the name, only offers sparkling wines, which they can’t call champagnes, since only wines made in the Champagne region of France can bear that name, but the wines are made using the méthode champenoise, a traditional, hands-on method that produces champagne-like wines. Though we liked some of the wines better than others, and had some differences of opinion, overall we enjoyed the experience.
- NV Cuvée Carnaval Rosé ($36)
A blend of 39% pinot noir, 27% chardonnay, and 34% merlot, this is a good choice for a first impression, as it is definitely a crowd pleaser. It has the expected strawberry aroma and taste of a rosé, plus beautiful bubbles. It is dry, but not too dry, with a pleasant fruitiness.
2. 2019 Brut ($31)
I have had the opportunity to taste many variations on champagne, from a rather awful libation called Cold Duck to vintage Dom Perignon. This falls somewhere in the middle, more towards the Dom Perignon side of the range. Another blend, this time of 50% chardonnay, 36% pinot noir, and 14% pinot meunier, this tastes like a classic champagne, dry, with tastes of apple and pear, and it also has the characteristic yeasty aroma of sparkling wines, caused, I’ve been told, by the second fermentation in the bottle. I like it.
3. 2021 Topaz Impérial Brut Rosé ($44)
The waitress pours the last of the bottle into our glasses, and we wonder whether we are underwhelmed by this wine because it has been open too long. It has barely any bubbles, and not much taste. We much prefer the Carnaval Rosé (which is also cheaper). This wine blends 45% chardonnay, 40% pinot noir, and 15% pinot meunier.
4. 2018 Blanc de Blancs ($48)
True to its name, this is 100% chardonnay. We enjoy its warm yeasty aroma and tastes of apples and toast. The waitress mentions starfruit, but we’re not sure what that tastes like. As I recall, starfruit’s appearance is more dramatic than its taste. Nicely dry. I like this, too.
5. NV Cuvée Carnaval Blancs (30)
If you read my blog, you know I prefer dry wines to sweet ones, though I do make an exception for dessert wines. This is not quite as sweet as a dessert wine, but it is a bit sweet for my taste. It is a blend, again, of 47% pinot noir, 28% chardonnay, 23% merlot, and 2% muscat. Though muscat is such a small percentage of the mix, our friend wonders whether it contributes to the sweetness. I taste thyme honey and citrus.
Reasons to visit: you like sparkling wines (duh!); lovely patio and attractive tasting room; the Cuvée Carnaval Rosé and the 2019 Brut, in particular, though the only one we really did not care for was the Topaz Impérial Brut Rosé; no outside food allowed, but they do have a nice menu of cheeses and charcuterie and other snacks. No pets, and they request that children stay seated.
NoFo Wineaux 