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from heat radiated from the ground. Clearly it provides the best balance for Milazzo’s sparkling wines, and generally it should be earmarked for testing in other regions of the world where they might be facing hotter years, to slow down the shortening of the vine’s growth cycle. Specifically, here, it provides a stylish, clean, and long sparkling wine, with spicy complex notes that might be evolved, but it is not without freshness.
BEST TRENTODOC The shortlist: BEST IN CLASS TRENTODOC BRUT VINTAGE Endrizzi 2017 Piancastello Riserva BEST IN CLASS TRENTODOC BLANC DE BLANCS VINTAGE Ferrari Trento 2016 Perle in Magnum BEST IN CLASS TRENTODOC VINTAGE BLANC DE NOIRS Ferrari Trento 2013 Ferrari Perle Nero Riserva in Magnum BEST IN CLASS TRENTODOC ROSÉ VINTAGE Ferrari Trento 2016 Perle Rosé Riserva BEST ORGANIC TRENTODOC Maso Martis 2017 Blanc de Blancs Brut in Magnum
The winner:
Ferrari Trento 2013 Ferrari Perle Nero Riserva in Magnum Trentodoc, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy (150cl, 12.5% ABV) 100% Pinot Noir (White, 2.7g/l RS)
Gloriously fragrant and pristine aromas, with expressively toasty notes. Long, linear, and intense, with elegant, juicy fruit. Classy.
SPAIN BEST CAVA The shortlist: BEST IN CLASS CAVA BRUT NV Freixenet NV Cordon Negro Brut in Magnum BEST IN CLASS CAVA BRUT VINTAGE Bodegues Sumarroca 2015 Núria Claverol Homenatge BEST IN CLASS ORGANIC CAVA U Mes U 2018 Larus Rara Avis Collection
The winner:
Freixenet NV Cordon Negro Brut in Magnum DO Cava, Cataluña, Spain (150cl, 11.5% ABV) 50% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-Lo, 25% Parellada (White, 9g/l RS)
Lovely, toasty aromas bring a classic dimension to the traditional terpenic style of this wine. Crispy, crunchy fruit. This is easygoing on the palate yet developing some complexity on the finish.
BEST CORPINNAT
Llopart 2017 Panoramic Imperial Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain (75cl, 11.5% ABV) 50% Xarel-lo, 40% Macabeo, 10% Parellada (White, 6g/l RS)
Clean, crisp, and fresh, with an elegant restraint on the nose and a smooth, caressing mousse. Nicely balanced, with a pleasing texture and extreme length.
30 | THE WORLD OF FINE WINE | ISSUE 79 | 2023 NATIONAL TROPHIES
BEST AUSTRALIAN SPARKLING WINE The shortlist: BEST IN CLASS AUSTRALIAN BRUT VINTAGE Bream Creek Vineyard 2016 Cuvée Traditionelle BEST IN CLASS AUSTRALIAN BLANC DE BLANCS Swift 2011 Blanc de Blancs BEST IN CLASS AUSTRALIAN BRUT NATURE House of Arras 2006 EJ Carr Late Disgorged in Magnum
The winner:
Swift 2011 Blanc de Blancs Orange, New South Wales, Australia (75cl, 12% ABV) 100% Chardonnay (White, 5g/l RS)
Nicely evolved nose, with notes of wheat, coffee, and cream. Fresh, yeast-complexed, coconutty Chardonnay fruit on a rounded palate, softly supported by a gentle mousse. Undeniably Australian.
Sauska NV Brut in Magnum Tokaj, Hungary (150cl, 11.5% ABV) 60% Furmint, 30% Hárslevelű, 10% Chardonnay (White, 11g/l RS)
Last year, Sauska caused a shock when it took the National Trophy away from Kreinbacher after a succession of wins. Now Sauska has done it again. Will Kreinbacher fight back? If so, it will have to fight hard. This delicious wine is so very fresh and expressively fruity on the nose, with
Gloriously fragrant and pristine aromas, with expressively toasty notes. Long, linear, and intense, with elegant, juicy fruit
USA BEST CALIFORNIA SPARKLING WINE The shortlist: BEST IN CLASS CALIFORNIA BLANC DE BLANCS VINTAGE Caraccioli 2016 Blanc de Blancs BEST IN CLASS CALIFORNIA BRUT VINTAGE Caraccioli 2016 Brut Cuvée BEST IN CLASS CALIFORNIA ROSÉ VINTAGE Caraccioli 2016 Brut Rosé
The winner:
Caraccioli 2016 Blanc de Blancs Santa Lucia Highlands, California, United States (75cl, 12% ABV) 100% Chardonnay (White, 6g/l RS)
Classic, complete, and satisfying, with jasmine and a touch of pineapple adding primary notes of complexity to the fruit. Soft and cushiony mousse, with very good length.
BEST BULGARIAN SPARKLING WINE
Midalidare Estate NV Sparkling Wine Gold in Magnum Thracian Lowlands, Bulgaria (150cl, 12% ABV) 100% Chardonnay (White, 5.6g/l RS)
Beautiful toasty aromas, with fresh and zesty, multilayered fruit on the palate. Lovely flintiness. Midalidare is the sole oasis of world-quality classic brut-style sparkling wine in Bulgaria. There are many fine-wine producers of other styles in this country, and it is about time that the most enterprising among those should see the potential and have a go themselves.
BEST ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE The shortlist: BEST IN CLASS ENGLISH BRUT NV Hattingley Valley Wines NV Classic Reserve in Magnum BEST IN CLASS ENGLISH BRUT VINTAGE Gusbourne 2018 Brut Reserve BEST IN CLASS ENGLISH ROSÉ VINTAGE Gusbourne 2018 Rosé BEST IN CLASS ENGLISH BLANC DE BLANCS Gusbourne 2018 Blanc de Blancs BEST IN CLASS ENGLISH BLANC DE NOIRS Simpsons Wine Estate 2018 Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs
The winner:
Simpsons Wine Estate 2018 Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs Kent, England (75cl, 12.5%) 100% Pinot Noir (White, 6g/l RS)
In 2019, Simpsons won Best in Class English Sparkling Wine Newcomer, and just three years later it has picked up the coveted National Trophy. I have always emphasized that the best English sparkling-wine producers are the new kids on the block (from and including Nyetimber), and those in the pipeline and Simpsons are proof of that. The cooler the climate, the harder it is to produce a blanc de noirs without a niggling hint of phenolic oxidation, but this 2018 is almost perfect. Lovely and light for a pure Pinot Noir, this pale-lemon beauty has a precociously toasty nose with fleeting notes of coffee, and bright red fruit on the palate. Very fresh and elegant. Fruity and juicy. Long and linear. Impressive indeed.
BEST FRENCH SPARKLING WINE Dom Ruinart 2010 Blanc de Blancs See Regional Deluxe Champagne Trophy. BEST HUNGARIAN SPARKLING WINE
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