US Report

I was in the US this past weekend and tried a couple of things I hadn't seen before.

The first was an oddball item. Every year, they flood Fenway Park in Boston and allow the NHL to play an outdoor game there. In conjunction with this, they release a sparkling wine - in 2010 it was the Bruins vs the Flyers and the wine was from Woodbridge Champagne (California). I had no idea they either played hockey at Fenway or connected a sparkling wine to it, so this caught my interest when I saw it at the store. I asked the owner if the wine was any good, and he assured me that they wouldn't sell something undrinkable for such a special event. He lied. The wine was so sweet that my husband and I only managed a few sips each before pouring the bottle out. It was absolutely dreadful. I'm thinking they must make this as a collector's item - the kind of thing you buy as a souvenir to leave on a shelf rather than to drink.

The next bottle was much better - the 2005 Estate Grown Brut Rose from Soter Vineyards (Oregon). Before I sing its praises, I have to say that it was completely oversold to me - the shop owner said that it compares favourably to the Billecart-Salmon rose. They are not at all alike. The Soter lacks the richness, balance, and finish of the Billecart-Salmon. It was also much shorter on bubbles. That said, it had a wonderful black cherry and cranberry flavour, which intensified as the wine warmed - the pinot noir that we love from Oregon coming through very clearly in this sparkler. I think it's pricey in the mid-$40 range - especially considering I can get the Roger Legros Rose for less and it's as-good if not better - but a good sparkler to have tried.