…sangfroid nature

With summer in the air and festive cheer spreading around the country, this gives us another reason to celebrate, 25 years ago in July 1999, Adele & Daniel Le Brun released their new Méthode Traditionelle from a second wine venture called No.1 Family Estate. Since this time, their expressions have become a benchmark not only for Marlborough but the whole country.
All their wines are crafted from grapes grown in their own vineyards, situated in the renowned Wairau Valley in Marlborough. With all their grapes being hand harvested for each wine. After diligent and time-honoured vinification and then tirage before the secondary fermentation in bottle. With a backbone of Pinot Noir, a lavish amount of elegance from the Chardonnay and a soprano note from the Pinot Meunier. This cuvée has spent a respectful 3 years in the wings, on lees in their cellars waiting *(learning its lines…) for its moment to shine. The effort and attention to detail given by Daniel to this cuvée - you might expect to pay twice as much elsewhere. Is this the best value ‘Brut Nature’ Méthode Traditionnelle in New Zealand.
This cuvée is an ‘Extra Brut’ - not in nature, your mother won’t have to worry about you being alone with this effervescent character. It only has 3.4g/L of residual sugar, (so the sweetness only touches the lips, and not the hips) so no dosage, no liqueur d‘expedition was added. Daniel feels he has an honest expression - where the emperor actually doesn’t need any new clothes, and we actually want to see its pure form. This wine has the key elements for a dexterous synergy, the structure from Pinot Noir, the elegance of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier allure, like a bow at Christmas, a detail missed when not there.

★ You are welcomed by an energetic display of medium-to-small sized beading, before your glass glows peach gold with a persistent mousse dancing on the surface. On the enticing nose you have crème pâtissière au citron, almond biscotti and a note of freshly baked baguette. On the dancefloor that is your tongue - you have charming elegance, nimble and light-footed, gliding effortlessly due to the lavish mousse delivering a silky texture. You are then introduced to green melon, ripe apples and a chalky mineral seam due to is raw nature. The wine has a Betty Davis like poise due to a sangfroid, refined character, plus a passionate kiss of acidity and no added dosage, culminating in a definitive dry finish.

This No.1 Assemblé ‘Extra Brut’ NV has 12.5% Alc./vol. An 'Extra Brut' Style, with residual sugar of 3.4g/L. Chill gently and serve in a generously curved flute or an aromatic shaped wine glass at 8º- 10ºC. - *NZ$36.00

CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Article Posted 12/12/24)
Drinking perfectly now; plus, it will hold nicely for another 5 - 6 years.

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing with oysters, scallops, calamari, ceviche, salmon gravlax, sushi & sashimi, prawn & crab salad, crayfish / lobster, moules-frites, seared white fish fillets, lemon & basil gnocchi, along with an aged Parmesan cheese - enjoy.