Mumm Napa Prestige Cuvée NV
- 93
- $55
- Drink by: 2024-2029
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We don’t see a lot of sparklers from the Napa Valley in California, which is rather a shame as there are some excellent ones made. Just as the great Champagne Houses did a few decades ago in Australia, a number of them have established operations in California and Mumm is one of them, among the most active with their Mumm Marlborough, Mumm Central Otago and Mumm Tasmania. Their Napa Prestige Cuvée is now available locally. It is a blend of 49% Pinot Noir and 46% Chardonnay with small amounts of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris making up the shortfall. The wine sends two years on lees and has a dosage of a tick over 10 grams/litre. Impressive sparkler. A deep gold hue, the nose tends to the stonefruits end of the spectrum. Figs and peaches, a riper style, full of flavour with quite a biscuity edge. A wine of decent length, clean and with refreshing acidity. Quite delicious, this will provide pleasure for the next four to five years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
