In the sparkling wine test in Iltalehti, 16 different sparkling wines were tasted.
Sparkling wine is part of the celebration, so graduation with bubbles is also congratulated. Of course, bubbles can be used to celebrate other good moments in life – or just a beautiful summer day.
If you’re wondering which of Alko’s countless sparkling wines to choose, you’ll find out after reading this story.
This is how the test was done
Iltalehti asked three wine professionals to list their own sparkling wine favorites in two different categories: 10–15 euros, 15–25 euros.
The sparkling wine jury of Iltalehti included the wine bar Juhan Patjas, a wine bar, and wine experts Sanna Pöyry and Essi Avella. Inka Soveri
For each category of jurors, a wine expert, Master of Wine Essi Avellanwine expert Sanna Pöyry and the wine bar Vin-Vin winemaker Juhana Patjas, gave three of their own favorites, unaware of each other ‘s choices. Indeed, a few wines were proposed by two councilors, and another was asked for a new proposal.
Wine Bar The blind tasting at Vin-Vin ended up with 7 cheaper sparkling wines and 9 more expensive sparkling wines.
The wines were tasted blindly the wines were given stars from one to five.
Since all the sparkling wines tasted are the testers ’own favorites, the wines are good, even if there are no winning wines in this test.
The tasting was done blindly. Inka Soveri
The stars received by the wines were scaled to fit both price categories. More was demanded for more expensive wines.
Here come the winners
The South African Pongrácz Méthode Cap Classique Brut won the series of affordable wines. However, it exceeded the 15 euro limit by 98 cents.
The second highest number of stars (* * * ½) was given to two wines, the rest receiving three stars. The range of more affordable wines was very even.
Wine experts gave 1-5 stars to 16 sparkling wines. Inka Soveri
In the more expensive sparkling wines, the real surprise was the Hungarian Sauska. The quality of the wine is the responsibility of a respected Champagne cellar master Old Camus.
It took a clear victory with five stars. The wine is in Alko’s order selection, so it must be ordered separately.
Four stars received the Italian rose Rotari Gran Rosé Brut and the French André Delorme Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs Brut.
It is noteworthy that the rosee was the only Italian wine in the test. There were no prosecco on the list that had become a favorite of Finns, but instead wine experts had selected a large number of cavos for the test.
There was only one Italian sparkling wine in the test, and neither was Prosecco. Inka Soveri
There were no bad wines in the whole test. Only one cava was found to have the occasional defect in native wines (to which no sulphites have been added), i.e. a mouse-like feeling that seems like an unpleasant stale aftertaste, so it got the worst score for this reason.
10-15 euro sparkling wines in random order. Inka Soveri
Sparkling wines 10–15 euros
Pongrácz Méthode Cap Classique Brut, South Africa
Price: 15.98 €
Stars: * * * *
Ratings:
– Slight layered taste, yeasty nuances, spices and toast.
– The smell is clean and fresh. Stylish sparkling wine.
– Light taste. Quite short, but pleasant, creaminess.
– Makoisa. Perky acids. Pleasantly sour aftertaste.
Sumarroca Gran Reserva Cava Brut Nature 2018, Spain
Price: € 14.49
Stars: * * * ½
Ratings:
– Cavine-like spicy and earthy scent.
– Pleasant scent with a little depth.
– Bright essence. Nice little spicy bite. Good fruit
– Lots of sweet fruit. Rich, sweet and round taste.
– Clean and fresh scent. Apples and citrus.
Albet i Noya Can Vendrell Estate Brut Reserva Organic 2019, Spain
Price: 14.70 €
Stars: * * * ½
Ratings:
– Pleasant and neutral scent. On balance.
– Pure scent. Apples and lemon. Thin toast. Balanced.
– The smell is mild and quite sophisticated. There is more power in the taste. Good posture and acidity.
– Brisk foam, nice bustle and freshness.
Vilarnau Organic Cava Brut Nature, Spain
Price: € 11.99
Stars: * * *
Ratings:
– A youthful pear scent with earthy spiciness. Light whole and gentle acids.
– Clean, easy to drink.
– Uncomplicated and comfortable whole. Okay fresh end.
– Very dry, simple, well made, clean.
Parés Baltà ‘b’ Cava Brut, Spain
Price: € 13.49
Stars: * * *
Ratings:
– There is a shy toast in the scent. An energetic flavor that could have a little more depth in the fruit.
– Rich, yet fresh scent. Pear. apple, light citrus. Nice acids with enough length.
– Basic good. Spiciness takes over.
– Simple, light toast.
Bernard-Massard Cuvée de l’Ecusson Brut, Luxembourg
Price: 14.98 €
Stars: * * *
Ratings:
– Very light color. Mild but fresh scent. Nice nuance of burnt sugar.
– The smell is slightly sweet.
– The taste is dry, pear, lightly candy.
– Slightly aggressive effervescence and stronger taste. Dry end.
Bestheim Crémant Extra Brut, France
Price: 14.98 € (order selection)
Stars: * * *
Ratings:
– Expressive aroma with autumn apples and vanilla and mead. This lacks energy.
– Fresh and clean scent.
– Delicious scent. The acids are in place. Heard aftertaste that attracts.
– A real treat.
15-25 euro sparkling wines in random order. Inka Soveri
15-25 euros for sparkling wines
Sauska Brut, Hungary
Price: 19.95 € (order selection)
Stars: * * * * *
Ratings:
– Energy packaging. Well made wine. Delicious fruit.
– Fruit, tender toast. Stylish sparkling wine
– Great smell. Great elegant personality. Smooth firm taste.
Rotari Gran Rosé Brut 2016, Italy
Price: 15.98 €
Stars: * * * *
Ratings:
– Good taste, super delicious fruit. Very well made wine.
– Mild strawberry scent. Napakat acids, lively wine.
– Very fresh and quite neutral.
André Delorme Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs Brut, France
Price: € 19.99
Stars: * * * *
Ratings:
– Clean and elegant scent. It has white flowers and citrus.
– The aroma is tropical fruit. Fresh and good.
– Balanced. Vivid acids.
– Succulent. Tastes fine, ripe fruit.
Raventos i Blanc Blanc de Blancs Brut 2019, Spain
Price: 21.99 € (order selection)
Stars: * * * ½
Ratings:
– Pleasant aroma, sophisticated sensitivity.
– Sleek and very balanced.
– Strong smell of burnt sugar. Very sour taste.
– The taste is apple, citrus and a little almond.
Exploring Gran Reserva Cava Brut Nature 2017, Spain
Price: 19.91 €
Stars: * * *
Ratings:
– Bright, elegant scent. Flowers, pear and yellow apple.
– The taste is slightly pungent, yeasty and very dry.
– The taste has good yellow fruit and purity. Little one. Wins me to his side.
– The taste is dry. The aroma is citrus and delicate almond.
Filipa Pato 3b Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, Portugal
Price: 20.90 € (order selection)
Stars: * * *
Ratings:
– A very personal scent. Fun mousse and mouthfeel. Nice wine.
– Clean.
– An evolving scent with a nutty and yeasty essence.
– Acidic and natural. Super dry taste.
Bestheim Grand Prestige Crémant d’Alsace Brut 2014, France
Price: 20.98 €
Stars: * * ½
Ratings:
– Clean, good ripening taste of ripe fruit.
– Rich, sweet-fruity essence.
– Cider-like fruit. Tasty.
– Harmonious, nice acids.
Yarrabank Late Disgorged Brut Nature 2010, Australia
Price: € 24.98
Stars: * * ½
Ratings:
– A special scent. A succulent taste that is much better than the scent.
– A really rich, slightly courting scent with toffee as well. Taste in the same line.
– Delightfully fresh aftertaste.
– The aroma is open and ripe fruity. Taste a little sweet, not in balance.
Els Vinyerons Pregadeu Cava Brut Nature 2019, Spain
Price: 25.99 € (order selection)
Stars: * ½
Ratings:
– There is depth in the color. The aftertaste is horrible. The wine is spoiled.
– Stagnation, no balance. Does not work.
– The aftertaste is rough: like a jute tickle.
– Strange scent reminiscent of pine soap.
Have you heard of English sparkling wines?
If you really like sour sparkling wines, you should try the English ones. They are even more acidic than champagnes, says a champagne specialist specializing in English sparkling wines Sanna Pöyry.
Few people know these English delicacies, although Pöyry praises them as very good and varied wines.
Gastronomic wines go well with many summer delicacies. For example, fish, seafood and vegetables work great. A good combination is fish and chips, as the acids cut off the fatness of the pan.
However, the sparkling wines of the island state are quite expensive.
Pöyry attributes the high production costs to the reason.
– I fully understand that if you do not know wine, there is a big threshold to buy 40-50 euros of sparkling wine.
Pöyry recommends tasting these three English sparkling wines:
Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Brut (€ 44.89). Order selection. Half a size of 0.375 l is also available in this sparkling wine, which is standard.
Ridgeview Bloomsbury Brut (€ 38.86) Selection
Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs Brut 2014 (55,99 €) Order selection
Sparkling wines are suitable for both food and consumption. Inka Soveri
The story was originally published on May 28, 2022.