Pick of the Best – Oliver vs Christopher – Brut Nature

This is the second article in the Pick of the Best series, we’ve both picked one bottle of award winning Sparkling Wine that we’ve very much enjoyed and we’ll showcase it to each other, this time we’ve both chosen a Brut Nature Sparkling Wine and we’ll see if we can be persuaded by the other to switch sides.

The Sparkling Wines which we’ve chosen are for our own reasons, whether it be because of the aromas and flavours inside the bottle, the way they make their wines or the label that entices you into buying it.

Watch the showdown in this video here or read on to find out the conclusion.

We’re going to do this on an honest points system, so each wine will be judged on the following:

• The Label
• The Capsules
• The Colour
• The Bubbles
• The Aroma
• The Flavour
• Plus Experience at the Winery

Oliver’s Pick of the Best

Located in Breede River Valley in South Africa, Graham Beck was founded in 1983.

One of the most well known and respected South African Sparkling Wines, made in the Cape Classic Method, aka the Traditional Method, the Graham Beck family has a history dating back to 1983, when the late Graham Beck purchased a farm called Madiba, just outside of Robertson, a town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

The Beck family has dedicated themselves to the world of bubbles, embracing the characters from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, in their highly prestigious Méthode Cap Classique production.

Graham Beck was an entrepreneur with success stories within property and coal mining, his global business ventures enabled him to pursue two great passions successfully – wine and horses/horse racing, both of which continue today in the hand of his son Antony.

Graham Beck: “Passionately pursuing the perfect bubble.”

If you would like to find out more about Graham Beck then you can check out this article, Graham Beck – The Bubbly Story.

Graham Beck – Ultra Brut 2016 – South Africa

Aroma 👃 “Seashells, oyster shells, minerals, salty sea air with fresh green apple juice on the aroma.”

Flavour 👅 “Minerals, citrus and fruit, green apples, lime, lemon and gooseberry on the palate.”

Christopher’s Pick of the Best

Radgonske Gorice is the oldest Sparkling Wine producer in Slovenia, they started producing wine over 160 years ago in 1852 and they now produce approximately 4,500,000 liters of wine every year, with a production that high, it makes sense that Radgonske Gorice is the largest producer of Sparkling Wine in Slovenia.

Instead of standing still, Radgonske Gorice is in the middle of setting a trend, they have produced a very unique Sparkling Wine, they have produced the world’s first Untouched by Light Sparkling Wine, harvested with night vision goggles, produced in darkness and bottled in black bottles surrounded by a black vacuum-sealed bag, it’s a very enjoyable experience, making a perfect gift, but if you don’t want to miss out, buy one for yourself.

Check out Untouched by Light – The World’s First Sparkling Wine Made, Sold & Tasted in Complete Darkness if you’re interested in discovering this one-of-a-kind Sparkling Wine.

Radgonske Gorice – Penina Millesime 2008 Brut Nature – Slovenia

Aroma 👃 “Rich and rounded citrus, lemon with a hint of yellow floral and a touch of pastry on the aroma.”

Flavour 👅 “Fizzy citrus, matured, aging to perfection, lemon, yellow apples and yellow fruits on the palate.”

Gold Classic & Elegant at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2021

Results

• The Label – Radgonske Gorice
• The Capsules – Graham Beck
• The Colour – Radgonske Gorice
• The Bubbles – Radgonske Gorice
• The Aroma – Graham Beck
• The Flavour – Radgonske Gorice
• Plus Experience at the Winery – Radgonske Gorice
• Bonus Food Pairing Points
• Mini Pizza – Radgonske Gorice
• Cheese & Salmon Cracker – Graham Beck

Total Points – Radgonske Gorice 6 Points / Graham Beck 3 Points

Well done for a fantastic display from both Sparkling Wines, but a hearty congratulations to Radgonske Gorice represented by Christopher, they’ve won our second Pick of the Best showdown, stay tuned for some more fun here at Glass of Bubbly, with our next Pick of the Best tasting, which will have us pairing off two Sparkling Rosés. So until next time, Enjoy the Fizz!