Ace Of Spades Brut

Ace Of Spades Brut is a sparkling wine from Massachusetts, labeled Brut, the designation for a dry style. Under US and EU labeling conventions, Brut generally means less than about 12 grams of residual sugar per liter. That puts it on the drier side, though the listing doesn't give a dosage figure, a grape blend, or a production method. Wines in this style usually show crisp acidity, fine to moderate bubbles, and flavors of green apple, citrus, and pear. Depending on how long the wine rested on its lees, you may also find a light bread-dough or toasted note. Treat these as category expectations, not a measured profile of this bottle. New England is a cool growing region, and cool-climate fruit tends to give sparkling wines good natural acidity and a lean, refreshing finish. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 45°F (5 to 7°C). A couple of hours in the refrigerator works, or about 30 minutes in an ice bucket of half ice and half water. Colder than that mutes the aromas, and warmer tends to make the bubbles foamy and the acidity look sharper. Don't decant it, since sparkling wine loses its mousse quickly when poured from one vessel to another. Pour it straight from the bottle into a tulip-shaped glass or a standard flute. The tulip gives the aromas a little more room. A wide coupe will flatten the bubbles faster. At the table, Brut's acidity and lack of sweetness suit salty and fatty foods. Raw oysters, fried chicken, potato chips, buttery popcorn, and soft cheeses like brie or fresh goat cheese all work well. So do smoked salmon and shellfish in a light cream sauce. It also holds up through a meal's starters and appetizers. Avoid pairing it with dishes sweeter than the wine, which can make it taste thin and sour. Treat this as a drink-now bottle. Most non-vintage Brut sparkling wines are made to be enjoyed within a year or two of purchase. Nothing in the listing points to an aging-focused wine, so keep it in a cool, dark spot lying on its side or upright for short-term storage, and open it while the fruit and bubbles are at their liveliest.