Weingut Gruner Reserve Brut

Weingut Gruner Reserve Brut is a sparkling wine from Massachusetts, made under the Esplanda label. "Brut" is the dry end of the sparkling sweetness scale, with very little residual sugar (under 12 grams per litre). The wine should taste crisp and clean rather than sweet. The listing doesn't name the grape blend, the production method, the vintage or the alcohol level, so the notes below describe what Brut-style sparklers usually offer. They are not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect green apple, pear and citrus, possibly with a light bread-dough or toasty note if it spent time on its lees. Bubbles typically carry brisk acidity and a light to medium body, and the finish is dry and fairly short. Sparkling wine has no meaningful tannin. Oak is generally absent or subtle in this style. Brut's acidity and carbonation cut through fat and salt, so it suits fried foods, buttery pastry, oysters and other raw shellfish, smoked salmon, soft triple-cream cheeses, and salty snacks such as popcorn or potato chips. It also works with sushi and with lightly dressed seafood salads. A Brut with a little more weight can handle roast chicken or creamy pasta. Very sweet desserts will make a dry sparkler taste tart, so keep it for the start of a meal or for savory courses. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 47°F (4 to 8°C). A few hours in the refrigerator or about 30 minutes in an ice bucket filled with ice and water will get it there. Decanting isn't needed and would flatten the bubbles. A tulip-shaped glass or a white wine glass shows the aromas better than a wide coupe, and it keeps the bubbles lively longer. Hold the bottle at an angle and ease the cork out gently so the wine doesn't foam over. This is a drink-now bottle. Sparkling wines in this style are made for current enjoyment rather than long cellaring, so open it within a year or two of purchase and store it cool, dark and on its side.