*** I received this wine as a sample. ***
Long-time readers know about my wine ladies…the fantastic group of 5 women that live in my condo building and that I get together with monthly to share wine, indulge in delicious food, and talk. It’s hard to believe this group has been getting together regularly for over year, but in that time, we’ve gone from the awkwardness of getting to know each other beyond our love of wine to a fully-blossomed friendship. That’s why when one of the women was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall, we all rallied around her. We did a group wig shopping trip to help her pick out her fabulous new ‘do. In smaller groups, we’ve gone grocery shopping with her when she needed an extra hand. And, when she found herself sick enough to be in the hospital, we visited and brought care-packages to help her feel a little more comfortable.
Valdo Nerello Mascalese Brut Rosé
This wine lady happens to be the one we all associate with bubbly. Not that we don’t all like sparkling wine, but it is, without a doubt, her favorite. That’s why, when she was released from the hospital a couple of weeks ago, it seemed only natural for the 6 of us to gather in her house after work on a Wednesday for a sparkly welcome home toast.
I brought the Valdo Nerello Mascalese Brut Rosé (website), which is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Glera grapes. The wine had a medium blush color with a generous amount of tiny, persistent bubbles. On the nose, there was the slightest hint of raspberries, apples, and yeast. In the mouth, there was a hint of raspberries, rose petal, apples, and yeast, followed by a touch of something green and stem-like. The sparkly had a light-to-medium body and good acidity.
Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At an SRP of $13, this bubbly did the trick, although there wasn’t much too the wine itself. In some ways, it was almost too subtle, since I really had to work to try and discern any aromas or flavors. That said, it was the perfect, pink way for the wine ladies to gather for an hour, chat, welcome our friend home, and toast to her health.
Question of the Day: Are you friendly with your neighbors or are most of the folks in your community the “get-off-my-lawn” type?
Suggested Retail Price: $13
Received as a sample.
Overall: 3 Corks
Great neighbours are hard to come by, and can be such a blessing. I’m so happy you found 5 others that are so great.
We used to have a very close-knit community, but since moving we haven’t found our niche in the neighbourhood just yet. We’ve got a mixture of the nosey, long talkers, and the curt wave & hello but no further conversation types. Noone that likes drinking wine so far!
Hi Courtney…I definitely feel fortunate to have met my wine ladies. Moving away from a close-knit community is tough, particularly when the new neighborhood isn’t nearly as inviting. And, how can they not be wine drinkers…wine brings everyone together!