The Tasting: Wines of California-Finke's Widow Sparkling White Blend & Folly of the Beast Pinot Noir |Aubrey Stout

Finke's Widow Sparkling White Blend - A crisp, bright California bubbly from the Winc wine company. ​

The fruit is sourced from all over California, and the brand makes three bubbly cuvees: a 100% Chardonnay, a 100% Chenin Blanc, and this blend of the two, 60% Chenin and 40% Chardonnay.  This bubbly is more about fresh fruit than yeasty complexity, but there is a hint of minerality from the Chenin Blanc, along with that characteristic lanolin musk often found in Chenin.  The Chardonnay provides elegance along with vibrant, crisp Granny Smith apple and lemon zest flavors.  This is the perfect everyday bubbles to grab when you want something different than a Prosecco but don't want to spring for big girl Champagne.  You get French grapes planted in California soil -- a perfect pairing to make a New World bubbles with youthful vibrancy and Old World roots.

Folly of the Beast Pinot Noir - This pretty Pinot Noir from Winc is the result of a sort of Moby Dick quest to find the "white whale" of affordable, quality Pinot Noir.  The Central Coast is a natural place to look -- foggy mornings and sunny afternoons contribute to the slow ripening that coaxes complexity out of the difficult, thin-skinned Pinot grape.  The wine, once fermented, ages in used and a little new French oak to bring out more rich, silky spice notes.  This along with ripe cherry fruit creates a bold, full-bodied but elegant Pinot perfect for roast chicken or everyday pasta and salad meals.

Aubrey Stout

Aubrey is a wine specialist at Imbibe Chattanooga. ​