2016 Reserve - Eastside Chardonnay Traditional Method Brut
Loaded with calcium carbonate in the soil, Cerqueira Vineyards consistently produces a level of minerality in Chardonnay that makes this wine as close to Grower’s Champagne as we can get. With 74 months sur lie (disgorged March 2023) this is a classic vintage bubble that will not disappoint. 2016 was the last vintage we worked with fruit from this site.
RESERVE PHILOSOPHY - At Bella the underlying philosophy is to produce natural sparkling wines of exceptional quality and although we are pioneers in the development of “pet-nats” and “trad-nats” we don’t want to lose sight of the tradition and craftsmanship that has evolved over centuries in Champagne, France.
Utilizing one of the principal Champagne grapes, Chardonnay, we follow the traditional rules closely for our reserve program. In order to be declared a vintage Champagne, 100% of the grapes must come from that vintage year and must spend a minimum of three years of aging. There are no specific regulations about how long it must spend on the lees, but the premier Champagne houses keep their wines on lees for upwards of five to ten years. Our reserve traditional method sparkling wines (two fermentations) are hand bottled, aged laying on their sides, and then riddled for three weeks prior to disgorgement. We prefer a brut natural style, no dosage added, at this time as the natural acidity in our fruit keeps the juice fresh and requiring no adulteration in flavour.
CERQUEIRA VINEYARDS - on the Black Sage Bench in Oliver is a unique property in the South Okanagan. This vineyard has a gentle west facing slope where the soils are a heavy, slightly sandy loam with calcium carbonate covered granite cobbles throughout a two metre depth which allows for great drainage. With the rough surface of the calcium carbonate, vine roots seek out these rocks for the small amount of water to be found on this surface. It is controversial to say that these vines are “feeding” off these minerals, but that’s exactly what Michael Bartier believes is happening and it shows in the wines produced from this site. Through our relationship with Bartier Bros., Bella Wines was honored to source grapes from this stellar site from 2012 - 2016.