In a recent visit to Francis Ford Coppola Winery, I finally tasted the Sofia Blanc de Blancs. I've seen this beautiful pink plastic-wrapped bottle of bubbly in stores everywhere, and have always been tempted to purchase but refused to without a taste!
The "Sofia" line is obviously named after Francis's daughter, Sofia Coppola - known for her wonderful sense of chic style and directing abilities. It makes sense that she also be a wine. :) "Sofia" has actually become a series of wines for Coppola's winemaking ventures. There are currently 4 wines on the market using the "Sofia" label: the Blanc de Blancs, a Riesling, a Rose, and a 4 pack of the Blanc de Blancs bottled in cans (more on this in later posting...)
Sophia Coppola - Francis Ford Coppola's Daughter
(Photo from Google Images)
As the sparkling wine was designed for Sofia's wedding, the pink foil wrapping is supposed to be a signature of the celebration. But I also think it is mildly appropriate for the celebration of love coming up on the 14th!
Sofia Blanc de Blancs Packaging
(Photo from Google Images)
Sofia Blanc de Blancs is actually a blend of three varieties: 8% Muscat, 10% Riesling, and 82% Pinot Blanc. It's made in the traditional Methode Champenoise style (where the yeast is left in the bottle to finish the fermentation and disgorged). I chose to share this wine with all of you because 1) it's a pretty bottle - very feminine and eye appealing, 2) the varieties chosen for this bubbly are unique, and 3) it's something different that may be fun for Valentine's Day. Cheers!
Sofia Blanc de Blancs - A touch of the pale, Victorian style
(Photo from Google Images)
The D-2010 Scale
2009 Sofia Blanc de Blancs by Francis Ford Coppola (Sonoma County, CA)
Appearance (10 points possible): straw yellow color, clear, effervescent - 10 points
Aroma/Bouquet (20 points possible): Floral, tropical fruits, guava, honeysuckle, citrus, pears, and apples on the nose. Very appealing and feminine aroma - very fruit forward and aromatic. Not like traditional Chardonnay-based sparkling wines. - 20 points
Taste (10 points possible): Slight yeast character on the palate that doesn't quite match the fruity/floral nature of this wine, but is representative of the production (Methode Champenoise) character and its quality. Light body, semi-sweet, floral in flavor with hints of honeysuckle and guava. The finish is slightly off and reminds me of a Muscat wine left on the skins too long. - 8 points
Balance (5 points possible): Very light and harmonious. A crowd pleaser. No obvious component sticks out, but the finish is slightly off. - 4 points
Finish (5 points possible): The finish lingers with some yeasty, Muscat flavors. Personally, I don't prefer this type of finish as I don't think it matches the rest of the wine style, but it may be found appealing by others. - 3 points
Add 50 points for attempt, packaging, closure, etc.
Total Points: 95
Overall Thought: I like the overall package of this wine. I love the feminine appeal and how the whole package is considered for this wine (I can't say this enough in this post). Not only do you have a very feminine, aromatic wine that is light, floral, and fruity, but the label and pink wrapping match the style so well. I think it's worth a purchase, and I definitely love it for those pink or pastel weddings/events. A good "cherry blossom" Spring wine. Obviously, I'm a female and am somewhat prone to like these things...
Food Pairings: The winery suggests this as a picnic wine or pairing with goat cheese (which would be good with Muscat flavorings of this wine), but I also think it would be good with cheesecake and white chocolate. With the Riesling, slight sweet base, I think this would also go well with spicier foods.
Cost: About $19
Splurge Factor (out of 4): 2 - It's a fun buy, and I consider most sparkling wines between $10 to $30 good buys, especially when you consider the producer. Again, this wine is unique and I know all those girls out there will like it!
Where to buy: Available on the Francis Ford Coppola Website, World Market stores, and local grocery stores. I believe this wine is nationally distributed. Please let me know if you can find it and share your findings with the group!
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