All that Glitters

One of the most stunning presentations I have come across for a wine is that of the new Number 1 Family Estate ‘Cuvee Adele’ Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle 2013.  The wine was first made with the 2009 vintage and released in 2012 to celebrate Adele Le Brun’s 60^th birthday.  The wine bottle was dark, near black-green in colour and encrusted with Swarovski crystals, flowing around a capital letter ‘A’.  The effect was magical, glittering  and classy.

For the 2013 vintage release, the Le Bruns have gone one further.  The bottle with the encrusted crystals ar the same as with the 2009, but the wine comes in a black cardboard-based box.  When you open the box, a set of nine small lights located out of view at the top of the box comes on, illuminating the crystals.  Simply stunning and amazing.

 

And what is the wine like?  It’s a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, spending 3 years on lees.  As you might guess, it’s very Blanc de Blancs with white stonefruts and florals, and purity of bready-yeasty flavours.  No aldehydic complexities, just finesse and elegance.  Very feminine, of course, and very much like Adele Le Brun.