The Wairiki Eos Blanc de Noir Methode Extra Brut‑2023 is a handcrafted sparkling wine from Wairiki Wines, a boutique winery in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand that focuses on small-batch, terroir-expressive wines from its estate-grown fruit. Wairiki produces its wines with careful attention to vineyard practices and gentle winemaking to showcase the region’s warm days and cool nights, which help build ripe fruit alongside refreshing acidity. This wine is a Blanc de Noir made in the méthode traditionnelle (traditional method) style, meaning it undergoes a second fermentation in bottle to produce fine, persistent bubbles and is bottled in a dry Extra Brut style with minimal dosage. Blanc de Noir means it’s crafted from red grapes (most often Pinot Noir), whole-bunch pressed to produce a clear or pale-gold sparkling wine with bright freshness. In the glass it typically shows lively citrus and orchard fruit characters, think green apple, lemon zest and pear, with subtle toasty brioche and yeasty complexity from lees ageing, balanced by crisp acidity and a clean, dry finish. These elements make it a classy yet approachable sparkling wine that’s great as an apéritif or paired with seafood, oysters, light salads, sushi, fried snacks, grilled prawns or creamy pasta. The texture and finesse reflect both the Hawke’s Bay fruit quality and the traditional bottle fermentation method. Why we love this wine? This bubbles is spectacularly delicious! You might not want to share…
