Sparkling White #Loire #wine from France: NV : http://tinyurl.com/3qjhotd

Wine name: Saumur. Producer: Thierry Duval, St-Hilaire-St-Florent, Maine et Loire. Vintage: NV. Purchased from calais. Appearance slightly dark yellow, medium amount of medium-sized slow bubbles, medium-thin and receding on the glass with fruity, a touch of banana, lemon oil aromatics. The attack is medium with an attack of bubbles. Evolution: Toasty, a touch of dry Sherry, candy cigarettes with a finish which is toasty and liquorice-y with a slight lemon oil bitterness. Sweetness: 1. Acidity: 3.5. Tannin: 1 with a texture which is a cross between sparkly and foamy and the length is excellent. As for balance, it's nicely balanced. The wine has a closure and is 12% abv. Overall, this wine is: Doesn’t taste its 12 years of age at all, but has nicely matured. Quite mellow, was a little overpowered by fish & chips and ketchup. Interesting flavours of older Chenin Blanc mixed with a touch of forest floor and more candy cigarettes. My score (which is NOT the same as Robert Parker's!) is 84 points.