Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2018 Blanc de Noirs, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

The Willamette Valley in Oregon is renowned for its wines, so it is no wonder that Bryn Mawr Vineyards founded in 2010 by Jon and Kathy Lauer has established a formidable mark with their wines. Rachel Rose is the Winemaker in the family-owned and family-run vineyard. If you enjoy sparkling wines, you definitely want to experience their Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2018 Blanc de Noirs, which Wine Enthusiast awarded 95 Points & Editor’s Choice. Dry, elegant, with lively bubbles, this sparkling wine has rich pear, apple, and limestone notes that make it perfect to enjoy as an aperitif or paired with food. Cheers!

Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2018 Blanc de Noirs, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA Information

Bottle Notes: “High Hill. High Risk. High Reward. Tirage 2019, Disgorged 2024.” 

Technical Notes: “Inspired and informed by the great grower Champagnes of France, our Blanc de Noirs is a testament to the Willamette Valley’s potential for crafting exceptional Mêthode Champenoise sparkling wines. Recognizing the brilliant acids inherent to the grapes from our windy section of the valley, we launched this program not even a week after transitioning from our former tent winery to our new facility in 2018. It’s a technically difficult, multi-step, and highly involved process, but after five years en tirage and plenty of personal restraint, we’ve achieved something transcendental, a remarkable wine with crystalline high tones complemented by warm, textural, and savory layers.”

Tasting Notes: The color is pale straw with lively bubbles to enchant and delight the palate. This is a very dry sparkling wine with pear and apple, along with mineral and limestone notes on the palate. It is an elegant wine that clearly demonstrates the vineyard’s mastery of the Mêthode Champenoise.

Pairing Suggestion: Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2018 Blanc de Noirs is such an elegant sparkling wine that it deserves to be paired with equally elevated and elegant food pairing. We paired it with our recipe for Luxury Experience – Lobster Bisque, which was a gorgeous pairing as the crispness of the wine cut through and complemented the rich creaminess of the bisque. Do not be afraid to make this recipe; although it may sound difficult, it is actually easy to make.

Luxury Experience – Lobster Bisque pairing

Luxury Experience – Lobster Bisque

Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Method for Cooking the Lobster Tail: Take a large knife and cut the underside of the lobster tail from the top to the bottom. This is so the tail will not curl up. Bring 6 cups of salted water to a boil, add the lobster tail and boil until lobster shell turns bright red orange, about 4-5 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the lobster tail from the water and let it cool on a cutting board. Reserve cooking liquid, as this will be added to your cooked vegetables.

Roasting the Lobster Tail Shell: When the lobster tail is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the shell, then coarsely chop the meat, and set aside. You will also coarsely chop the lobster tail shell.

In a small baking pan, (a cake pan works well), add the chopped lobster tail shells. Drizzle the chopped shells with EVOO, toss to coat, cover, and roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

Method for the Vegetables: While the lobster tail shells are roasting in the oven, heat a medium saucepan over medium-low. Add butter and sauté until it melts. Add the fennel and sauté for 6 minutes until tender. Add carrots, onions, and leeks. Cover and sauté for 10 minutes.

Add the reserved cooking liquid and the roasted lobster tail shells to the vegetables. Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for 1 hour.

Blending the Bisque: Add the cooking liquid, vegetables, and shells to a blender and blend in batches until very smooth. Strain the liquid through 2 sieves positioned over a bowl to ensure the liquid is smooth and without any shell fragments.

Next Step: Pour the pureed liquid into a medium saucepan. Add heavy cream, tomato paste, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir to thoroughly combine.

Method to Create a Roux: Heat a small saucepan over low heat, add the butter, and cook until it melts. Add flour, stir to combine and cook until the flour turns golden and takes on a nut-like color. Add 2-ounces of the Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2018 Blanc de Noirs to the roux (it will bubble up) and stir to combine until smooth. Add the roux to the bisque. Stir well to combine.

Finishing the Bisque: Pour the bisque into a blender, add the reserved chopped lobster meat, and puree until smooth. At this point, you can serve the soup immediately or let it cool and refrigerate until ready to reheat and serve.

Can be made 1 day ahead. Just before serving the hot bisque, add an additional 2 ounces of the Bryn Mawr Vineyards 2018 Blanc de Noirs and combine for an elegant finish. Garnish with fennel fronds if desired.

Until next time, cheers!

About Bryn Mawr Vineyards 

“Bryn Mawr was founded in 2010 by Jon and Kathy Lauer and is a family-owned and family-run estate in the Eola-Amity Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.”

“Our family purchased Bryn Mawr Vineyards as a tiny garagiste winery in 2009. With a four-acre foundation of established Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Tempranillo vines, we partnered with winemaker Rachel Rose to diversify the site, adding Pinot Blanc, Dolcetto, and Riesling vines among many new clones of the regional standards.” 

“For the first eight vintages, Rachel made wine in our basement and a former wedding tent. In 2019, we completed our new winery building, followed by a new tasting room in 2019. Our contemporary facilities have allowed us to bloom into a premier operation, with a diverse array of impressive wines offered in visually stunning surroundings. In 2020, we gained LIVE certification, demonstrating our commitment to long-term sustainability both in the vineyard and in our cellar. The last decade has brought national recognition for Bryn Mawr’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay programs, but it’s Rachel’s progressive and experimental side has made us a destination. Acting as an important bridge, Bryn Mawr honors the classic wines that make the Willamette Valley world-renowned, while also pushing the envelope defining what’s possible in our future.” 

For more information on Bryn Mawr Vineyards, their 2018 Blanc de Noirs, or their other exceptional wines, please visit their website: https://www.brynmawrvineyards.com/

If you live near, or will be visiting the Willamette Valley, you might like to make a visit to their Tasting Room.

Bryn Mawr Vineyards Hours: Open daily from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Tastings are available between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. The cost is $30 per person.

For large parties (10 or more) or special requests, please contact them directly at +1-503-581-4286 or email them at info@brynmawrvineyards.com.

Bryn Mawr Vineyards
5935 Bethel Heights Road NW
Salem, Oregon 97304
United States
Telephone: +1-503-581-4286
Website: https://www.brynmawrvineyards.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brynmawrvineyards
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brynmawrvineyards/# @brynmawrvineyards

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