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The Mumm Napa Brut Rosé is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay sourced from up to 50 growers in Napa County. GH Mumm is a Champagne House founded in France in 1827. Mumm Napa was established in the late 1970s.
The Mumm Napa Brut Rosé comes from almost 200 years of Champagne-making know-how. Part of the secret to this Bubbly is although most of the wine was aged in stainless steel vats, certain lots were aged in French oak barrels. That little bit of oak will bring some pleasing character to this Bubbly.
The second fermentation is made in the Traditional Method, where the still wine from the first fermentation is bottled and a measured amount of sugar and yeast is added to each bottle. The bottles turned a quarter turn every few days so the dead, spent yeast will not stick to the glass.
After 18 months the bottles are opened and the spent yeast is removed. A small amount of still (regular, no bubbles) Pinot Noir is added to each bottle to give it its pink color. Champagne-style wines routinely use Red grapes in their non-Rosé Bubbly. Rosé Champagne-style wines are more of a color choice than a departure in flavor.
All the grapes for the Mumm Napa Brut Rosé came from Napa County with I imagine the bulk sourced from the Napa side of Carneros which is the main Chardonnay/Pinot Noir growing region in Napa. But not the only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir area.
This is a Sparkling wine that lists for $24, though I found it on a Valentine’s Day sale for $15. The alcohol content is 12.5%. This is a non-vintage wine designed to offer the same drinking experience year after year and the Mumm Napa Brut Rosé has received 91 points in the past.
The Mumm Napa Brut Rosé Tasting Notes
The color is pink with a hint of salmon. The nose is cherry and citrus, with a touch of spice, a little brioche, and a floral edge. The Mumm Napa Brut Rosé has both fruit and citrus in the flavor profile along with excellent length.
This Bubbly tastes like black cherry (not too sweet), tart grapefruit, dried strawberry, and a hint of bakery bread. The mid-palate adds that salty/nutty “on-lees” thing, slightly sour cranberry, and soft melon. The acidity is excellent and lets the flavors roll on and on.
The Summary
- The Mumm Napa Brut Rosé is an excellent Bubbly at a steal of a price, considering entry-level GH Mumm Champagne from France starts at about $45.
- Champagne is a legendary growing region, but then again so is Napa.
