Wine Review - 2012 Benjamin Bridge Nova 7: Last Year's Wine This Year

Benjamin Bridge just launched the 2013 vintage of their Nova 7 and we thought it was time we get this review out.  The popularity and hype around Nova 7 is well deserved as it is a great wine year after year.  It certainly isn't for everyone but it does have a wide appeal with its slight effervescence and off-dry nature.  It's the aromatics of the Muscat that make this wine stand out.  It is a great cool climate white wine and is consistently a well made wine.

The 2012 has a very reddish golden hue and it starts bordering on Rose in terms of colour.  As expected it has a slight sparkle to it and feels a little bit syrupy on the swirl.  Quite interesting in the glass.

That all too familiar lychee fruit nose stands out but has some other notes under the covers as well.  Pears, peaches, and even mint make an appearance which is wonderful.  Another stand out smelling Nova 7.

While not our normal style of wine or preference you cannot deny that this wine is good.  The lower alcohol (7%) and sugar make this a great drinking wine and would pair well with planked salmon or grilled shrimp.  It has a crisp pear start and a very honeyed finish.  The quality shines through with the good amount of acid has comes through on the mid-palate.  We'd call it more off-dry than sweet and it certainly has a Riesling quality to it.  Mixed in there is a hint of candied lemon peel and maybe a touch of that mint again.

	Tasting Notes:	Score:
Sight (0-5)	Reddish golden colour with slight effervescence and a touch syrupy	4.25
Smell (0-5)	Lychee, pears, peaches overlaid with mint	4.25
Taste (0-10)	Crispy pears, candied lemon peel with a honeyed finish	8.25
	Total:	16.75 / 20 (83.75%)

The market has accepted that Nova 7 is a $25 wine and really we can't argue.  We simply need more nice weather to make us go out and get the 2013,  Congrats on the new vintage Benjamin Bridge.

Keep on tasting!

Chris & Shannon