Originally released as Capitol Fizz, the CapFizz is a bit outside the box from Illahes' other labels and offerings. A generational family run winery that is well known for their complex pinot noirs planted on the slopes of Mt. Pisgah in Oregon's esteemed Willamette Valley. Along with Pinot Noir they have also been experimenting with a slew of other varietals in limited quantities and I assume some of these grapes are what is used for this current bottle in my glass.
A word from the vineyard and really the only information I could find on this wine:
"Cap Fizz from Illahe Vineyards, is a dry, pink bubbly bottle of refreshment for workers, picnickers, fishers, makers, singers, and watchers of the western sunset. Picked early at harvest, it has lively acid and a pretty aroma enhanced by its sparkle and joined together with the feeling of seeing a rainbow behind a waterfall.
We are 3rd generation family farmers in the Willamette Valley. Lowell and Pauline still reside on the original farm in West Salem that was established by Pauline’s father, Grandpa Brad in 1943. The foliage on the label represents native Oregon wildflowers used in our cover crop or growing on the farm to create more biodiversity, including a few local crops that represent the bounty of the valley. Pauline has a few fig trees and is known for her fig jam, as well as her daffodill stand that she has put up along Wallace Road every spring for the past 25 years, where she sells flowers for her grand children’s college fund." (Illahe Vineyard Website)
My Thoughts:
Pours a rose tinged pale copper color with a fizzy bubble that dissipates before any noticeable froth or foam forms. Small amount of streaming bubbles are left rising on the settled glass.
The aromas are pleasant with lots of unripe berry leaning towards strawberry and raspberry with hints of underipe stonefruit and just an overall fruit salad smorgasbord.
On the palate there is a bit more vinous fruit with some medium acidity that is quickly balanced by that fruit cocktail smorgasbord from the nose. A bit juicy but super refreshing, kind of a wine drinkers fruit punch sparkler that is both playful but focused enough to lock in on notes of golden raspberries, rhubarb and some backend citrus pith that creates a little bitterness on the linger but works to dry out some of that fruity midpalate.
Easy to drink, dare I say chuggable, and I would be all in at the $12-18 range, but in my opinion at the $26 price range I think there are better values to be had. That being said this is unique and knowing Illahe is a small horsepowered, hand harvested vineyard, much of that higher cost is probably warranted.
(FINAL SCORE 80/100)
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