Interesting Portugese Sparkler

2007 Vertice Gouveio Bruto, Vinho Espumante do Douro DOC, Portugal:
This is a premium cuvee made from 85% Gouvieo (aka Godello in Spain) with 15% Rabigato (aka ???) and disgorged May 2014. Vertice is a top producer of espumantes in Portugal, using grapes grown at high altitudes (cooler) in the Alto Douro. Wow, this is good! Fairly intense golden color, with superfine bubbles. Very rich: pear, lemon, light nutty notes, great mineral finish with super length. Supposed to be a Bruto, but so rich it doesn't come off as austere. Reminded me a bit of Bollinger SC.

As an aside: Godello is grown quite a bit in Galicia in N. Spain, but when one crosses the Mino south into Portugal, it seems to vanish (despite other white varieties being grown on both sides). But the grape reappears further south, along the Douro, where it usually figures in the blend for white port and, now, Douro table whites as Gouvieo. Still trying to figure that one out.

When I saw the title, I thought Soalheiro . Nice one Joe!
Where did you find this one?

When I saw the title, I thought Soalheiro . Nice one Joe!
Where did you find this one?

The Vertice espumantes are quite easy to find in the Portuguese shops in Newark (NJ). We in the US still don't get the sparkler from Soalheiro, which probably has much smaller production than any Vertice cuvee. Interesting fact: Jack Davies, from Schramsberg in Napa was one of the founders of Vertice.