Chandon, Garden Spritz, Mendoza, Argentina

And now for something completely different... Conceived by Chandon as an alternative to an Aperol spritz, this ready-to-drink aperitif is a mix of bitterness and sweetness (perhaps too much sweetness, at 60g/L residual sugar). It's based on Chandon's Mendoza-made Brut sparkling wine, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Semillon, with an added liqueur, containing natural extracts of orange peel, herbs and spices. The recommended serve is over ice with an orange slice and a sprig of rosemary. It's a medium rose colour, with intense aromas and delicious flavours of bitter orange, plus herbs and spices. It's an original twist on the classic spritz, elegantly packaged. If it had been drier, I would have scored it more highly – the residual sugar felt a little too high.