2011 Extra Brut (1 x 750 ml)

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The "Extra Brut" is produced for the growing number of enthusiasts who on occasion desire a very, very dry sparkling wine. These wines are finished with a dosage of between 0.3 - 0.6 g/100 mL of residual sugar, about half that of our other brut offerings. A progression towards a drier brut has occurred in the sparkling wine world in the past two decades, as producers have been able to develop brighter intensity of fruit flavor in the grapes that they grow. Schramsberg is no exception. Because cooler climate vineyards have produced grapes with not only higher acidity, but also riper Pinot Noir and Chardonnay characteristics, the level of dosage in our brut offerings has decreased by 15-20% through this transition.

With our fifth Extra Brut offering, we have given the clarity and depth of some of our finest blocks of the 2011 season an even greater opportunity to balance the crispness and drive of the resulting sparkling wine. Made primarily from the broader and supple Pinot Noir variety, this bottling was aged for six years on the yeast prior to disgorgement, enabling ample time for it to soften and develop complexity and depth.

This wine is ready to enjoy upon release, but will age beautifully for another 20 years or more. This opulent and racy style matches extraordinarily well with foods that are served raw, such as caviar and ceviche, but will also pair perfectly with cooked foods such as smoked oysters, mushroom tarts, and veal picatta. A simple antipasto sampling with prosciutto, sopresatta, Gouda, pecorino, artichoke heart, and cured olives will also shine alongside.

The 2011 California winegrape harvest was lighter and later than normal with flavors developing at lower sugar levels, giving winemakers the opportunity to make flavorful, elegant wines. A wet winter and spring delayed bloom and hindered fruit set, which decreased overall crop load. A generally cool summer prolonged the growing season and harvest started late in most areas.

Tasting notes

The 2011 Extra Brut leads with complex aromas of baked pear, cinnamon toast, lime meringue, toasted almond and toffee apple, all underpinned by a citrusy vibrancy. On the palate crisp acidity and a mandarin tanginess are balanced by the rich complexity of vanilla wafer, fresh honeycomb, creamy marzipan and peach cobbler. A wonderful interplay of tension and power leads to a long and clean finish.- Winemakers Sean Thompson and Hugh Davies

Reviews

94 Points
A bold well-aged aroma and nutty smoky flavors make this full-bodied wine noteworthy and complex. The extra brut designation means it's drier than a typical brut, having only 4.5 g/L residual sugar, and making it the driest sparkling wine Schramsberg has ever released. Woody spicy peppery nuances mingle with dried-apple and toasted walnut flavors, leaving a lingering smoky finish.- Wine Enthusiast (June 2019)
93 Points
Steely and graceful, with delicately complex apple, lemon verbena and stony mineral accents that dance effortlessly on the long finish.- Wine Spectator (May 2019)
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