2016 Schramsberg Green Valley Blanc de Blancs (1 x 750 mL)

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The 2016 Schramsberg "Green Valley" Blanc de Blancs showcases our very best Chardonnay vineyards from this specific region within thebroader Russian River Valley AVA. This sparkling brut is a blend crafted from five sites; Hawk Hill, Hill Vineyard, Mill Station Vineayrd, Bush Vineyard and Keefer Ranch. This vibrant and complex wine combines a rich texture with excellent drive on the palate. The 2016 Schramsberg "Green Valley" Blanc de Blancs is a bright, crisp sparkler that will age beautifully over the next 20+ years, developing attractive caramelized, nutty and toasted flavors and aromas. Made in limited quantities, our winemaking team is very excited to release this sparkling wine.

The Green Valley of the Russian River roughly outlines the watershed of the Green Valley Creek and is south of the Russian River. It is bounded by Gravenstein Hwy to the east, Hwy 12 to the south and the Russian River on the north. The cool climate of this pocket of West Sonoma County, is the first place in the region the fog comes in and the last place where it burns off. The predominate soil type is Goldridge, a fine sandy loam soil. Wines from this valley are fresh, clean, crisp, and beautifully integrated.

Hand picking, careful handling and gentle pressing produce a wine of delicacy, aromatic purity, and depth. Following the fall harvest and fermentation of the base wines, extensive tasting trials are carried out in the spring to create a polished blend reflective of the vintage. The finished blend undergoes a second fermentation in bottle before aging on its yeast lees for about four years, just enough to achieve refined effervescence and toastiness without diminishing its refreshing, vibrant appeal.

The 2016 vintage was a near-perfect growing season with ideal weather conditions throughout. Thanks to a relatively steady and mild July and August, and then a series of warm days at the end of the growing season, vineyards were able to progress to perfect ripeness for the light yields that were present.

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Tasting notes

The 2016 Schramsberg "Green Valley" Blanc de Blancs exhibits aromas of green apple, mango, white peach, pineapple and lemon cookie, followed with hints of vanilla custard, brioche, snickerdoodle and toasted hazelnut. The palate opens with a nice concentration, and expresses layers of grapefruit, candied ginger, and zesty citrus. The entry leads to a juicy midpalate of orange blossom, lime candy, and finishes with great length.- Winemakers: Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga, Hugh Davies

Reviews

93 Points
Here is a bright and very buoyant Blanc de Blancs that combines a fine and very steady element of autolyzed yeast with a good bit of crisp, lightly lemony fruit and is a wine that shows a nice sense of aged complexity without ever once seeming old. It is a classy rendition that speaks of its genre with a clear and well sustained voice, and its lovely, mouthfilling mousse lasts and lasts. It will make a splendid, meal-starting partner to oysters and buttery blinis topped with smoked salmon but is so refined and beautifully balanced that it needs no pairing with food to shine. It is wholly satisfying at the moment, yet its buoyancy and brightness ensure that it will age famously and take on even more complexity with time.- Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine (December 2021)
93 Points
From stellar vineyard sites such as Keefer, Dutton and Hawk Hill, this Chardonnay sparkler starts out subdued and sleek, before unveiling complex layers of tart wet stone and acidity. The fruit is quietly layered, a structured foundation of green apple and Meyer lemon.- Wine Enthusiast (November 2021)
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