J. Schram, North Coast – 2008 – 92 points – Wine & Spirits
92 points
“Focused on chardonnay (82 percent of the blend, the remainder pinot noir), this is the top selection from the 250 lots Sean Thompson and Hugh Davies consider in their cellars. Most of the blend grows on the Napa Valley side of Carneros. They barrel-ferment a third of the wine and age it on the yeast in bottle for seven years, presenting it in a toasty, oxidative style, rich rather than fresh, but still bracing and focused in its structure. There’s a tangy orange note at the center of the wine, providing sweetness to balance the salty notes of the lees. Serve it at dinner with salmon tartare.”
J. Schram, North Coast – 2008 – 92 points – Wine & Spirits