Blanc de Blancs, North Coast – 2008
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Introduction
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The “Blanc de Blancs,” or “white from white,” made from Chardonnay is the counterpart to the “Blanc de Noirs,” or “white from black,” made from Pinot Noir. Blanc de Blancs was the first wine Schramsberg produced in 1965 and was America’s first commercially produced Chardonnay-based brut sparkling wine. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs gained international recognition in 1972 when then President Nixon served the wine at the historic “Toast to Peace” in Beijing, China.
The Schramsberg style of Blanc de Blancs is dry and crisp. Small lots of malolactic- and barrel-fermented wines are added for complexity. The wine is aged on the yeast lees in the bottle for two years prior to disgorgement. With its vibrant, fruitful and crisp nature, this sparkling wine will maintain its freshness, structure and refined finish for many years, even decades following its initial release.
While this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an apéritif, it is also perfect with oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses, and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams.
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Vineyard Profile
- Appellation: North Coast
- County Composition: 66% Napa, 31% Sonoma, 2% Marin, 1% Mendocino
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Vintage Report
- Harvest Date(s): August 14-October 13
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Vinification
- Barrel Fermentation: 22%
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
- Production (in cases): 20,500 (12/750ml)
- Available Formats: 375ml, 750ml, 1.5L, 3L, 9L
- Alcohol: 12.7%
- TA: 0.93g/100ml
- p H: 3.08
- RS: 1.15g/100ml
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Tasting Notes
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Fruity aromas of fresh lime and Granny Smith apple are accentuated by nuances of juicy pineapple and lemon grass, and are completed by warm honey and delicate hazelnut from the two-plus years of aging en tirage. On the palate, the 2008 Blanc de Blancs enters crisp and tangy with flavors of lime, pineapple and exotic tropical fruits, followed by delicious, layered flavors of lemon custard and fresh-from-the-oven brioche. The palate finishes with a delicate sweetness and generous acidity that is long and quenching.
Hugh Davies and Keith Hock, Winemakers
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Images
Reviews
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Blanc de Blancs, North Coast – 2008 – 91 points – Wine Spectator
"Sleek and vibrant, with floral apple and lemon aromas and crisp, complex flavors of pear and yeasty cinnamon that linger toward the minerally finish."
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Blanc de Blancs, North Coast – 2008 – 94 points, Editors’ Choice – Wine Enthusiast
“… this charming bubbly is one of the best blanc de blancs on the market. It’s rich and honeyed and feels so good in the mouth, carrying flavors of oranges, sweet limes, Meyer lemons, vanilla and toasty bread.”
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Blanc de Blancs, North Coast – 2008 – 91 points – Wine Spectator
“Sleek and vibrant, with floral apple and lemon aromas and crisp, complex flavors of pear and yeasty cinnamon that linger toward the minerally finish.”