Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2010
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Introduction
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“Blanc de Noir,” meaning “white from black,” gets its name from the Pinot Noir grapes used to make this complex, medium-body sparkling wine. Schramsberg pioneered the Blanc de Noirs style in the United States, releasing the first such American sparkler in 1967. The key to producing this complex Blanc de Noirs is Schramsberg’s vast and varied focus on diverse cool-climate vineyards. Pinot Noir from Carneros and Anderson Valley combine with fruit from low-yielding Sonoma and Marin coastal vineyards to develop a sparkling wine with a breadth of fruitful aroma and flavor. Select Chardonnay lots give zest and backbone to the blend.
Making a white wine from a red grape requires great care: hand-picked fruit, early morning harvest, optimal fruit maturity and delicate pressing. A balance of bright flavors, crisp acidity and minimal tannins is achieved. Barrel and malolactic fermentation of particular wine lots add richness and body. Yeast contact in the bottle harmonizes all the elements together in a mature, toasty style. The youthful fruit character of the wine will develop and soften with additional age in the bottle. With proper storage, this sparkling wine will be delicious for many years, even a couple of decades to come.
Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs is particularly well-suited to serve with a variety of foods, including soft and nutty cheeses, macadamia nut-crusted halibut, and pork tenderloin with fresh rosemary and lemon thyme.
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Vineyard Profile
- Appellation: North Coast
- County Composition: 54% Sonoma, 19% Mendocino, 14% Marin, 13% Napa
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Vintage Report
- Harvest Date(s): August 30-October 27
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Vinification
- Barrel Fermentation: 31%
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
- Production (in cases): 9,875 cases
- Production Case Pack: 12/750ml
- Alcohol: 13.0%
- TA: 0.91g/100ml
- p H: 3.12
- RS: 0.95g/100ml
- Release Date: May 1, 2014
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Tasting Notes
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The 2010 Blanc de Noirs has bright aromas of red cherry, peach, apricot, Mandarin orange and mango. The fruitful nose finishes with nuances of lemon-raspberry tart and marzipan. The palate is full on entry with flavors of raspberry, candied pineapple, guava and ginger, complemented by notes of hazelnut and warm pastry crust. Crisp on entry with a balanced acidity, the palate is refined and lingering. Winemakers Hugh Davies and Keith Hock
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Images
Reviews
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2010 – 91 points – Wine Enthusiast
"Delicate flavors of baking spices like cinnamon, allspice and ginger light up this very dry, firm-textured bubbly. Vivid acidity keeps it light and lively. Plenty of citrus and green apple notes and a refreshing dryness make the mouth water."
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2010 – 90 points – The Tasting Panel
"Deep gold color; crisp and juicy with racy citrus fruit; elegant, round and lush; long and tangy with raspberry notes. 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay."
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2010
Red cherry, peach, apricot, orange, lemon-raspberry tart and marzipan aromas are complemented by raspberry, pineapple, guava, ginger, hazelnut and warm pastry crust flavors. Crisp on entry with a balanced acidity, the palate is refined and lingering.