Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2012
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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: 44% Sonoma, 33% Mendocino, 19% Napa, 4% Marin
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Vintage Report
- Harvest Date(s): August 20-September 28
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Vinification
- Barrel Fermentation: 22%
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 88% Pinot Noir, 12% Chardonnay
- Production (in cases): 10,598
- Production Case Pack: 12/750ml
- Alcohol: 12.7%
- TA: 0.86g/100ml
- p H: 3.08
- RS: 1.13g/100ml
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Tasting Notes
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The 2012 Blanc de Noirs expresses generous aromas of yellow peach, fresh orange zest, cantaloupe and citrus blossom, which gradually layers with fragrances of warm apple dumpling and crème anglaise. Lush flavors coat the palate with tangerine, Santa Rosa plum, candied ginger and a hint of French flan. This sparkling wine delivers a clean, lingering finish that is crisp and mouth-watering. Keith Hock and Hugh Davies, Winemakers
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Images
Reviews
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2012 – 91 points – Burghound.com
“… Like the nose there is fine density to the decidedly rich and relatively full-bodied flavors that coat the palate with dry extract and I particularly like the complexity of the finish that is clean and dry without being austere...”
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2012 – 90 points – Wine Spectator
"Rich and elegant, with floral strawberry and pear aromas and crisp yet plush flavors of yeast roll, fresh ginger and spice."
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2012 – 93 points, Editors’ Choice – Wine Enthusiast
“… this is a detailed and multilayered beauty. Fresh ginger, cinnamon and brioche aromas lead to an elegant texture and vivid fruit flavors like white cherry and raspberry that energize the palate and linger long on the finish.”
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Blanc de Noirs, North Coast – 2012 – 90 points – Wine Spectator Online
"Rich and elegant, with floral strawberry and pear aromas and crisp yet plush flavors of yeast roll, fresh ginger and spice."