J. Schram
Noirs, North Coast
Originally released as our “Reserve”, with the 2013 vintage this bottling was renamed “J. Schram Noirs” to denote this wine’s Pinot Noir-based core. J. Schram Noirs is Schramsberg’s top Pinot Noir-focused brut sparkling wine. Representing 2% of our annual production, this richly flavored and full-bodied sparkler is made from only the finest base-wine lots produced each year. We release this finished sparkling wine nearly nine years after the grapes are harvested, yet this fruitful and dry, toasty and creamy bubbly will age gracefully for decades to come.
Vintage Factsheets
The vineyards are in Marin at Skywalker, and Stevens vineyards; Mendocino at Juster vineyards; and in Sonoma at Nobles, Hurst, Jonive, and Piedra Libre vineyards. 52% Sonoma, 22% Marin, 18% Mendocino, 8% Napa.
- Region
- California: North Coast
- Appellation
- North Coast
- Varietal Composition
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Aging
- Though primarily Pinot Noir, small amounts of select Chardonnay lots are added to the blend to lend additional backbone and length to the palate. Distinct barrel and malolactic fermented lots are also layered in to provide viscosity and depth. Each bottle is aged in contact with its yeast in our historic Diamond Mountain hillside caves for eight years, affording the development of seasoned, roasted and caramelized richness. The yeast is then removed and a finishing dosage, determined through extensive and comprehensive trials, is added to fine-tune the wine’s balance of flavor and structure. Barrel Fermentation: 41%
- Alcohol
- 12.4%
Mango, yellow peach, red apple, cherry,
and orange zest, followed by undertones of vanilla, honey, lemon cookie, graham cracker, brioche,
French toast, and honeysuckle. It’s rich and elegant palate delivers a zesty citrus entry, leading to
flavors of apricot, candied ginger, and milk chocolate. Driven by vibrant acidity, this sparkling
wine carries lively, lavish length to the finish.
Jancis Robinson
18 Points
2014
“Light bronze-gold with medium-fine bubbles. Smells of dried apricots, honey-roasted nuts and toasted challah. A voluminous, silky mousse delivers flavours of roasted nuts, honey, candied citrus peel, crème anglaise and toasted sourdough bread. Faintly saline and very sexy."
— Alder Yarrow, 2023
