Reserve, North Coast – 2006
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Introduction
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Schramsberg Reserve is our top Pinot Noir-focused brut sparkling wine. Representing about 3 percent of our annual production, this richly flavored and full-bodied sparkler is made from only the finest base-wine lots produced each year. Over seven years old upon release, this fruitful, yet dry, toasty and creamy bubbly will age gracefully for another 20 to 30 years.
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 the yeast in our historic Diamond Mountain hillside caves for more than six 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.
Schramsberg Reserve is well-suited with a main course, such as fruit-stuffed veal, pork tenderloin, roasted duck with mango, cedar-plank grilled salmon, and curried chicken salad. This flavorful bubbly also can be served as an apéritif with smoked oysters, caviar and hard cheeses such as aged Swiss Sbrinz, Sonoma Vella Jack or Irish Coolea.
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Vineyard Profile
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Principal Pinot Noir Blocks:
Sonoma County: Saltonstall, Jonive
Marin County: Stevens
Mendocino County: Monument Tree - Appellation: North Coast
- County Composition: 66% Sonoma, 17% Marin, 9% Mendocino, 8% Napa
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Vintage Report
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A cool and wet spring delayed budbreak, with flowering beginning in the early part of June. A warm spell in July allowed the ripening to catch up, paving way for a harvest start date towards the end of August. The vintage is remembered as a drawn out one, due to cool weather in August and September. The grapes were picked at their precise ripeness for sparkling wine with delicious flavors, low sugars and high acidities.
- Harvest Date(s): September 2-October 3
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Vinification
- Barrel Fermentation: 40%
- Aging: 7 years, 5 months
- Bottled: April 17, 2007
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 84% Pinot Noir, 16% Chardonnay
- Production (in cases): 3,140 cases
- Production Case Pack: 6/750ml
- Alcohol: 13.3%
- TA: 0.80g/100ml
- p H: 3.12
- RS: 1.10g/100ml
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Tasting Notes
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The 2006 Reserve is bursting with fruitful aromas of cherry, dried strawberry and orange. The fruitful essence is complemented by hints of clove, honey and candied walnut. Flavors of peach, mandarin orange and red currant are followed by more developed notes of sweet brioche and Christmas spice. The palate is crisp on entry with a slight mineral texture and long, mouthwatering acidity. Keith Hock and Hugh Davies, Winemakers
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Images
Reviews
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Reserve, North Coast – 2006 – 90 points, Year’s Best Sparkling – Wine & Spirits
“Driven by bold pear-scented fruit edged by alcohol, this has the dramatic ripeness of some 2003 Champagnes. It’s toasty and mature yet clean, its creamy breadth harmonizing with a mouthwatering line of acidity, ready for poached salmon.”
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Reserve, North Coast – 2006 – 94 points, Editors’ Choice – Wine Enthusiast
“The aromas are lightly smoky and spicy, like white pepper and walnuts. Flavors are subtle, dry but somehow rich, as hints of white peach, almond and dried cherry develop.”
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Reserve, North Coast – 2006 – 90 points – Wine Spectator
“Modest apple and raspberry aromas open to rich flavors of apple pie, spiced ginger and toasted hazelnut.”
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Reserve, North Coast – 2006
This sparkling is bursting with cherry, strawberry and orange aromas complemented by hints of clove, honey and candied walnut. Peach, mandarin orange and red currant flavors are followed by more developed notes of sweet brioche and Christmas spice.