Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Brut Sparkling Wine 2020, North Coast, California

Blanc de Noirs (white from black) is the counterpart to Blanc de Blancs (white from white). Made primarily from the red grape Pinot Noir, this is a complex, medium-bodied, brut sparkling wine. Schramsberg pioneered the Blanc de Noirs style in the United States, producing the first such American sparkler in 1967. The key to producing this Blanc de Noirs is the sourcing of Pinot Noir grapes from a vast and varied selection of 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 decades to come. “The 2020 Blanc de Noirs expresses generous and layered aromas of red apple, juicy pear, ripe orange, and mango. The palate opens with bright pink grapefruit, apricot and pineapple notes. A dense, juicy center leads to a long lingering finish.” – Winemakers Jessica Koga, Sean Thompson and Hugh Davies. 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay. Couty composition: 65% Sonoma, 17% Mendocino, 4% Napa, 14% Marin.