WINEMAKER'S NOTES
“Blanc de Blancs is made primarily from Chardonnay and has essentially the same fruit profile. Try substituting our Blanc de Blancs the next time you think about serving a Chardonnay.”- Rick Casqueiro, Winemaker
VINEYARDS
Premium grape varieties grown in Washington state’s acclaimed Columbia Valley.
Vineyards in northern latitude, key to the regional character of our fruit.
Like France’s renowned northerly Champagne district, our grapes ripen slowly and are ideally balanced with fruit character and crisp acidity.
Plenty of sunshine, little rainfall and a good temperature mix produce grapes with superior flavor and natural fruit acids.
IN THE CELLAR
Each press cut undergoes primary fermentation that lasts roughly 2 to 3 weeks.
The individual lots are kept separate until blending decisions have been made.
Winemaker Rick Casqueiro samples approximately 110 lots of base wines and eventually selects 5 cuvées, based on aroma and acidity to create the assemblage.
Méthode champenoise: the assemblage is then bottled with a small amount of liqueur de tirage which triggers secondary fermentation.
The sparkling wine is aged sur lie for up to 18 months.
A sweet liquid dosage is added to the bottle balancing the delicate, natural high fruit acids and viscosity, giving Blanc de Blancs its unique style.
TECHNICAL DATA
Non-vintage: Often a blend of wines from various vintages and Washington state viticultural areas, this wine is most representative of a “house style.”
Alcohol: 12.2%
Total acidity: 0.88g/100ml
pH: 3.00
Residual Sugar: 1.05%
Ratings & Reviews
Rank #50 Top 100 Best Buy of 2011 & 88 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"The DSM sparklers all come in a fancy package, all are méthode champenoise, all finished with a wire cage and Champagne cork. This is quite yeasty, with a pretty toasted coconut flavor that spices up the fruit. Primarily Chardonnay, it has no perceptible residual sugar." — P.G. (12/31/2010)
Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Slightly sweet, offering pretty pineapple and cream on the nose and palate. Drink now. 32,640 cases made." –HS (Nov 30, 2010)
