About this Wine: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, releasing the first such American sparkler in 1967. The key to producing this complex Blanc de Noirs is our 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 lots add richness and body. Some two years of yeast contact in the bottle harmonizes all the elements together in a mature, toasty style. The youthful fruit character of the wine will caramelize 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.
Varietal Composition: 74% Pinot Noir, 26% Chardonnay
County Composition: 32% Napa, 31% Sonoma, 30% Mendocino, 7% Marin
Appellation: North Coast
Harvest Dates: August 10 - October 16, 2007
Barrel Fermentation: 30%
Alcohol: 12.8%
Ratings & Reviews
94 Points & "Editor's Choice" - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"Mainly Pinot Noir, with some Chardonnay for brightness and citrusy zest, this brilliantly clean wine has an incredibly fierce mousse. It seems to boil in the glass, and the followup mouthfeel is as creamy and refined as any California sparkler in memory. The Pinot asserts itself in delicate touches of raspberries and strawberries. Delicious and compelling now. Try with sushi." —S.H. (12/1/2010)
89+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Composed of 74% Pinot Noir and 26% Chardonnay, the 2007 Blanc de Noirs exhibits more structure and body as well as a firmer, more muscular style. The Pinot Noir component takes away some of the charm and finesse of the Blancs de Blanc, but it adds more weight. This sparkler should drink well for several years." - Robert Parker (Dec 2010)
89 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Rich and full-bodied, displaying delicate raspberry aromas paired with spice and lemon, with supple flavors of baked apple, cherry and brown spices. Drink now through 2014. 13,340 cases made." –TF (Nov 30, 2010)
