Schramsberg J. Schram 1996
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This vintage expresses the cultivated elegance we look for in J. Schram – a harmony of power and finesse. Seductive aromas of honey and roasted pecans add dimension and intrigue to the Chardonnay-based notes of lemon, pineapple, and melon. The viscous, creamy texture and robust flavors give way to a long, dry, and crisp finish. This wine has an intricate balance of richness and firm acidity which gives it the classic structure we strive for in our finest cuvées. It will age exceptionally for many years to come.
"Incredibly rich and smooth, with subtle flavors of peaches, vanilla, yeast and smoke. Very dry, but so rich and creamy—just luscious. Feels light and airy and elegant all the way through the long finish."
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In 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies founded Schramsberg and set out to make world-class sparkling wine in the true méthode traditionelle style on the property originally established in 1862 by German immigrant Jacob Schram. There were only 22 bonded wineries in Napa Valley and fewer than 100 acres of California vineyards planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Schramsberg was the first California winery to provide a Blanc de Blancs in 1965 followed by a Blanc de Noirs in 1967. Now their son, Hugh Davies, leads the winery’s management and winemaking team.
The Schramsberg estate in Napa Valley’s famed Diamond Mountain District is a registered historic landmark with Napa’s first caves, hand-dug in the 1880s, and its first hillside vineyards. Quality focus drives all aspects of wine production starting with access to over 120 cool-climate sites in Carneros, Marin, Mendocino and Sonoma, which result in over 200 separate lots. Unique among California sparkling wine houses, Schramsberg ferments about 25 percent of its juice in oak barrels to produce rich, flavorful, complex wines.
Most of Schramsberg’s viticultural and winemaking practices are carried out by hand: grapes are hand harvested, the wines are handcrafted, and the bottles are stacked and riddled in underground caves. The family and the winery embody excellence and innovation in winemaking, as well as preservation of their land, their history and their community.