Champagne & Sparkling    Non-Vintage    North Coast    California   
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Date Printed: 11/21/2008
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(search item no. 76664)
The Wine News rating: 92 points
Wine Enthusiast rating: 91 points
PRICE ON 11/21/2008: $13.49

Winemaker's Notes:

 Scharffenberger Brut is made by the traditional méthode champenoise process – whereby the wines are individually bottle-fermented before being riddled and disgorged. The wine is approximately two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay and undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation. Scharffenberger Brut is made from its own 120-acre vineyards in the Anderson Valley. In addition, Scharffenberger Cellars has long-term contracts with select vineyards in the greater Mendocino County. This type of vineyard selection allows us to choose from the best vineyards in the area which enables us to produce our trademark cuvée.

The wine is two-thirds Pinot Noir which produces a red fruit (cherry and plum) forward nose combined with one-third Chardonnay which adds the tropical expression of litchi nut and mango. The 100% malolactic fermentation adds a vanilla cream character producing a round and full-bodied wine. After approximately two years on the yeast lees, there are notes of freshly baked bread and pastry that enhances the more fruit forward style of the wine. Finally, after several months on the cork the wine develops caramel and hazel complexors.

"Fresh aromas of butterscotch and croissant with yeasty, bakery notes. Bright peach and apricot flavors with a green apple tartness. Fresh, steely close with a mix of lemon drop and minerals."
-Wine News
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About Scharffenberger:

 The history of Scharffenberger Cellars begins in 1981 in the heart of California's Anderson Valley. Situated only miles from the coastal influences of the Pacific Ocean, Scharffenberger Cellars also enjoys the deep soils and sunshine within the protected valley. Originally founded by John Scharffenberger, the company has undergone many transitions, including a name change when it was formally known as Pacific Echo from 1998 until July 2004. Today, the name has been restored back to Scharffenberger Cellars under the management of Maisons Marques & Domaines.

With the many changes at Scharffenberger Cellars, what has remained consistent is the quality and the original philosophy behind the winemaking. Tex Sawyer, winemaker since 1989, continues to manage the winemaking program and today works with the new ownership to preserve the glory of the original brand name.

"The Anderson Valley is ideally suited to growing grapes for sparkling wine," says winemaker Tex Sawyer. "It is the coolest growing region in California, so our grapes are allowed extra time on the vine and become fully mature before harvest." Over the years, Scharffenberger Cellars has also built strong relationships with select vine growers in the Mendocino County appellation to source additional grapes for their sparkling wines.