Champagne & Sparkling    Non-Vintage    North Coast    California   
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Date Printed: 11/25/2009
Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut
Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut

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(search item no. 6609)
The Wine News rating: 90 points
PRICE ON 11/25/2009: $19.99

Winemaker's Notes:

Stylistically, Mirabelle Brut resembles some of its French cousins with its elegant, toasty aroma which leads into crisp and complex flavors on the palate. It is impossible to mistake Mirabelle's Northern California heritage - the freshness mid-palate continues through to the finish. Mirabelle Brut is a unique blend of hand-harvested bunches of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino county Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Mirabelle pairs well with shellfish, light appetizers or hearty, vegetable-based soups.

The non-vintage Mirabelle combines the bright, vibrant fruit of the 2002 vintage with the equally dynamic wines of vintages past. Complete with a green apple and jasmine fragrance, filled out by tropical fruit notes, the aromas merrily greet you from the glass. The bright citrus entry on the palate gives way to subtle honey and caramel, with just a hint of fresh cream to balance the zesty acid. Mirabelle, as ever, demonstrates the illustrious combination of yesterday and today, with age enhancing youth and freshness complimenting the more complex characters.

"Big, buttery aromas of baked apple, lemon curd, nutmeg, malt and bread dough. A whiff of buttered toast leads to balanced flavors of citrus, white flowers and butterscotch. Citrusy, nutty finish refuses to fade."
-Wine News

Hugh Davies, President and Winemaker of Schramsberg, is devoted to carrying on his parent's vision: to create America's premier sparkling wines. Our winemaker's passion for constant refinement of vineyard sources and winemaking techniques is captured in each bottle. The resulting refinements to our original vision are evident each year in our new releases. We invite you to share in this American tradition by enjoying our proudly crafted sparkling wines.

My Notes:

Additional wines from Schramsberg Vineyards:

About Schramsberg Vineyards:

In 1965, Jamie and Jack Davies acquired the historic Schramsberg estate and began producing, as Jack said, "America's most prestigious, select, admired champagne - chosen for special guests, special gifts, pampering one's self and expressing one's taste in unique products."

Among their accomplishments: The first production use of Chardonnay in American champagnes, as well as the first American Blanc de Noirs using Pinot Noir in the classic way. Then a Reserve, with over four years of aging. This was followed by Crémant Demi-Sec using the Flora grape (a hybrid of Semillon and Gewurztraminer), and introductions of late-disgorged cuvées. Jamie and Jack even revived tunnel construction in America for wine aging. Their philosophy for winemaking is to draw on the best of the past, building on the foundation of experience to improve the quality of their wines.