Longboard Brut Cuvee
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A classic methode champenoise brut made to push the envelope. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley were fermented in old oak barrels before the cuvee was blended and bottle aged. Finished dry with Longboard's proprietary dosage.
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Winemaker Oded Shakked, who started his bubbly career at Domaine Chandon and J Vineyards & Winery, brings together 61% Chardonnay and 39% Pinot Noir in this brut wine, made mostly from 2015 vintage fruit, with other vintages mingled in. Honeycomb, crème brûlée and baked apple and lemon give it a rich, viscous feel and robust mouthfeel with lively acidity maintaining freshness.
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.