Winemaker Notes
Our 2018 vintage is a classic expression of our Ultra Brut. A mélange of citrus, honeysuckle and freshly cut pear on the nose leads into a palate dancing with notes of yuzu, blanched almond, and ginger with a hint of lychee contributed by the small percentage of pinot gris. With a surprisingly mouthwatering complexity, its bright, crisp fruit and delicate minerality ride on a serious structure that leads to a generous effervescence.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Saltines, pears, grapefruit, sea shells, praline and salted almonds. Textured and restrained with lovely pastry and biscuit notes and very fine bubbles. Dry and all in balance.
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Wine Enthusiast
Chalky, racy and persistent, this sparkling wine delivers plenty of flavor in a leaner style. Palate-cleansing flavors of citrus blossoms, oyster shells and spiced apples sparkle through an ultralong finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made from the base wine as the Estate Brut but with a lower dosage of just 4.5 grams per liter, the 2018 Estate Ultra Brut is the racier and drier of the two (no surprise here). Lime juice and citrus zest mark the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is zesty, clean and rapier-fresh.
Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.