Winemaker Notes
Specially selected Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes blend beautifully to create the base wine for this sparkling brut. Red fruit melds with ripe citrus and honeysuckle while crisp bubbles lead to a refreshingly clean finish. No matter the occasion, this Cuvee Brut is a cheerful addition to any toast.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 63% Chardonnay and 27% Pinot Noir, this sparkler starts off with finessed aromas of white blossoms, lemon and ripe yellow apple. It is rounded and full on the palate, with a smooth mousse that delivers flavors of racy lemon and tart orchard fruit. A gentle kiss of seared citrus lingers on the savory close.
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.
As the most historic wine-producing region in New York state, winemaking in the Finger Lakes area dates back to the 1820s and today as a region, accounts for 90% of the state’s total wine production.
Its narrow and deep lakes created by the movement of Ice Age glaciers create an environment similar to the classic Riesling-loving regions of Europe, namely Germany and Austria. The Finger Lakes retain summer heat that incidentally warms up cold winter air, making it fall down from the lakes’ steep slopes. When spring comes, the lakes, already cooled by cold winter weather, stave off vine budding until the danger of frost has subsided. The main lakes of the zone, that is those big enough to moderate the climate in this way, are the focal points of prime vineyard areas. They include Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga.
While Riesling has fueled most of the region’s success, today Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc enjoy some attention.