Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Classic Vintage Brut is considered the flagship of the Iron Horse bubblies. It shows everything the family strives to accomplish, striking memory bells that say "champagne" in quality and finesse, but with flavors that are unmistakably Sonoma County, Russian River, Green Valley and most distinctly Iron Horse.
Beautiful gold straw color with fine, persistent bubbles. The Classic Vintage Brut has aromas of green apple, honeysuckle, and a hint of fresh brioche. The inviting nose leads to flavors of baked apple on the front palate, with honeysuckle really shining through on the finish. This wine has bright acidity, a touch of creaminess, and a delicious long, lingering finish.
Blend: 72% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Delightfully expressive and detailed in structure, this bubbly bursts with aromas of Asian pear, yeast roll and spice and slowly unfurls with notes of fresh ginger and green apple. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
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James Suckling
Charming aromas of sliced pear, green apple and lemon curd. Medium-bodied with a creamy mousse. Bright and smooth with a lovely dry finish. Drink now.
Iron Horse is best known for its Sparkling Wines, which have been served at the White House since 1985, beginning with the historic U.S.-Russian Summit Meetings ending the Cold War, at the White House Millennium celebrations ushering in the new century, and at the White House dinner honoring the Pope.
Their Chardonnay is considered a signature wine for the cool, foggy Green Valley region. Pinot Noir is the winery's rising star wine.
Iron Horse has been named an American icon in a reference book published by Random House called "Icons of the American Market Place". Listed in alphabetical order, Iron Horse takes its place between iPod and Jack Daniel’s, validating Iron Horse’s reputation as a brand backed by pride, passion and quality.
The Iron Horse name came from a train that cut across the property in the 1890s. The logo, the rampant horse on a weather vane, came from a 19th century weathervane found while clearing away the rubble to build the winery.
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.
Situated on the foggier and colder western edge of the Russian River Valley, almost abutting the Sonoma Coast appellation, Green Valley is one of California’s most reputable Chardonnay and Pinot noir producing regions. It is also a wonderful source of sparkling wines made from these varieties.
Goldridge soils abound throughout the Green Valley appellation. This fine, dark, sandy loam and fractured sandstone is derived from the remains of ancient inland seabeds dating back three to five million years. It is valuable for high quality grape growing because of its excellent drainage and low fertility.