Winemaker Notes
On the nose, the Ocean Reserve offers orange zest, Tahitian lime, and minerality. The palate shows lime and tangerine -- as well as creamy richness on the finish.
In the spirit of supporting ocean conservancy, recommended food pairings are seafood deemed a "best choice" on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Ocean Reserve is a refreshing sparkling wine with depth of flavor from chardonnay, a selection from three blocks at Iron Horse’s Green Valley estate. It’s bright, zesty and clean in 2013, and tastes like it comes from somewhere—a patchwork of knolls covered in vines, usually a few rainbows overhead when the coastal fog and mists of rain are lifting. The Sterling family, who farms the site, partnered with National Geographic’s Ocean Initiative on this wine, contributing $4 for each bottle sold. It’s a delicious way to help establish protected areas and support sustainable fishing practices.
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Wine Enthusiast
Made to benefit the exploratory organization, this high-toned stunner exudes flavors of Gravenstein apple followed by a slight richness of marzipan. Moderate acidity and weight makes it a fine companion for the table, finishing with a sense of welcome fullness.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and expressive, with baked apple, spice and mineral aromas and lovely, precise lime, kiwifruit and almond flavors.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A nicely made bubbly, the green apple, mineral-like 2013 Iron Horse Vineyards Ocean Reserve Blanc de Blancs–the winery gives $4 a bottle to National Geographic's Ocean Initiative, establishing marine protected areas and supporting sustainable fishing practices around the globe–is an excellent example of a delicate and persistent blanc de blancs. The wine's tart apple and mineral notes invite a pairing with a dozen or two raw oysters. (Tasted: September 18, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.