Winemaker Notes
First crafted as an experiment in 2008, this sparkling wine has continued to delight with its lively character and refined finish. Reminiscent of French Champagne, it offers a buttery, yeasty brioche note that complements vibrant flavors of golden apple and a touch of citrus as the wine evolves in the glass. It pairs beautifully with Langres cheese, a smoked salmon tartine, or—perhaps most enjoyably—crispy fried chicken, proving that bubbles can make any occasion more fun.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Almost a green shade of yellow in the glass, this bottling blends sharp lime with softer Meyer lemon and a touch of melon rind on the nose. The mousse foams up dramatically on the palate, carrying zesty flavors of lime peel with a very tactile texture.
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.
A lesser-known but elite AVA within the larger Santa Barbara district, the Santa Maria Valley AVA runs precisely west to east starting near the coast. The valley funnels cool, Pacific Ocean air to the vineyards more inland, allowing grapes a longer hang time to ripen evenly and achieve their full potential by harvest time. Combined with minimal rainfall, consistent warm sunshine, and well-drained soils, it is an ideal environment for grape growing.
Many of the wineries here are small and highly respected, having established a reputation in the 1970s and 80s for producing excellent Central Coast wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More recently, Syrah has also proven quite successful in the region. Many vineyards are owned by growers who sell their grapes to other wineries, so it is common to see the same vineyard name on bottlings from different wineries. Bien Nacido Vineyard is perhaps the best-known and most prestigious.