2022 Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine (750 ml)

We had several atmospheric rivers which gave us the rainfall total we like, but the precipitation did not have a chance to sink in, so for growing purposes, it still seemed like drought conditions. Summer’s cool, foggy nights allowed the grapes to develop intense flavors.

August 12, 2022

Our Blanc de Blancs, as its name implies, is made from 100% Chardonnay, and we follow the techniques utilized in Champagne, France (Méthode Champenoise). Picked by hand at night, it is 100% whole cluster direct to press.

One of the requirements of Méthode Champenoise is a gentle press cycle. For still wines, we generate ~165 gallons/ton; for our Blanc de Blancs, we extract only 120 gallons/ton to preserve the delicate fruit components. As we press, we taste the juice after each cycle to ensure that the flavors are balanced and fruity.

The juice is fermented in a stainless steel tank at 50° F and is monitored daily. We also ferment in a few one-year-old barrels. Barrel fermented wine has a richness and texture that gives the sparkling wine some added complexity.

In the following February, we made our "cuvée" (our base wine). For this wine, we added nine barrels from our barrel fermentation lot to our tank fermented wine which added richness and depth. Next, we created our "liqueur de tirage" to initiate the second fermentation and blended it in at bottling.

The complexity and delicate flavors of sparkling wines evolve and develop as the wine ages on its yeast lees known as "en tireage" for 28 months. Then we riddle and disgorge in July for release in November.

The 2022 Blanc de Blancs opens with pear, floral and yeasty notes. It is bright and lively on the palate with delicate notes of orange blossoms and pomelo.