Nose

The 2004 Extra Brut is our first release of an extra dry sparkling wine. Aromas of juicy peach and nectarine are present in addition to more developed character of clove, warm vanilla custard, marzipan and oven-fresh sourdough bread.

Palate

On first taste there are flavors of lime, pineapple and orange marmalade, followed by nuances of dark cherry and some rhubarb, which are accentuated by hazelnut and black tea. The palate is crisp and tangy with a mouth watering acidity that is long and lingering.

Growing Conditions

The "Extra Brut" is produced for the growing number of sparkling enthusiasts who on occasion enjoy a very, very dry sparkling wine. These sparkling wines are finished with a dosage of between 0.3 - 0.6 g/100ml of residual sugar, about half that of the omnipresent "Brut" offerings.A progression towards a drier "Brut" has occurred in the sparkling wine world in the past two decades as producers have been able to develop brighter intensity of fruit flavor in the grapes that they grow. This transition has absolutely happened at Schramsberg, where cooler climate vineyards have produced grapes with not only higher acidity, but also riper Pinot Noir and Chardonnay characteristics.

With our first-ever “Extra Brut”, we have given the clarity and depth of some of our finest blocks of the 2004 season an even greater opportunity to balance the crispness and drive of the resulting sparkling wine. Made primarily from the broader and supple Pinot Noir variety,

Harvest

Harvest Dates: August 28 - September 11, 2004

Winemaking

Barrel Fermentation 36%

Aging

This bottling was aged for five years on the yeast prior to disgorgement, enabling ample time for it to soften and develop complexity and depth.

Food Pairing

We are very excited to share this effort with you. It is ready to enjoy upon release, but will surely age beautifully for another two decades or more to come. This opulent and racy style will match extraordinarily well on the raw side with caviar and ceviche, but will also pair perfectly on the cooked side with smoked oysters, mushroom tarts, and veal picatta. A simple antipasto sampling with prosciutto, sopresatta, gouda, pecorino, artichoke heart, and cured olives will also shine alongside.