Nose

Bright aromas of baked apple, meyer lemon, and pineapple, followed by nuances of honey, toffee, and cinnamon toast.

Palate

On first sip, caramel and caramelized pear flavors are present, which are accentuated by layers of persimmon and baked pineapple. The palate’s texture is rich and coating on entry. A long finish is driven by generous and bright acidity.

Growing Conditions

A drier than normal winter and spring, prompted an early bud break, exposing many vines to a late and deep frost, combined with an unusual springtime heatwave, caused erratic set and lower yields later in the season. The sparkling wine harvest began in mid-August, which is average for sparkling wine. Besides a week-long heat spell in early September, mild summer temperatures were mainly experienced in 2008. This allowed vines to slowly ripen. With no rush to harvest, the grapes were picked at their optimal ripeness with delicious flavors, low sugars and high acidity.

County Composition: 73% Napa, 24% Sonoma, 3% Marin

Bottling

Bottled: April 12, 2009

Winemaking

Cluster samples from more than 110 cool-climate vineyard sources are pulled several times before the optimal pick date for each block is selected. Complexity is gained through fermentation in both oak barrels and stainless-steel tanks. Some of the small lots undergo malolactic fermentation to enrich aromas and infuse creaminess on the palate.

Barrel Fermentation: 35%

Principal Chardonnay Blocks
Napa-Carneros: Jones, Tognetti
Sonoma County: Keefer

Aging

The wine is then aged for more than seven years on the yeast in Schramsberg’s historic Diamond Mountain caves, riddled by hand, and finished with an exceptional brut dosage.

Food Pairing

J. Schram is appealing on its own as an apéritif or enjoyed with fresh shellfish, caviar on toast point, smoked salmon, tangy cheeses, seafood brochettes, cedar-planked lobster, mesquite-grilled quail or Serrano ham and porcini risotto.