Nose

Aromas of fresh green apple, apricot and lime and a bit of minerality. In addition there is a creaminess of vanilla custard, and marzipan followed by fresh baguette.

Palate

Flavors of orange, melon and lemon are present with some lime pith. The fruit is accentuated by warm spices, cinnamon and nutmeg. The texture is rich and tangy with an acidity that is long and balanced.

Growing Conditions

Budbreak occurred earlier than many vintners could remember and the trend carried forward throughout the growing season. Heat spikes occurred in June and at scattered intervals throughout the summer season. Grapes completed veraison early and ripeness with well developed sugars in all varieties was realized early. Growers held on as acid balance eventually caught up. Temperatures were steady into one of the earliest harvests in Napa Valley. Grape quality was very good with a crop that was smaller than average.

County Composition: 47% Napa, 43% Sonoma, 6% Mendocino, 4% Marin

Bottling

Bottled: May 16-17, 2005

Winemaking

Cluster samples 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: 34%

Principal Chardonnay Blocks
Napa-Carneros: Hyde, Tognetti, Scwarze
Sonoma-Carneros: Vella, Hawk Hill, Keefer
Marin County: Stevens

Aging

The wine is then aged on the yeast in Schramsberg’s historic Diamond Mountain caves for six years, 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, smoked salmon, tangy cheeses, seafood brochettes or risotto with prosciutto.