Nose

The aroma is fresh and bright with green apple, ripe grapefruit and pineapple followed by nuances of lemon custard, creme brûlée and toasted hazelnut. White peach and crisp citrus flavors are carried with accents of tart pear and apple.

Palate

The palate is furthered layered with sweet, spicy flavors of candied ginger and lemon curd. The texture is both viscous and mouthwatering, and the wine finishes with a long, lingering acidity.

Growing Conditions

A wet March provided a large groundwater supply and set up flowering in the latter part of May. A mild, temperate summer followed, allowing for gradual sugar accumulation and slow, even ripening. Delicious flavor development and high acid retention are trademarks of this sparkling wine season.

County Composition: 59% Napa, 31% Sonoma, 6% Mendocino, 4% Marin

Bottling

Bottled: April 10-11, 2006

Winemaking

Cluster samples from more than 90 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: 40%

Principal Chardonnay Blocks
Napa-Carneros: Schwarze, Hudson, Hyde, Tognetti, Jones
Sonoma County: Hawk Hill, Bates

Aging

The wine is then aged 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