Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Late Disgorged (California) 1990

A tasty blanc de noirs sparkling wine predominately from pinot noir. Served it with the good wife's delicious veal fricassee, for which it made a fabulous match. It retained enough pinot noir stuffing to stand up to the meat, while the bubbles scrubbed the cream sauce off the palate. A lovely golden color, with a hint of salmon, but not a rose (let alone a red). Exactly what you want from a blanc de noirs -- a white wine from red grapes. Tiny bubbles. On both the nose and the palate, the wine's age has caused the fruit to subside while the long lees aging typical of a late disgorged sparkling wine has accentuated the yeast autolysis flavors. Creamy texture, with soft bubbles, but good acidity and a touch of sweetness. Buttered toast, baked apples, roasted almonds, hazelnuts, creme brulee, orange blossoms, and a hint of indeterminate citrus. It is the texture that is the dominant sensory impression, however. Scrubbing bubbles in cream is the only way to describe it, but hardly does it justice. The entry is all about creaminess, while the finish provides the scrubbing effect. Very impressive. Grade: A