2016 Brut - Méthode Champenoise
Tasting Notes
Another scintillating sparkling wine joins our spectacular collection: our 2016 Brut has arrived! The most diminutive of bubbles deliver aromas, both subtle and kaleidoscopic, of almond, nutmeg, and fresh baguette. A lush and velvety mousse floods the palate with a rich and complex impression of heady pear, sassy apricot, and tingly ginger. This bubbly is elegant and delightful; playful and sophisticated. And I would like a glass every day!
Drink Window: Now – 2026 – 2034+.
Serving Temperature: 39°-46°f
Vintage Notes
On the heels of an unseasonably mild winter, a late frost kicked off the 2016 growing season in the Finger Lakes. This caused some stress in the form of bud loss, but as late spring moved into summer, we saw what was to become one of the most intense droughts ever seen in this region. High heat, sun filled skies, and virtually no rain whatsoever, for all intents and purposes, eradicated any disease pressure while forcing the root systems of our mature vines ever deeper into more nutrient rich soil and concentrating deep, rich, and intense flavor in the fruit. Early fall was equally dry, and harvest kicked off with a bang. Moisture did arrive toward the end of the season, bringing the fruit to beautiful maturity. All in all, 2016 resulted in smaller than average yields, but quality was absolutely, mouth-wateringly, phenomenal! We look forward with eager hearts and taste buds to enjoying the results of the 2016 growing season!
Winemaking
Hand Harvested: 8/22 - 9/1/2016
Tank fermented, aged on lees for 5 months, tirage bottled February 2017, aged en tirage for 8 years, riddled & disgorged February 2023, minimal dosage @ 1.5 g/L
Dosage: Chardonnay
Dosage TA: 1.5 g/L
RS: 0.12%
ABV: 12.0%
TA: 6.9 g/L
pH: 3.16
Unfined
Sterile filtered at tirage
Tirage Bottled: February 2017
Cases Produced: 75
Hand disgorged February 2023
AVA: Finger Lakes
Vineyard Sites:
East side of Seneca Lake
West side of Cayuga Lake