Racines Wines, Grande Reserve, Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA (Base 2019)

This is the best American sparkling wine I've ever tasted. The 2019 vintage base also includes 25% reserve wines from the 2017 and 2018 harvests. This Grand Reserve Chardonnay made from the cool Sta Rita Hills is crafted with a Champagne pedigree, and it shows. This Blanc de Blancs from across renowned Sta Rita Hills vineyards has undeniable Old World charm and sophistication. The aromatics boast ample toasted biscuit notes and great yeasty complexity from the 30 months on lees. The palate has a fantastic depth of fruit, spiced pear, cardamom, nutmeg and bruised apples. There is a subtlety of savoury biscuits and hints of almond cream. Elegant, yet bold and wildly delicious.

Drink 2023 - 2033

The first thing readers need to know about the Grand Reserve is that it is a serious wine that greatly benefits from aeration. In fact, it only improved over the several days I followed it in bottle. My initial impression, however, was far less positive. So patience is key. Rich, ample and creamy with air, the Grand Reserve shows the rich, phenolic, mineral side of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay to great effect. Moreover, it has all the elements often missing in the new wave of California sparking wines, namely a fine mousse, good mid-palate depth and a long finish. The Racines sparkling wine is a work in progress, but the debut release is hugely promising.

This is really steely and bright, with citrus, apple, and some minerality. It is medium-bodied, racy, and clean, with a long finish. Seashell and nutty notes. Racy acidity. This is the real deal. Pure Chardonnay. At the time, there was a partnership with Etienne de Montille, Brian Sieve, Justin Willet, and Rudolphe Peters of Champagne.

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Sourced from Wenzlau Family, Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada and Bentrock vineyards. Whole-bunch pressed and aged on the lees in bottle for 30 months. No fining, no filtration. Disgorged February 2023. Dosage 4 g/l. 11,032 bottles made.

Light yellow-gold with medium bubbles. Aromas of white flowers, lemon pith and sea air. A voluminous mousse delivers wonderfully ethereal seawater, lemon pith, herbs and wet chalkboard flavours. Flavours of seawater and herbs and a hint of lemon peel and lemon juice linger in the finish. Crystalline and beautiful. There's a silkiness here that is very charming.

Drink 2023 - 2033