Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is nestled in Mendocino County's fog-shrouded Anderson Valley. As the California property of Champagne Louis Roederer, Roederer Estate builds upon a centuries-old tradition of fine winemaking. The premium grape growing region's proximity to the ocean gives rise to a gentle cycle of warm days and cool nights, allowing grapes to mature slowly on the vine and develop full varietal character.

Clark Road is the first single-vineyard release from Roederer Estate and is at the core of Roederer Estate philosophy: deep knowledge of its family-owned vineyards and careful craftmanship of site-selected wines. Clark Road is the access road to our vineyards and also the name of the family that farmed and owned an apple orchard on the site. The single-vineyard wines that we release, including Clark Road, will showcase the sense of place and the expression of the fruit in its terroir.

2021 Clark Road Vineyard is a hand-made bottling. This vineyard is on the cool west side of Anderson Valley, where Pinot Noir thrives. We are intimately familiar with this site, which we have been farming since 1999. During those years, we have learned that we can leave the fruit on the vine longer than other sites, and as we allow it to ripen, it develops the juicy acidity so essential to top-quality sparkling wine. Clark Road was partially fermented in casks (7%) and with a small amount of reserve wine aged in casks (4.8%) to give the Roederer Estate family touch.

It was disgorged in December 2024 after 30 months on the yeast.

2021 Clark Road Vineyard offers delicate aromas of fresh crushed berries, with light wood tones arising from the addition of the oak-aged wines. Vibrant acidity at entry is followed by a clean, full mouthfeel. Notes of berry and vanilla cream linger on the pleasing, dry finish, with the low dosage bringing the wine into perfect balance.

The 2021 growing season was a repeat of the previous year, with drought conditions affecting the entire valley. There was a frost in the spring, but fortunately our fruit losses were limited. Our usual Anderson Valley summer fog was often absent. Berry size was below average, and the overall yield was one of our lowest on record. Small berries led to the concentration of flavors and high acidity at the onset of harvest. The drought conditions and lack of fog led to elevated sugar levels and ripeness in grapes picked near the end of harvest.