A dry year that was warmer than typical, this wine shows so much depth with a pastry crust and wonderfully ripe fruit marked by bruised apples. Pinot is what makes the vintages here, according to winemaker Arnaud Weyrich. The Clark Road wine was kept on lees for 32 months; it was the first single vineyard wine from the Roederer Estate. This site was selected given its proximity to the ‘Deep End’, which provides more proximity to the Pacific Ocean, which cools faster and warms up more slowly. There is an austerity to this wine.

A fine mousse marks the 2017 L'Ermitage. This wine is only made in certain vintages, such as the estate's tete de cuvee. Special cask-aged wines are added to the L'Ermitage to add complexity and depth, in this case, aged reserve wine from 2012. This vintage was marked by a wet winter, with slow ripening in the Anderson Valley and a Labor Day heat wave. The addition of Pinot Meunier was to mitigate the impact of the heat wave as it was picked earlier or before, in this case. This wine shows bruised apples, nutmeg spice, poached pears and quince paste. This wine shows power and depth, elegance and longevity.

The premier sparkling wine producer in California has just recently released this, their very first vineyard designated offering. As you might expect, it is a winner on all fronts, and it is a slight departure from the usual house style that has brought the label to such prominence. The hallmarks are here of course – a fine, creamy mousse, with beautiful perlage in the glass, bold aromas and flavors – but the stylistic difference comes from the dosage level. This is noticeably drier than the regular non-vintage or vintage L’Ermitage offerings, and it is a welcome addition to the portfolio. It renders the regional apple character found in the other wines in a more austere fashion, allowing more palate real estate to subtle cherry fruit, stony mineral and toasted croissant notes. I suspect that winemaker Arnaud Weyrich, the driver behind the estate’s success, has wanted to offer a “grower” sort of wine for a while, but also wanted to wait for the perfect opportunity.

“Dynamic yet sleekly elegant, with rich strawberry and apple flavors that are accented by spiced cinnamon and yeast roll as this dances toward the vibrant finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2026.”

“This wine is pale-pink salmon-hued with aromas of yeasty brioche, fresh raspberry, youthful strawberry, white tea and spiced orange zest on the nose. The midpalate is firm mousse, dried raspberry, orange blossom, gliding into supple orange cream and white grapefruit with a dry finish. Pair with life.”