The new release of Scharffenberger’s non-vintage Brut Rosé is crafted from a cépages of fifty-five percent chardonnay and forty-five percent pinot noir, with five percent of the pinot being still red wine to produce the cuvée’s delicate salmon color. The wine’s nose is bright and complex, wafting from the glass in a mix of strawberries, quince, rye bread, a lovely base of soil, dried flowers and a lovely, delicate savory topnote. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, focused and well-balanced, with frothy mousse, a good spine of acidity and fine balance on the long and complex finish. Good juice. 2025-2040.

The current release of the Scharffenberger non-vintage “Brut Excellence” is from the base year of 2021 and was composed from its customary cépages of sixty percent chardonnay and forty percent pinot noir. It offers up a bright and classy bouquet of apple, nectarine, dried flowers, bread dough, a lovely base of soil and a nice topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is crisp, fullbodied, focused and complex, with a lovely core of fruit, good mineral undertow, frothy mousse and a long, crisp and very nicely balanced finish. This is really quite stylish. 2025-2040.

There is a richness to this wine, with creamy lemon and almond pastry cream. Tart, piquant notes of sea spray brine and white pepper. Known as the Black Label, it's a late disgorged wine; the base comes from 2015 but was disgorged in 2018. It is a rich and powerful wine with a touch of milk chocolate. Creamy and sweet.

Sweet cherries and candied raspberries, with dried lavender and herbs. Orange sherbert dashes of ocean salinity and crushed stone and chalk. Red wine from specific vineyards is blended back, 55% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir with 5% red wine blended in.

A solid core of fruit with apple, strawberry and hints of iron and salt on both the nose and palate. Full yet not too much with a lively mouthfeel and fine tannins. Tensioned and plenty of flavor.