Sensory Notes:
Color: Pale strawberry
Aromas: delicate floral and peach aromas
Palate: round and creamy, with elegant flavors and well-balanced crispness.
The Vineyard
The grapes used to make this BRUT sparkling wine are all from our estate vineyard at Michel-Schlumberger.
Vintage
Some of the grapes were picked in the 2018 vintage. Moderate summer and fall temperatures allowed the grapes to retain bright fruit flavors.
Harvest
Average brix: 19.4 pH: 3.30 TA: 0.79 g/100ml
Fermentation
Fermented in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to retain the fruit flavors. No malolactic fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was settled and then blended into this cuvée.
Cooperage / Aging
The cuvée was bottled with a dosage of special sparkling wine yeast and allowed to ferment in the bottle. Aged for 14 months “on the yeast” in the bottle, the wine develops the classic rich texture and refined “sparkle” that comes from this “Methode Champenoise” technique.
Michel-Schlumberger’s first vines were planted in 1979 by Jean-Jacques Michel, a native of Switzerland. Michel traveled extensively across Northern California in search of the perfect location to establish his winery. He quickly recognized the potential of the Dry Creek Valley climate and soils to produce premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Blanc grapes, and saw the contoured exposures of Wine Creek Canyon, in particular, as ideal for creating unique flavors, especially in red wines.
In 1991, Jacques Pierre Schlumberger joined the winery team, bringing with him a legacy of over 400 years of winemaking in Alsace, France.
It was at this point that the Michel-Schlumberger brand was born. Over the years, the winery’s exceptional wines and the beauty of its estate have garnered global attention and acclaim. The mission-style architecture of the estate reflects Michel-Schlumberger’s European roots while honoring the influence of early Spanish settlers in California. Today, the winery’s white stucco walls, terracotta-tiled roof, bell tower, and grand courtyard create a spectacular setting for a day in Sonoma’s wine country.
Our Estate heritage is also reflected in the guest experience, which includes motorized tours through the vineyards, walking cellar tours through the production area, barrel tastings, and seated reserve tastings of our award-winning, small-production wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Woohoo! I am a sucker for bubbly so was thrilled to get to labrat this bottle! Thanks for the opportunity.
The wine is a beautiful pale peach with small bubbles that continuously rise in the glass. We noticed initial aromas of berries and a hint of bread. The wine tastes crisp and clean with muted berries and floral characteristics. As it warmed a little bit the flavor became somewhat more pronounced and we picked up some apple notes. I see in the description they describe this as having elegant flavors and I have to agree, it’s an absolute steal at this price in my opinion. We were guessing about $30 per bottle.
I’ve never tried anything from Michel-Schlumberger before, but this Brut sparkling is a new favorite for sure! I’m curious about their other wines and will have to seek some out.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
NV Michel-Schlumberger Brut Sparkling - $50 = 25.63%
My wife and I are big fans of good Champagne, sparkling wines, cocktails, and reds—so when a sparkling wine showed up for Lab Rat testing, we hit the jackpot. Straight into the fridge it went, and the next day we lit it up!
We have a little ritual at home: partial pours, then refills with whatever we’re drinking. It’s not just about pacing ourselves—it’s about enjoying how the wine evolves as the temperature changes. (Plus, our house rule is simple: pour your own, so if you feel it the next day, it’s on you!) Friends sometimes think a pour means filling the glass to the brim, but that’s not our style.
Back to the wine—this was a total sweet spot for us. We paired it with figs, prosciutto, blue cheese, Pringles, salmon roe caviar, and even French onion dip. First sip was complex, with fine bubbles and a dry finish. As it warmed in the glass through our refill approach, it just kept getting better. This Blanc de Blancs may have seen a touch of oak, adding nice depth.
We both guessed it would be around $45 based on visits to California wineries and typical sparkling prices. Finding out it’s in the $20s? That’s a no-brainer—especially as sparkling prices keep creeping up. This one easily holds its own against bottles twice the price.
We loved it so much, we bought two cases before even posting this review. Fantastic sparkling, great value, and absolutely in our wheelhouse.
I’m not familiar with this producer but they seem to have a decent pedigree for at least solid wines. And at this price, especially with the mystery coupon, it seems like a no brainer. And great rat reports to boot! I’m in…
Anybody familiar with our “usual” Gruet and how this compares? I love the dry like the Sauvage but expect this to be sweeter but not TOO sweet.
I have seen this brand in a red blend (or Merlot) at a local discount outlet; my mother really liked it for around $7. This was a few years ago. Was not sure of the origin. Never saw any other varieties.
@pmarin
I couldn’t help on this but to consult Claude, asking
in a sparkling blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, naturally fermented and dosed, with lab results of Alcohol: 12.5%, pH: 3.28, TA: 0.73 g/100ml and Residual Sugar: 0.9%, how likely is it an experienced wine consumer would perceive sweetness?
Given those specific parameters, it’s quite likely that an experienced wine consumer would perceive some level of sweetness in this sparkling wine.
Here’s why:
Residual Sugar:
At 0.9% (9 g/L), this is above the typical detection threshold of 6-8 g/L for most consumers, and well within the range where experienced tasters would notice sweetness.
pH and Acidity Context:
The pH of 3.28 is moderately high for sparkling wine (many are 3.0-3.2)
The TA of 0.73 g/100ml (7.3 g/L) is on the lower side for sparkling wine
This combination means there’s less acidity to mask the sweetness perception
Style Classification:
At 0.9% RS, this would fall into the Extra Dry category (1.2-1.7% RS), which is intentionally perceptibly sweet.
Experience Factor:
Experienced wine consumers typically have:
More sensitive palates
Better ability to isolate sweetness from other flavor components
Familiarity with different sweetness levels in sparkling wine
Probability: I’d estimate there’s about an 80-90% chance an experienced wine consumer would detect sweetness, though they might describe it as “off-dry” or “hint of sweetness” rather than overtly sweet.
The wine would likely present as having a soft, slightly rounded mouthfeel with gentle sweetness that balances nicely with the moderate acidity - very much in the classic Extra Dry style profile.
@pmarin@rjquillin Gruet Sauvage is one of my favorites. I would say this is slightly sweeter than that but not something I would describe as sweet at all. Maybe comparable to the Gruet Brut. I didn’t taste the two side by side, but I think I may like this more than Gruet Brut.
Thanks for the reminder about the coupon! I used the first for a case of Daou Rosé, and now a new bubbly as I’m getting low on my stash of Gruet. My two Warehouse Cleanout Mystery cases have been the gift that keeps giving! Thank you Wine David!
This arrived yesterday morning and the timing couldn’t have been better as we soared over 100. We had a movie by the pool last night and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out the bubbles. My friend doesn’t drink very often but she was extremely impressed with this.
It was a little sweet up front but dry and finished nicely with a dry but fruit forward end. I typically prefer a more acidic or less sweet varietal but this was really delicious. The nose was so lovely and I didn’t get the same notes as the first rat but it was complex and lovely. I got lots of apple/pear, hints of grapefruit, buttery notes with a hint of oak and yeast.
It also had some really lovely floral components that I wasn’t expecting. It may have been things in the garden affecting my olfactory senses but there were almost lilac/honeysuckle notes.
Now I want to chill and taste another bottle so I can take actual tasting notes. Highly recommend if it comes on offer again. I’ll be in for at least another case if it does.
Michel-Schlumberger Brut Sparkling, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
The Vineyard
Vintage
Harvest
Fermentation
Cooperage / Aging
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$600.00/Case for 12x Michel-Schlumberger Brut Sparkling, Sonoma County at Michel-Schlumberger
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, Sep 2 - Wednesday, Sep 3
NV Michel-Schlumberger Brut Sparkling
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $144.99 $12.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Woohoo! I am a sucker for bubbly so was thrilled to get to labrat this bottle!
The wine is a beautiful pale peach with small bubbles that continuously rise in the glass. We noticed initial aromas of berries and a hint of bread. The wine tastes crisp and clean with muted berries and floral characteristics. As it warmed a little bit the flavor became somewhat more pronounced and we picked up some apple notes. I see in the description they describe this as having elegant flavors and I have to agree, it’s an absolute steal at this price in my opinion. We were guessing about $30 per bottle.
I’ve never tried anything from Michel-Schlumberger before, but this Brut sparkling is a new favorite for sure! I’m curious about their other wines and will have to seek some out.
@sarahaha ddeuddeg and I used to be Wine Club members there and LOVED their wines! But, we had to cut back on our Wine Clubs!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
NV Michel-Schlumberger Brut Sparkling - $50 = 25.63%
My wife and I are big fans of good Champagne, sparkling wines, cocktails, and reds—so when a sparkling wine showed up for Lab Rat testing, we hit the jackpot. Straight into the fridge it went, and the next day we lit it up!
We have a little ritual at home: partial pours, then refills with whatever we’re drinking. It’s not just about pacing ourselves—it’s about enjoying how the wine evolves as the temperature changes. (Plus, our house rule is simple: pour your own, so if you feel it the next day, it’s on you!) Friends sometimes think a pour means filling the glass to the brim, but that’s not our style.
Back to the wine—this was a total sweet spot for us. We paired it with figs, prosciutto, blue cheese, Pringles, salmon roe caviar, and even French onion dip. First sip was complex, with fine bubbles and a dry finish. As it warmed in the glass through our refill approach, it just kept getting better. This Blanc de Blancs may have seen a touch of oak, adding nice depth.
We both guessed it would be around $45 based on visits to California wineries and typical sparkling prices. Finding out it’s in the $20s? That’s a no-brainer—especially as sparkling prices keep creeping up. This one easily holds its own against bottles twice the price.
We loved it so much, we bought two cases before even posting this review. Fantastic sparkling, great value, and absolutely in our wheelhouse.
@ChiWineOne Pics of wine look very nice.
The Pringles… what is this, some sort of cruel hoax?
@ChiWineOne @pmarin Heh… that was the first thing I saw
But I’m a big fan of you do you 
@capnjb @ChiWineOne …that’s what we all do here.
Sparkling!
I’m not familiar with this producer but they seem to have a decent pedigree for at least solid wines. And at this price, especially with the mystery coupon, it seems like a no brainer. And great rat reports to boot! I’m in…
/giphy mighty-screeching-harmony
I’ve had some good Reds from Michel-Schlumberger. Good priced sparkling? Good reviews?
Buying a case!
Just enough chatter to push me over
/giphy sleek-fatherly-burn
Anybody familiar with our “usual” Gruet and how this compares? I love the dry like the Sauvage but expect this to be sweeter but not TOO sweet.
I have seen this brand in a red blend (or Merlot) at a local discount outlet; my mother really liked it for around $7. This was a few years ago. Was not sure of the origin. Never saw any other varieties.
@pmarin
I couldn’t help on this but to consult Claude, asking
Given those specific parameters, it’s quite likely that an experienced wine consumer would perceive some level of sweetness in this sparkling wine.
Here’s why:
Residual Sugar:
At 0.9% (9 g/L), this is above the typical detection threshold of 6-8 g/L for most consumers, and well within the range where experienced tasters would notice sweetness.
pH and Acidity Context:
The pH of 3.28 is moderately high for sparkling wine (many are 3.0-3.2)
The TA of 0.73 g/100ml (7.3 g/L) is on the lower side for sparkling wine
This combination means there’s less acidity to mask the sweetness perception
Style Classification:
At 0.9% RS, this would fall into the Extra Dry category (1.2-1.7% RS), which is intentionally perceptibly sweet.
Experience Factor:
Experienced wine consumers typically have:
More sensitive palates
Better ability to isolate sweetness from other flavor components
Familiarity with different sweetness levels in sparkling wine
Probability: I’d estimate there’s about an 80-90% chance an experienced wine consumer would detect sweetness, though they might describe it as “off-dry” or “hint of sweetness” rather than overtly sweet.
The wine would likely present as having a soft, slightly rounded mouthfeel with gentle sweetness that balances nicely with the moderate acidity - very much in the classic Extra Dry style profile.
@pmarin @rjquillin Gruet Sauvage is one of my favorites. I would say this is slightly sweeter than that but not something I would describe as sweet at all. Maybe comparable to the Gruet Brut. I didn’t taste the two side by side, but I think I may like this more than Gruet Brut.
In for four, used that coupon that was burning a hole in my pocket
/giphy fervent-poised-walrus
Worth a shot on four bottles. I’ll probably regret not getting a case at a later date
/giphy funny-tall-cable
@capnjb you will.
@capnjb @ChiWineOne After sharing a bottle with a friend last night, you will definitely regret not getting the full case.
@capnjb @sillyheathen we did two cases and had recommended to friends load up on cases.
@ChiWineOne @sillyheathen I chose… incorrectly.
And this was my first time in over 30 orders that I never bought a full case.
I’m a big dummy
Lesson learned…heh
In for a case. Used my Warehouse Mystery Case discount coupon and did summer hold! Such a screaming deal, Wine David! Thank you!
Here we go again…
/giphy hollow-undersized-ostrich
Thanks for the reminder about the coupon! I used the first for a case of Daou Rosé, and now a new bubbly as I’m getting low on my stash of Gruet. My two Warehouse Cleanout Mystery cases have been the gift that keeps giving! Thank you Wine David!
/giphy frequent-ruthless-curtain
/giphy caustic-indigo-asparagus
This arrived yesterday morning and the timing couldn’t have been better as we soared over 100. We had a movie by the pool last night and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out the bubbles. My friend doesn’t drink very often but she was extremely impressed with this.
It was a little sweet up front but dry and finished nicely with a dry but fruit forward end. I typically prefer a more acidic or less sweet varietal but this was really delicious. The nose was so lovely and I didn’t get the same notes as the first rat but it was complex and lovely. I got lots of apple/pear, hints of grapefruit, buttery notes with a hint of oak and yeast.
It also had some really lovely floral components that I wasn’t expecting. It may have been things in the garden affecting my olfactory senses but there were almost lilac/honeysuckle notes.
Now I want to chill and taste another bottle so I can take actual tasting notes. Highly recommend if it comes on offer again. I’ll be in for at least another case if it does.
@sillyheathen Thanks for the note! Looking forward to these as our daily drinker sparkler when it arrives in the fall.
My batch must’ve went bad. I think it got way too hot. It tastes like turpentine.
Verdict, delicious. If it shows up again, I’m getting two cases and pestering my roommate to get two more.