2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains
Tasting Notes
This astonishing méthode champenoise sparkling Grenache saignée was bled from our Red Grenache. It combines varietal red fruit aromas, the melon rind of rosé, and the complexities of yeast autolysis in a wine which seems at once very fresh and evolved. A unique, wonderful twist on tradition.
Because the base wines of the Champagne district of France are always highly acidic, the tradition there is to mitigate the acidity with sugar. In fact, the traditional Champagne styles Sec, Demi-sec, and Doux range from 6 to 12% sugar. Even today’s modern Brut wines are generally 1.5% R.S. or so. Here in California, we can take advantage of our lower acidities by bottling a “Brut Zero” with no masking sugar at all, permitting the flavors and innate richness of the wine to come forward, followed by a finish of unparalleled length and complexity.
What a wonderful result! I had the privilege of pouring this wine at the reception of my recent wedding, attended by many winemakers who attested that this is one of the best sparkling wines they had ever encountered.
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Varietal: Grenache
Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains
Alcohol: 12.50%
pH: 3.41
Total Acidity: 6.7 g/L
Included in the Box
3-bottles:
3x 2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains
Case:
12x 2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains
WineSmith wines are noted for their longevity, classic balance, structural integrity, minerality and understated soulfulness. They often are aged extensively prior to release. When drinking a WineSmith wine, always ask yourself “What is this wine trying to teach me?” Clark is a vocal advocate of living soil and graceful longevity, and generally avoids excessive oak, alcohol, or extended hang-time. He is not shy about employing new tools when they are needed, such as alcohol adjustment to bring fruit into balance or micro-oxygenation to build refined structure, but always fully discloses techniques which are controversial and is outspoken in explaining his rationale.
Clark Smith is an MIT drop-out who wandered out to California in 1972 and sold wine retail in the Bay Area for several years, where he acquired a love of Bordeaux, Burgundy and all things French and observed first-hand the California winery explosion in the 1970s. After a three year stint at Veedercrest Vineyards, he secured enology training at UC Davis and spent the 1980s as founding winemaker for The R.H. Phillips Vineyard in Yolo County. In 1990, he founded WineSmith Consulting and patented a group of new winemaking techniques involving reverse osmosis, spinning off Vinovation, which went on to become the world’s largest wine production consulting firm over its 17-year history.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs
3 bottles for $89.99 $30/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
@cmaldoon You and me both. I adore Grenache Blanc’s white pepper and melon. Alas, it’s not to be at WineSmith, as I have other plans. We got a bumper crop of the red in 2019, so we’re taking 100 cases to methode champenoise rouge. Check back in a couple years.
That said, we we still have a few bottles of the 2014 of this wine, which has no color and is much more feminine, perhaps offering a window into the style you’re imagining.
Greetings, friends and homies. I’m an experimental California winemaker with deep roots in European styles. I love to devise a wine that shows that Cali is a great place to make wines with a Euro-aesthetic in hopes that my colleagues will try their hand as well instead of the macho impact clown wines we are type-cast to produce.
The revolution has to start somewhere. This wine project is all about pulling the pants down on the world’s most prestigious appellation: Champagne.
Champagne got justly famous when Dom Perignon and his predecessors figured out a way to make stable sweet table wine four centuries ago. These highly sweet wines were a perfect use for the thin, bland, sour wines of France’s worst appellation. Alcoholic Pepsi. The court of the Sun King went nuts for this stuff and rightly so.
Please watch my video to learn the whole story - lots of laughs.
Anywho, here in California our grapes have FLAVOR. The French want us to apologize for it. Ze wine must be wizout flavor so eet can be ze blank canvas on which ze yeast shall paint eetz masterpiece.
Gimme a break. History shows that the French realize that they themselves have always held that Brut Champagne is a terrible idea that only stupid British and wild animals would drink.
Let’s start the revolution here, today, and substitute great American methode champenoise for French for our holiday celebrations. I am cutting my price for this wine by half or better to energize the movement.
While we’re waiting for our lab rat majority and dissenting opinions, here’s what a few recent reviewers had to say:
“Smith’s answer to French champagne. A 2017 Sparkling Grenache Santa Cruz Mtns, Bates Ranch. In a 2014 there was a happy accident. While waiting for the Grenache to open up for a possible Rosé, the wine underwent a spontaneous malolactic. Now what? Assistant winemaker Mike Faulk suggested a méthode champenoise sparkling wine. The result was brilliant and the decision was made to make this particular wine on purpose. 2017 which was in my glass was a richer version of the original that’s worth getting to know better. I experienced lovely aromas of honeydew melon and strawberry joined by rich yeastiness. This sparkling is referred to as a “Brut Zero” with no masking sugars at all. This gives permission to the rich flavors to take the spotlight. The undeniable length and complexity makes this one special and therefore memorable. I’m a fan.” – Laurie Allen, Sip of Spokane
“This méthode champenoise sparkling wine has aromas of strawberries and melon and is very clean and fresh tasting, with minerality in the finish from the limestone soils. To my palate (and esophagus), it is a brut zero that’s rich and round with no need for additional sugar to tamp down excess acidity.” – Carole Hartland, lettingthewinespeak.com
“What do you do when your Grenache doesn’t get enough color on it? Make sparkling wine! That’s a solution I can definitely get behind. Give it a try for my newest tradition, Mousseux Monday! This easy drinking sparkler has no added dosage (a sugar/wine mixture that gets added prior to final bottling). The result is lively and refreshing. If you’re looking for something to spark joy besides decluttering your house, uncork a bottle of this bubbly.” – Nancy Croiser, VinoSocial
“Tangerine in color. Aromatic nose of blended apple, nectarine, and melon. Tingly palate is soft, dry but not tart, and tasting of apples and melon. Medium acid. Medium+ finish. Quaffable with or without food. My favorite of the samples. Suggested pairings: Shellfish, mild cheeses, green salad.” – Linda Whipple, MyFullWineGlass
@jshaver Yes, they are quite different. As you know, the 2014 has no color and is extremely delicate and feminine, with many subtle layers of aromatics.
By contrast, the 2017 is bold and assertive. The terroir flavors are the same, but here we have a neon peach color, bold aromatic intensity, and a mouth with great structure and body. Then you get that same mineral energy in the finish that you are used to in the 2014 as well as an endless finish with bolder flavors but similarly unencumbered by dosage and aggressive acidity.
The 2014 is more elusively seductive; the 2017 more generous and voluptuous. It’s also younger, and will gain grace with time.
@jshaver@winesmith For how long do you expect the 2017 to continue gaining grace? I’ve never held on to bubbly long enough to have to worry about drinking window, but perhaps I’m missing out.
This is a great question. A little background on this issue first.
In Champagne, great efforts are invested in eliminating tannins. This is because the wine’s searing acidity, combined with the carbonate acidity of the bubbles, causes great amounts of salivary protein to pour into the mouth, combining with any tannins present to form a coarse mouthfeel. Yuk. To prevent this, grapes are pressed very gently and only free-run is used for cuvee. The lack of anti-oxidative tannin greatly diminishes shelf life.
Winemakers in Champagne will beg you to drink Champagnes freshly after release. Even if their special cuvees have enjoyed a decade sur lies, a totally reductive environment, they do not consider aging post-disgorgement beneficial, and beg us Americans to partake of their mastery of the moment ASAP.
Champagnes held for over three years en tirage acquire a special yeasty character resembling bread dough which is highly prized. Most consumers have heard of it but have no real idea what it is. Humorously, the high-shelf storage and slow sales of ultra-premium Champaignes in U.S. retail stores has led to a high degree of stinky sulfide “light-struck” aromas, also found in Corona beer, which are attributed to this illusive and treasured yeastiness they have read abut online. Paradoxically, these spoiled wines are now highly prized among affluent novices.
I actually love great old Champagne. In the '70s, I cut my teeth on Dom Perignon, Perrier-Jouet and Crystall three decades old from a friend’s cellar that needed drinking. The bubbles wobbled to the surface and the wines were like fino sherry, but a lot of fun. So it depends on what you want.
In the case of this wine, I have seen it gain drinkability in the last two years, softening, richening and gaining aromatic complexity, and I imagine this development will continue for at least 3-5 years. After that, it’s anybody’s guess.
For those of you who know the wine, what do you think?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs - $60 = 16.65%
I had the good fortune of receiving a sample bottle of Clark’s most recent rendition of a Brút Zero Sparkling Grenache. Having enjoyed several bottles of the 2014 vintage, I was expecting much the same experience. I should have known better. Clark’s wines are often unexpected treasures and this is yet another example.
The 2014 was stellar in its own right, with notes of citrus and strawberry framed by flinty minerality. This 2017 vintage is quite different. Richer, less fruity, with great depth and profundity.
LOOK: Pretty, golden hue with a touch of blush. Clear, with a frothy mousse that dissipates rather quickly
but continues to produce fine, persistent bubbles.
SMELL: Brioche, with notes of apple, marzipan, Brazil nuts and a hint of berries.
TASTE: Golden delicious apple with marzipan and yeasty/leesy notes of bread, tree nuts and mozzarella. If I didn’t know better, I would almost think it was a sparkling Roussanne (now I want to try a sparkling Roussanne).
Paired with Chinese takeout (General Tso’s chicken, rice and egg roll), it paired wonderfully with the food. It went so well with the egg roll that I found myself sipping it while still chewing. The spiciness of the General Tso’s sauce brought out some hidden spice notes in the wine that took it to another level.
FEEL: Rich, medium+ bodied wine. Well rounded, with a long finish and Clark’s trademark buzzy minerality on the tongue. Somehow manages to seem both fresh and well aged at the same time.
SUMMARY: As mentioned initially, an unexpected treasure. Lush, delicious and profound. The kind of wine that you don’t just drink - you experience it. And when it’s gone, you think about it - contemplating the different aspects of the wine that made it so unique and enjoyable and caused it to disappear so quickly.
This may not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you enjoy sparklers and austere whites such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Grúner Veltliner, etc., then this should be right in your wheelhouse. IMHO this is yet another feather in Clark’s cap of greatness and one more reason for me to continue to be a WineSmith fanboy.
SWMBO and I had the wonderful good fortune to be selected as Lab Rats for the 2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains.
We’re in the middle of selling our house and moving, so we were not able to do a proper “Davis” scoring for this extraordinary wine. However, both SWMBO and I thought it was first rate. Rating it wholeistically on a modified Davis scale I normally use, I would rate this wine at least 18.5, maybe even 19. Translating this into a 100 pt score, which so many seem to use these days, would give you a score between 92.5 and 95 on a direct translation (multiplying by 5), but given the general inflation in the use of the 100 pt scale, I would say that a 95-97 rating would most approximate my very high Davis score. (Those who know me know I have only rated a handful of wines at 20 over 60+ years, and probably no more than 100 at 19 or better over those 60 years - as a practical matter, you are unlikely to see a higher rating from me.)
The nose was absolutely lovely - clearly Grenache, reminiscent of the very very best Tavel rose, but yeasty and bone dry as well. Clark’s use of “astonishing” to describe this wine is apt. I usually can’t stand such superlatives on a bottle, but this time is an exception.
Color was gorgeous - like the very best blanc de noir Champagne/California sparkling wine. Tiny, tiny bubbles as the very best methode champagnoise sparklers.
Flavors were amazing, rich, complex blending of fruit - red fruit, bread dough (yeast), bone dry and thoroughly refreshing.
Fine long finish.
We liked this so much, we scotched our plans to serve a nice old Burgundy with an early Thanksgiving turkey dinner and drank this instead. Wow! It was perfect…
I have always said that my very favorite Champagne is Krug, and that I prefer LD/RD sparklers that have had many years on the yeasts. For many years, I have rated Iron Horse, Schramsberg, and Roederer Anderson Valley the best sparkling wines in California.
We recently had an Acquiesce sparkling Grenache that was lovely: this is better.
The only California sparkling wines I have had that are equal to or better than this wine are 1) a special bottling from Korbel (never commercially available, I got a case from the widow of one of the Korbel brothers) for their centennial in 1955 that was all Chardonnay and spent 6 years or so on the yeasts, 2) Iron Horse Joy, 3) 1979 Iron Horse LD, and 4) 1970 Schramsberg Blanc de blanc. And, that’s it.
rpmAUTOBUY
So, buy as much as you can afford and figure out how to store it!!!
@winesmith Hey Clark, Love your videos, and impressions of the French. Just FYI this video seems to have some splicing errors. Also, cant wait to try this wine!
Thanks Mr. Clark @winesmith, and thanks to @rpm! @winesmith has never failed me yet. One case secured. Also appreciate the heads up email from WineSmith in my mailbox this morning about this offer.
@mgowhoo Sorry, just saw this, I had two other takers earlier in the day yesterday, so I don’t have any extra. If one of them falls through, though, I’ll let you know.
Had to try this one. I’ve only had two wines from WineSmith, and they were both among the best I have had. In for a case.
/giphy indefatigable-synonymous-yard
Hi Clark - I really buy into your mission and you have the chops to pull it off. It helps that most of your creations turn out wonderfully. I am not a big sparkler drinker, but had to get some of this just to see what you’ve come up with. And … Congratulations on the wedding!
@rjquillin
Initially I thought even earlier, but Clark may have provided a healthy quantity, so I’ll go with a delayed18:00 Pacific, based on the higher cost than other offers I recall.
@browncj7@rpm I would agree that either way is OK. I think one thing about the vertical is better in the rare case of “premature poppage” (of the cork).
I remember an old site where a button would start “bouncing” when something was almost sold-out. That was cool and prompted me to click on more than one occasion. In any “case” I will click, but “case” is my question: “case” or just 3? I’m sure these will store well.
@pmarin@WCCWineGirl@dave
Yes, and I have no idea why that hasn’t happened here, not 'cause we haven’t commented earlier…
FOMO is a real thing, how would that not be a sales incentive?
I was going to pass based on the 2014 and our overflowing storage, but between chipgreen and rpm that’s made it all but impossible. Is there a SoCal case split happening? I’d take a pair.
@klezman@rjquillin i’d also love to know if anyone has a case to split. I’m totally out of room for sparkling bottles, but the autobuy designation has me interested.
2017 Winesmith Sparkling Grenache Brut Zero
I don’t have much to add compared to the very fine reviews already posted. We don’t drink a lot of bubbles in our house, but we do enjoy Iron Horse from time to time!
Great “mousse” on the pour, resolving into fine bubbles. Appearance is golden/peach in color. On the nose we picked up apricot and yeast/leesy. Palate is nicely balanced, but not much fruit. Fatter on the finish than I was expecting given the acid, which was enjoyable. We didn’t have much for a decent food pairing, so we had it on its own and the liquid inside the bottle disappeared fairly quickly.
Again, not a lot of experience with sparkling wine, but it seemed this has the potential to improve with a little more time in the bottle. Thanks to the other rats for being far more helpful than we could be on this one!
@cdn1127 i apologize. I forgot that i couldnt directly reply to the email. I put in my own order also. Im happy to take 3 of yours but if someone else wants them, thats fine also. Again, sorry i didnt get the reply to you earlier
I’m not sure how many cases rpm has caused me to buy over the years, here and that previous place, but I can say he’s never steered me wrong! In for another case!
/giphy cynical-lamentable-pigeon
I need more wine like I need a hole in the head, but alas, I’m weak and this is too hard to pass up based on the great reports and the WineSmith reputation
/giphy grueling-necessary-tramp
Oh wow, this sounds amazing. I just bought a case, which I really should not have done. Portland folks, please split it with me before my wife finds out I mean, I’ll keep it all if nobody’s interested, but I’d be happy with even 1/3 of the case.
@chipgreen and @rpm rattage? Both have steered me to interesting wine experiences in the past. This will be my once-a-year-over-$200 purchase, the second one in three months, thanks to these two contributors
/giphy ulterior-upstanding-tin
With terms like yeasty and mozarella in the tasting notes…what can I say my pallette is totally unschooled so it took a leap. Not expecting much in the way of merriment this holiday season to come,s o just went small batch. Hoping for good gif!
/giphy brackish-repulsive-cover
If there is anything left, we will honor this offer at WWW.WhoIsClarkSmith.com/shop as long as it lasts. Call Sandra at 707-332-0056 M-F 9:00AM-4:00PM Pacific time.
@winesmith, @winedavid49,
So of all the wines I got from here or Woot, this is the first package UPS is showing as “Got damaged. Sender notified”!!!
What’s the process / next step here?
@abhiabhi@Winedavid49@winesmith Same for me. UPS returned the package as damaged before mine arrived. CaseMates promptly refunded my purchase, but I was REALLY looking forward to this delivery and hate that I wasn’t able to get it.
@abhiabhi@RRichmo@Winedavid49@winesmith Contact customer service and they may be able to send a replacement or they may just refund you. If you state outright you want a replacement you might have better luck getting one.
@abhiabhi@RRichmo
Your best bet is to try ordering it directly. As Clark has stated previously, they’ll match the Casemates offer. Just call Sandra at 707-332-0056 M-F 9:00AM-4:00PM Pacific time.
@abhiabhi@kawichris650@winesmith You’re right and I did. I had been debating doing so. My case cost me a bit more due to shipping costs, but Sandra is a pleasure to work with.
So very glad I got a case of this. I opened a bottle to have with my sad little Thanksgiving dinner of leftover enchiladas, and finished the bottle a little bit ago with a plate of traditional Thanksgiving fixings a family member dropped by. I enjoyed it tremendously before and with both meals, absolutely wonderful and delicious sparkler. I’m a Winesmith fan now!
2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains
Tasting Notes
Specs
Included in the Box
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$460.80 at WineSmith Cellars for 12x 2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 7 - Tuesday, Dec 8
WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs
3 bottles for $89.99 $30/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs
This made me wonder what a blanc de Blancs version of this would taste like (I enjoy a good grenache blanc). In for a small set!
@cmaldoon You and me both. I adore Grenache Blanc’s white pepper and melon. Alas, it’s not to be at WineSmith, as I have other plans. We got a bumper crop of the red in 2019, so we’re taking 100 cases to methode champenoise rouge. Check back in a couple years.
That said, we we still have a few bottles of the 2014 of this wine, which has no color and is much more feminine, perhaps offering a window into the style you’re imagining.
Greetings, friends and homies. I’m an experimental California winemaker with deep roots in European styles. I love to devise a wine that shows that Cali is a great place to make wines with a Euro-aesthetic in hopes that my colleagues will try their hand as well instead of the macho impact clown wines we are type-cast to produce.
The revolution has to start somewhere. This wine project is all about pulling the pants down on the world’s most prestigious appellation: Champagne.
Champagne got justly famous when Dom Perignon and his predecessors figured out a way to make stable sweet table wine four centuries ago. These highly sweet wines were a perfect use for the thin, bland, sour wines of France’s worst appellation. Alcoholic Pepsi. The court of the Sun King went nuts for this stuff and rightly so.
Please watch my video to learn the whole story - lots of laughs.
Anywho, here in California our grapes have FLAVOR. The French want us to apologize for it. Ze wine must be wizout flavor so eet can be ze blank canvas on which ze yeast shall paint eetz masterpiece.
Gimme a break. History shows that the French realize that they themselves have always held that Brut Champagne is a terrible idea that only stupid British and wild animals would drink.
Let’s start the revolution here, today, and substitute great American methode champenoise for French for our holiday celebrations. I am cutting my price for this wine by half or better to energize the movement.
@winesmith Love your wines! Thanks for offering us such great deals. I have never been disappointed in anything you create.
@winesmith engaging write up
While we’re waiting for our lab rat majority and dissenting opinions, here’s what a few recent reviewers had to say:
“Smith’s answer to French champagne. A 2017 Sparkling Grenache Santa Cruz Mtns, Bates Ranch. In a 2014 there was a happy accident. While waiting for the Grenache to open up for a possible Rosé, the wine underwent a spontaneous malolactic. Now what? Assistant winemaker Mike Faulk suggested a méthode champenoise sparkling wine. The result was brilliant and the decision was made to make this particular wine on purpose. 2017 which was in my glass was a richer version of the original that’s worth getting to know better. I experienced lovely aromas of honeydew melon and strawberry joined by rich yeastiness. This sparkling is referred to as a “Brut Zero” with no masking sugars at all. This gives permission to the rich flavors to take the spotlight. The undeniable length and complexity makes this one special and therefore memorable. I’m a fan.” – Laurie Allen, Sip of Spokane
“This méthode champenoise sparkling wine has aromas of strawberries and melon and is very clean and fresh tasting, with minerality in the finish from the limestone soils. To my palate (and esophagus), it is a brut zero that’s rich and round with no need for additional sugar to tamp down excess acidity.” – Carole Hartland, lettingthewinespeak.com
“What do you do when your Grenache doesn’t get enough color on it? Make sparkling wine! That’s a solution I can definitely get behind. Give it a try for my newest tradition, Mousseux Monday! This easy drinking sparkler has no added dosage (a sugar/wine mixture that gets added prior to final bottling). The result is lively and refreshing. If you’re looking for something to spark joy besides decluttering your house, uncork a bottle of this bubbly.” – Nancy Croiser, VinoSocial
“Tangerine in color. Aromatic nose of blended apple, nectarine, and melon. Tingly palate is soft, dry but not tart, and tasting of apples and melon. Medium acid. Medium+ finish. Quaffable with or without food. My favorite of the samples. Suggested pairings: Shellfish, mild cheeses, green salad.” – Linda Whipple, MyFullWineGlass
@winesmith your 2014 has become a staple in our house. Can you compare/contrast the 2017 ?
@jshaver Yes, they are quite different. As you know, the 2014 has no color and is extremely delicate and feminine, with many subtle layers of aromatics.
By contrast, the 2017 is bold and assertive. The terroir flavors are the same, but here we have a neon peach color, bold aromatic intensity, and a mouth with great structure and body. Then you get that same mineral energy in the finish that you are used to in the 2014 as well as an endless finish with bolder flavors but similarly unencumbered by dosage and aggressive acidity.
The 2014 is more elusively seductive; the 2017 more generous and voluptuous. It’s also younger, and will gain grace with time.
@jshaver @winesmith For how long do you expect the 2017 to continue gaining grace? I’ve never held on to bubbly long enough to have to worry about drinking window, but perhaps I’m missing out.
@winesmith thanks, Clark! Not that there was any doubt- in for a case!
This is a great question. A little background on this issue first.
In Champagne, great efforts are invested in eliminating tannins. This is because the wine’s searing acidity, combined with the carbonate acidity of the bubbles, causes great amounts of salivary protein to pour into the mouth, combining with any tannins present to form a coarse mouthfeel. Yuk. To prevent this, grapes are pressed very gently and only free-run is used for cuvee. The lack of anti-oxidative tannin greatly diminishes shelf life.
Winemakers in Champagne will beg you to drink Champagnes freshly after release. Even if their special cuvees have enjoyed a decade sur lies, a totally reductive environment, they do not consider aging post-disgorgement beneficial, and beg us Americans to partake of their mastery of the moment ASAP.
Champagnes held for over three years en tirage acquire a special yeasty character resembling bread dough which is highly prized. Most consumers have heard of it but have no real idea what it is. Humorously, the high-shelf storage and slow sales of ultra-premium Champaignes in U.S. retail stores has led to a high degree of stinky sulfide “light-struck” aromas, also found in Corona beer, which are attributed to this illusive and treasured yeastiness they have read abut online. Paradoxically, these spoiled wines are now highly prized among affluent novices.
I actually love great old Champagne. In the '70s, I cut my teeth on Dom Perignon, Perrier-Jouet and Crystall three decades old from a friend’s cellar that needed drinking. The bubbles wobbled to the surface and the wines were like fino sherry, but a lot of fun. So it depends on what you want.
In the case of this wine, I have seen it gain drinkability in the last two years, softening, richening and gaining aromatic complexity, and I imagine this development will continue for at least 3-5 years. After that, it’s anybody’s guess.
For those of you who know the wine, what do you think?
@winesmith I love old Champagne… still sitting on one bottle of 1976 Krug, and some Iron Horse Joy and LD 2002…
I think this will continue to improve for at least 5 years, maybe even more, buy YMMV.
It will hold nicely, perhaps up to 20-25 years. After that will depend on storage and luck.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs - $60 = 16.65%
2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs
I had the good fortune of receiving a sample bottle of Clark’s most recent rendition of a Brút Zero Sparkling Grenache. Having enjoyed several bottles of the 2014 vintage, I was expecting much the same experience. I should have known better. Clark’s wines are often unexpected treasures and this is yet another example.
The 2014 was stellar in its own right, with notes of citrus and strawberry framed by flinty minerality. This 2017 vintage is quite different. Richer, less fruity, with great depth and profundity.
LOOK: Pretty, golden hue with a touch of blush. Clear, with a frothy mousse that dissipates rather quickly
but continues to produce fine, persistent bubbles.
SMELL: Brioche, with notes of apple, marzipan, Brazil nuts and a hint of berries.
TASTE: Golden delicious apple with marzipan and yeasty/leesy notes of bread, tree nuts and mozzarella. If I didn’t know better, I would almost think it was a sparkling Roussanne (now I want to try a sparkling Roussanne).
Paired with Chinese takeout (General Tso’s chicken, rice and egg roll), it paired wonderfully with the food. It went so well with the egg roll that I found myself sipping it while still chewing. The spiciness of the General Tso’s sauce brought out some hidden spice notes in the wine that took it to another level.
FEEL: Rich, medium+ bodied wine. Well rounded, with a long finish and Clark’s trademark buzzy minerality on the tongue. Somehow manages to seem both fresh and well aged at the same time.
SUMMARY: As mentioned initially, an unexpected treasure. Lush, delicious and profound. The kind of wine that you don’t just drink - you experience it. And when it’s gone, you think about it - contemplating the different aspects of the wine that made it so unique and enjoyable and caused it to disappear so quickly.
This may not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you enjoy sparklers and austere whites such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Grúner Veltliner, etc., then this should be right in your wheelhouse. IMHO this is yet another feather in Clark’s cap of greatness and one more reason for me to continue to be a WineSmith fanboy.
@chipgreen now I feel like Chinese take out. Thank you for the review
/giphy squalid-elevated-breakfast
/giphy pensive-losing-magician
/giphy weighty-snotty-steam
SWMBO and I had the wonderful good fortune to be selected as Lab Rats for the 2017 WineSmith Sparkling Grenache Blanc de Noirs, Santa Cruz Mountains.
We’re in the middle of selling our house and moving, so we were not able to do a proper “Davis” scoring for this extraordinary wine. However, both SWMBO and I thought it was first rate. Rating it wholeistically on a modified Davis scale I normally use, I would rate this wine at least 18.5, maybe even 19. Translating this into a 100 pt score, which so many seem to use these days, would give you a score between 92.5 and 95 on a direct translation (multiplying by 5), but given the general inflation in the use of the 100 pt scale, I would say that a 95-97 rating would most approximate my very high Davis score. (Those who know me know I have only rated a handful of wines at 20 over 60+ years, and probably no more than 100 at 19 or better over those 60 years - as a practical matter, you are unlikely to see a higher rating from me.)
The nose was absolutely lovely - clearly Grenache, reminiscent of the very very best Tavel rose, but yeasty and bone dry as well. Clark’s use of “astonishing” to describe this wine is apt. I usually can’t stand such superlatives on a bottle, but this time is an exception.
Color was gorgeous - like the very best blanc de noir Champagne/California sparkling wine. Tiny, tiny bubbles as the very best methode champagnoise sparklers.
Flavors were amazing, rich, complex blending of fruit - red fruit, bread dough (yeast), bone dry and thoroughly refreshing.
Fine long finish.
We liked this so much, we scotched our plans to serve a nice old Burgundy with an early Thanksgiving turkey dinner and drank this instead. Wow! It was perfect…
I have always said that my very favorite Champagne is Krug, and that I prefer LD/RD sparklers that have had many years on the yeasts. For many years, I have rated Iron Horse, Schramsberg, and Roederer Anderson Valley the best sparkling wines in California.
We recently had an Acquiesce sparkling Grenache that was lovely: this is better.
The only California sparkling wines I have had that are equal to or better than this wine are 1) a special bottling from Korbel (never commercially available, I got a case from the widow of one of the Korbel brothers) for their centennial in 1955 that was all Chardonnay and spent 6 years or so on the yeasts, 2) Iron Horse Joy, 3) 1979 Iron Horse LD, and 4) 1970 Schramsberg Blanc de blanc. And, that’s it.
rpmAUTOBUY
So, buy as much as you can afford and figure out how to store it!!!
@rpm With those comparisons, this is a rarefied air Rat if I’ve ever seen one!
@rpm Grrrr … based on your review, I had to up my order to a case.
@rjquillin seriously, as good as it gets save vintage Krug. When I said top 5, I mean top 5 specific bottles, not top 5 makers.
@rpm impressive review and all while in the middle of moving. Thank you! Appreciate your top 5 list.
Foam for the holidays!
@winesmith Hey Clark, Love your videos, and impressions of the French. Just FYI this video seems to have some splicing errors. Also, cant wait to try this wine!
Thanks Mr. Clark @winesmith, and thanks to @rpm!
@winesmith has never failed me yet. One case secured. Also appreciate the heads up email from WineSmith in my mailbox this morning about this offer.
We absolutely love the 2017 Grenache so I was excited to see its bubbly sibling. Now we’ve got a happy reason to look forward to the end of 2020!
/giphy jammed-tart-atlas
I have no idea what I’m in for, but can’t miss on this, but with Christmas coming had to go with a smaller pack.
/giphy anterior-ageless-poppy
If any Denver-area folks want up to 6 bottles out of a case, let me know!
@wineyum
@dddreamer Did you intend to leave a reply?
@wineyum I would love to take 3 or 4!
@wineyum
@kristian @wineyum I’ll take 2 or 3 to help you out!
@mgowhoo Sorry, just saw this, I had two other takers earlier in the day yesterday, so I don’t have any extra. If one of them falls through, though, I’ll let you know.
WooHoo – Ready for the holidays!
/giphy ageless-uptight-cup
Had to try this one. I’ve only had two wines from WineSmith, and they were both among the best I have had. In for a case.
/giphy indefatigable-synonymous-yard
Couldn’t pass this one up!
/giphy eaten-obstinate-knife
Hi Clark - I really buy into your mission and you have the chops to pull it off. It helps that most of your creations turn out wonderfully. I am not a big sparkler drinker, but had to get some of this just to see what you’ve come up with. And … Congratulations on the wedding!
Can we start a poll/pool?
By when will this sell out?
Not if, by when…
@rjquillin 6pm EST
@rjquillin 1 pm est
@rjquillin
Initially I thought even earlier, but Clark may have provided a healthy quantity, so I’ll go with a delayed18:00 Pacific, based on the higher cost than other offers I recall.
@rjquillin Well, all I can rationalize with is Clark must have provided pallets of this for our palates, and for WD to clear out.
@rjquillin clearly. I don’t think anyone’s complaining though!
So short on space but just can’t pass up a chance for some special bubbly…
/giphy vengeful-nameless-wax
Storing sparkling wine. I know these can stay vertical, but is there a reason NOT to lay them down (in racks or wine cooler)?
@browncj7 NO
@browncj7 @rpm I would agree that either way is OK. I think one thing about the vertical is better in the rare case of “premature poppage” (of the cork).
/giphy impartial-lowly-artichoke
/giphy raspy-amethyst-print
/giphy noisy-distrustful-mystic
I remember an old site where a button would start “bouncing” when something was almost sold-out. That was cool and prompted me to click on more than one occasion. In any “case” I will click, but “case” is my question: “case” or just 3? I’m sure these will store well.
@pmarin I remember that bouncing button too.
@pmarin @WCCWineGirl @dave
Yes, and I have no idea why that hasn’t happened here, not 'cause we haven’t commented earlier…
FOMO is a real thing, how would that not be a sales incentive?
I was going to pass based on the 2014 and our overflowing storage, but between chipgreen and rpm that’s made it all but impossible. Is there a SoCal case split happening? I’d take a pair.
@klezman
Same 1st world problem.
If another case doesn’t happen, I’ll hold a couple for you.
@klezman @rjquillin i’d also love to know if anyone has a case to split. I’m totally out of room for sparkling bottles, but the autobuy designation has me interested.
@rjquillin guess I’ll be grabbing a bottle or two from you one of these days, then.
@klezman @radiolysis two each?
@radiolysis @rjquillin Works for me.
@klezman @radiolysis SS updated
@klezman @rjquillin Thanks! Yeah, two is fantastic.
Happen to find this link to the 2014, a 12-pack, at a very comparable price…
https://vinoshipper.com/shop/winesmith_wines/winesmith_2014_sparkling_grenache_blanc_de_noir_12pk_25525?list=418
Actually @winesmith had me at “pulling the pants down” which is always a great conversation-starter.
Possibly a very appropriate order name? Do I get a casemates wine bag to go with it?
/giphy miraculously-alcoholic-bag
@pmarin … at least he is not driving.
2017 Winesmith Sparkling Grenache Brut Zero
I don’t have much to add compared to the very fine reviews already posted. We don’t drink a lot of bubbles in our house, but we do enjoy Iron Horse from time to time!
Great “mousse” on the pour, resolving into fine bubbles. Appearance is golden/peach in color. On the nose we picked up apricot and yeast/leesy. Palate is nicely balanced, but not much fruit. Fatter on the finish than I was expecting given the acid, which was enjoyable. We didn’t have much for a decent food pairing, so we had it on its own and the liquid inside the bottle disappeared fairly quickly.
Again, not a lot of experience with sparkling wine, but it seemed this has the potential to improve with a little more time in the bottle. Thanks to the other rats for being far more helpful than we could be on this one!
NYC I bought a case, I can share any amount
Any Columbus / Central Ohio / CMH folks interested in splitting? I am happy to place the order. @929caduceus, @smittie684, @jjnnb, @RascalMJ, @drhellknow, @sdilullo, @KNmeh7, @earlyre, @seemannc, @lehigh, @DrSuess
@cdn1127 I’d be happy to take 3 to 6. thanks
@cdn1127 3 for me, if you can spare. Thanks.
Thanks CMH folks! Looks like all the splits are spoken for, just working out the details.
/giphy carnivorous-hostile-gate
@cdn1127 i apologize. I forgot that i couldnt directly reply to the email. I put in my own order also. Im happy to take 3 of yours but if someone else wants them, thats fine also. Again, sorry i didnt get the reply to you earlier
Can’t resist the Sandcrabs! In for 3.
/giphy loosely-used-range
I’m not sure how many cases rpm has caused me to buy over the years, here and that previous place, but I can say he’s never steered me wrong! In for another case!
/giphy cynical-lamentable-pigeon
@RRichmo Also, have a large amount of WineSmith in my cellar!
@RRichmo Thanks for the kind words!
@rpm @RRichmo
I appreciate it that you haven’t demanded a commission after all of these years. Also picking up a case.
I always love a WineSmith offer!
/giphy pompous-arrogant-vein
I want some. But Casemates is screwing up my account. Trying to get it fixed in time to order!
I’m excited about this one. I’m a big grenache fan, and I don’t think I’ve had one sparkling.
Ah, man. With 2/2 winesmith orders having been amazing so far, I have to be in for this one, too. Great order number, too:
/giphy yellow-sugary-liquid
I need more wine like I need a hole in the head, but alas, I’m weak and this is too hard to pass up based on the great reports and the WineSmith reputation
/giphy grueling-necessary-tramp
NE OH… sorry I’m late to the game. Spent the entire day on the beach today. Any interest in a split @chipgreen @pjmartin @boatman72 @marikar @lornadoonage ???
@mrn1
Yes, please!
@chipgreen @marikar A case headed our way!
@marikar @mrn1
Woohoo!
@mrn1 I’d take 2 if they are still available
Oh wow, this sounds amazing. I just bought a case, which I really should not have done. Portland folks, please split it with me before my wife finds out
I mean, I’ll keep it all if nobody’s interested, but I’d be happy with even 1/3 of the case.
/giphy flavored-gracious-team
This is the third giphy reload, and they have all involved vanilla pepsi. I didn’t just order a case of vanilla pepsi, did I?
@LambruscoKid Sent you an email, but I can take a couple of bottles in exchange for the Riesling. I was kind of hoping this would happen.
@chipgreen and @rpm rattage? Both have steered me to interesting wine experiences in the past. This will be my once-a-year-over-$200 purchase, the second one in three months, thanks to these two contributors
/giphy ulterior-upstanding-tin
@gillisr If that is a clip from Wild Target, a movie my family loves, this is a most auspicious purchase!
With terms like yeasty and mozarella in the tasting notes…what can I say my pallette is totally unschooled so it took a leap. Not expecting much in the way of merriment this holiday season to come,s o just went small batch. Hoping for good gif!
/giphy brackish-repulsive-cover
@smtcapecod School that palate! Starting with spelling!
Ugh. Mark it down. Another case for me. I need to stop compulsively looking at this site.
I got left out of the rattage this time, but I have been so grateful to rat so many of Clark’s fabulous wines.
I did get the 2014 vintage of this wine as a New Year’s gift from Clark in 2018 and we loved it.
This I know:
We love sparking wines.
We loves Clark’s wines
With RPM’s strong recommendation:
I am in for a case. I split the case… with my wife.
Merry Christmas to us!
Thanks, Clark.
Clark- you need to make a sparkling rosé! You told us that’s one of your favorite wines!! Same for us.
@wnance There is a 2019 Sparkling Grenache Rouge in the wings! Release in 2022.
@winesmith Awesome, here’s to 2022!!! Pretty sure that will be my new favorite wine.
FOOLS! TOOLS! JEWELS! AWESOME!
@wnance I guess I should add the this IS a sparkling rose.
@winesmith @wnance
Just take our money now!
@winesmith Oh! I missed that somehow- I see now this is the wine you told us about that you poured at your reception. Can’t wait to taste it!
If there is anything left, we will honor this offer at WWW.WhoIsClarkSmith.com/shop as long as it lasts. Call Sandra at 707-332-0056 M-F 9:00AM-4:00PM Pacific time.
@winesmith, @winedavid49,
So of all the wines I got from here or Woot, this is the first package UPS is showing as “Got damaged. Sender notified”!!!
What’s the process / next step here?
@abhiabhi @Winedavid49 @winesmith Same for me. UPS returned the package as damaged before mine arrived. CaseMates promptly refunded my purchase, but I was REALLY looking forward to this delivery and hate that I wasn’t able to get it.
@abhiabhi @RRichmo @Winedavid49 @winesmith Contact customer service and they may be able to send a replacement or they may just refund you. If you state outright you want a replacement you might have better luck getting one.
@abhiabhi @klezman @Winedavid49 @winesmith Customer service said all they can do is refunds, that they aren’t able to do replacements.
@abhiabhi @RRichmo
Your best bet is to try ordering it directly. As Clark has stated previously, they’ll match the Casemates offer. Just call Sandra at 707-332-0056 M-F 9:00AM-4:00PM Pacific time.
@abhiabhi @kawichris650 @winesmith You’re right and I did. I had been debating doing so. My case cost me a bit more due to shipping costs, but Sandra is a pleasure to work with.
So my case appears and a single bottle is missing all of its labels, did this just become a surprise mystery case for me?
@radiolysis
A shiner.
@drhellknow Good heavens. My apologies. Can’t see how the bottling line as well as the Casemates packers let this go by.
@drhellknow @winesmith
Aren’t shiners worth more on the gray market?
@drhellknow @rjquillin @winesmith But then you’d have to sell it instead of drink it, and that would just make you sad.
@winesmith
Perhaps they had taste tested too much of the Sparkling Grenache Blanc De Noirs.
@kawichris650 A plausible hypothesis! Those bubbles really do facilitate entry into the blood stream.
So very glad I got a case of this. I opened a bottle to have with my sad little Thanksgiving dinner of leftover enchiladas, and finished the bottle a little bit ago with a plate of traditional Thanksgiving fixings a family member dropped by. I enjoyed it tremendously before and with both meals, absolutely wonderful and delicious sparkler. I’m a Winesmith fan now!
@Shinytrinket Yea I had some with thanksgiving too. It was excellent. I actually thought it improved on day 2, which is interesting.
@Shinytrinket @Twich22
We delayed our T-day until today; also had this.
@rjquillin @Shinytrinket @Twich22 It appears that we all had it for Thanksgiving, delayed or otherwise.