Straw and palest green color, with a moderate profusion of very small bubbles. Yeast, green apple, honeysuckle, and bread crust on the nose, translating onto the palate, along with some kiwi flavor and mineral characteristics. Bright in the mouth. Well balanced and moderately long finish.
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Very carbonated. Nose of bread yeast, citrus and green apple. Lemon and stone fruit flavors along with a bit more yeast on the palate with some underlying minerality. Bright acidity and very clean and crisp on the mouthfeel. This wine refreshes your palate really nicely so a perfect apertif or starter bubbly.
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I assembled my tasting notes in my head prior to getting on-line to post them here, and my impressions are remarkably like those of ISAACJAMESBAKER! A pale yellow, with persistent very fine bubbles. The nose is of tart lemony grapefruit, with quinine and an oyster shell salinity. Much the same on the palate, with very good intensity and concentration. Bone dry, and with a surprisingly long finish. This would be ideal with oysters, but is fine on its own and helps to make a great French 75 cocktail, too!
This sparkling blanc de blancs (100% Chardonnay) is reportedly produced as a joint effort with National Geographic to help preserve and restore the world's oceans. Pale yellow and with a very brisk, medium-sized bead, it delivers citrus peel, flint, apple and wet stone aromas. Light-bodied, freshly acidic and with well-integrated alcohol (13.5%), it follows with flavors which mirror the nose. The wine persists nicely throughout the middle palate and the medium-length finish is crisp. Although quite nice and the result of a noble project, there are better sparklers to be had at this price point. Drink now-2016.
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Very pale straw color. Tons of fine bubbles, like some sort of hyper-Champagne. Smells of green apples, grapefruit pith, mixed with limestone, almond shell, some sea salt… wow. Very complex on the palate, tart and fresh, with green apple peel, grapefruit, sea shells, quinine, sweet tart candies. Very tangy and mineral driven… not overdone or heavy on the biscuits. I get some sea brine notes, and that’s not just because this is called the Ocean Reserve. Chalky, limestone on the finish… One of the bubbliest bubblies I’ve had in a long time. I’ve enjoyed Iron Horse, but I rarely get excited about their bubblies. This, however, is one of the best wines I’ve had from them. Note: this is labeled as a Blanc de Blancs.
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2/15/2019 - HitAnyKey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful bottle of bubbly, as always. Paired perfectly well with a lobster dinner. Vibrant, and yeasty, and crisp with great balance.
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8/4/2016 - Rich S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. The yeast notes reminded me of pancake batter.
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8/21/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Terrific Russian River Green Valley Reserve Blanc De Blanc CA Bubbly.
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8/16/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Good stuff again. Similar notes to last year, this is holding up well with plenty of life and vibrancy for more time in the cellar.
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7/12/2015 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with previous bottle.
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6/3/2015 - bbakove wrote: 90 Points
See prior review.
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10/17/2014 - bbakove wrote: 90 Points
Straw and palest green color, with a moderate profusion of very small bubbles. Yeast, green apple, honeysuckle, and bread crust on the nose, translating onto the palate, along with some kiwi flavor and mineral characteristics. Bright in the mouth. Well balanced and moderately long finish.
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6/21/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very carbonated. Nose of bread yeast, citrus and green apple. Lemon and stone fruit flavors along with a bit more yeast on the palate with some underlying minerality. Bright acidity and very clean and crisp on the mouthfeel. This wine refreshes your palate really nicely so a perfect apertif or starter bubbly.
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6/1/2014 - wicozani Likes this wine: 92 Points
I assembled my tasting notes in my head prior to getting on-line to post them here, and my impressions are remarkably like those of ISAACJAMESBAKER! A pale yellow, with persistent very fine bubbles. The nose is of tart lemony grapefruit, with quinine and an oyster shell salinity. Much the same on the palate, with very good intensity and concentration. Bone dry, and with a surprisingly long finish. This would be ideal with oysters, but is fine on its own and helps to make a great French 75 cocktail, too!
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5/18/2014 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 88 Points
This sparkling blanc de blancs (100% Chardonnay) is reportedly produced as a joint effort with National Geographic to help preserve and restore the world's oceans. Pale yellow and with a very brisk, medium-sized bead, it delivers citrus peel, flint, apple and wet stone aromas. Light-bodied, freshly acidic and with well-integrated alcohol (13.5%), it follows with flavors which mirror the nose. The wine persists nicely throughout the middle palate and the medium-length finish is crisp. Although quite nice and the result of a noble project, there are better sparklers to be had at this price point. Drink now-2016.
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4/20/2014 - Makmak wrote:
Easter 2014
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4/12/2014 - djwitzel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious creaminess, perfect after-dinner wine
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4/4/2014 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Very pale straw color. Tons of fine bubbles, like some sort of hyper-Champagne. Smells of green apples, grapefruit pith, mixed with limestone, almond shell, some sea salt… wow. Very complex on the palate, tart and fresh, with green apple peel, grapefruit, sea shells, quinine, sweet tart candies. Very tangy and mineral driven… not overdone or heavy on the biscuits. I get some sea brine notes, and that’s not just because this is called the Ocean Reserve. Chalky, limestone on the finish… One of the bubbliest bubblies I’ve had in a long time. I’ve enjoyed Iron Horse, but I rarely get excited about their bubblies. This, however, is one of the best wines I’ve had from them. Note: this is labeled as a Blanc de Blancs.
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