Community Tasting Notes 20

• Ben F Likes this wine: 92 points

  March 2, 2024 - Dinner at home, Mill Valley, CA. From 750ml purchased on release. Opened 1/2 hour prior to serving.
  
  My first of the 2017s. Usually my favorite bottling from Ultramarine, this was solid and imminently drinkable, almost too easy compared to earlier vintages. Not quite as complex, pause-inducing. Could be due to the (warm) vintage, its relative youth, or the fact that I had only one glass of the wine and didn't get to observe it over the course of the evening. Not complaining, but I do look forward to trying it and other 2017s in the coming years.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• TMOVino2 Likes this wine: 93 points

  December 31, 2023 - Opened NYE. This was very good. Probably my second favorite from UM so far. I'm still not convinced these keep up with high quality champagne but they are certainly the best US bubbles I've had. This was chalky, some yeast, lemon zest and even some salinity. Improved immensely with air time. Sad it was my only bottle on this one, but no rush if you are keeping yours in a cool cellar.

  1 person found this helpful Comments (1)

• Tony Ling Likes this wine: 95 points

  December 28, 2023 - 12.5% ABV. Disgorged 17 Nov 2021. PNP into Grassl Liberte glass ("Flower" day): Medium golden to the eyes.
  
  Aromatics of top echelon 'sea-breeze' like reductive Burgundian Chardonnay indeed, fine oxidative and autolytic nuances. Florals and brioche. Complex and luxurious nose.
  
  Bone-dry. Highly mineral, bright acidity and superb richness of the fruits on the palate showcasing the great terroir of the region.
  
  94-95 points easy.

  3 people found this helpful Comment

• jviz wrote: 94 points

  November 23, 2023 - Yes, this bottle had the magic. A nose into the bowl of a Grassl cru puts one directly in a barrel room in Sonoma. The wine is rich in all the right ways, chalky too, with nutty almond and Meyer lemon. This has held together nicely, and stands to improve for several more years.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• dhammer53 wrote: 93 points

  October 29, 2023 - Anniversary brunch with family and grandsons at Canoe in Greenwich CT. Corkage $35.00. The 2017 could easily pass for Champagne. Shhh. Disgorged November 2021. Drink or hold. A little yeast and a hint of hazelnut. Tiny bubbles as noted by others. Purchased from the winery. Glad I have other 2017 and 2018's sleeping. This drank very well.

  3 people found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2017
• Type White - Sparkling
• Producer Ultramarine
• Varietal Chardonnay
• Designation Blanc de Blancs
• Vineyard Heintz Vineyard
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Sonoma County
• Appellation Sonoma Coast

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 8 (1%)
• In Cellars 464 (70%)
• Consumed 192 (29%)

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