Grapes for the sparkling project are sourced from the ultra famous Wenzlau Family, Sanford & Benedict, and Bentrock Vineyard sites. A trifecta of iconic vineyards. The varying soil types of these three distinct sites coupled with the historic winemaking and world-class quality, unmatched skill, attention, and care that these two domaines are known for, the resulting wine is elegant, expressive, intensely concentrated and mineral-- we were absolutely floored. I have yet to ever experience a sparkling wine of this caliber from the states.
Blind, this is a top Grower Champagne Blanc de Blancs. 100% chardonnay, 2018 base with a 25% addition of 2017 reserve wine. This shows what sparkling wine on the west coast can be when left in the hands of icons. it is on par or even better than Peters' Champagne Cuvee de Reserve. Golden hue, the perfect hint of oxidative notes of fresh bread and toasted nuts with further aromas of yellow citrus, pear, orchard apple. Fine bubbles, mineral and racy, to be enjoyed now, or left to further age for up to a decade in the cellar.
A fantastic wine at a never to be seen again price. There is no sparkling wine or Champagne of this quality on the market at this price. Grab the last of this fast
Racines is a collaboration by two classic houses from France, led by Etienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy and Rodolphe Peters of Champagne. The team came together to join their individual experiences in hand-crafting wines of purity and transparency to create a range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool climate of the Sta. Rita Hills in California.
Our Grand Reserve cuvée is a sparkling Blanc de Blanc traditional method consisting of 100% Chardonnay. The 2018 vintage base also includes 15% Reserve wines from the 2017 harvest, and blends various terroirs from the Sta Rita Hills.
VINEYARDS
This wine is sourced from Wenzlau Family Vineyard, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and Bentrock Vineyard. The varying soil types of these three distinct sites lend to an elegant, expressive wine with great minerality and length.
PRODUCTION
The grapes were manually harvested into small bins and pressed as whole bunches with soft and slow pressing. The wines were aged in bottle for 30 months on lees, with no fining or filtration.
Dosage: 4.5 g/L (Extra Brut)
Bottled: May 2019
Disgorged: November 2021
After more than fifteen years of consulting throughout the world and numerous partnership
requests outside of France, the wines of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that I discovered from Santa
Barbara, finally got me to select these magnificent terroirs in the Sta. Rita Hills to produce, for the
first time, limited quantities of my own Sparklings within the Racines project.- Rodolphe Peters
