We share a great spot for California bubbles today. Out of the Anderson Valley, Scharffenberger Cellars was founded back in 1981 and is located only a few miles from Pacific Ocean. The brand was started by John Scharffenberger, and was bought by Louis Roederer in 2004. Winemaker Jeffrey Jindra crafts some beautiful value sparkling wines that are fresh and vibrant with great texture. The tasting room is in a charming Mendocino country bungalow in downtown Philo. Behind it, the 35,000-square-foot winery sits to the north amid hillside vineyards. An old redwood grove has been carefully protected on the 160-acre property.
I loved the new wines, especially the NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 91) which is soft and nicely textured. Learn more about this storied Anderson Valley house at https://scharffenbergercellars.com and here are my notes on the beautiful new sparkling wines.
NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Excellence’ Sparkling Wine- The really good NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Excellence’ Sparkling Wine combines 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir. Soft and very approcahblem this offers peach and kiwi nots alongside cashew nut accents and red raspberry. Enjoy now and over the next six years. Drink 2024-2030- 90
NV Scharffenberger ‘Brut Rose’ Sparkling Wine- Very pale in the glass, the brilliant NV Brut Rose was given 10G/L dosage and combines 55% Chardonnay with 45% Pinot Noir. Fresh and nicely textured, this offers salted minerals alongside guava and strawberry fruit flavors with orange zest notes. Drink 2024-2030- 91