Merryvale Solstice Sparkling Wine

The Wine

Sourced exclusively from our Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard on the Napa side of Carneros, this non-vintage release of our Solstice Sparkling wine is a blend of 54% Pinot Noir and 46% Chardonnay drawn from the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages.

Winemaker Notes from Jeff Crawford

“Here in Carneros we have no shortage of expressive fruit aromatics and flavors in the wines that we make. It is with this in mind that we decided to make our first non-vintage sparkling wine. Having collected vin clair starting in 2013 by 2017 I had 4 vintages, 2 varietals, and many different lots to work with. The goal of the assemblage was to add complexity on the nose by blending tertiary aromas from the older vintage base wines with the fresh and fruity younger wines. Expect to find hints of ginger and dried stone fruits interlaced with fresh lemon and white carnation aromas. To add richness on the palate, half of the blend is comprised of Pinot Noir (blanc de noir), which adds weight and roundness to the blend. This sparkling wine was made in the méthode champenoise, which means the bubbles are created by a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Another stylistic decision was made to age the bottles sur latte for 24 months, which is 9 months longer than the minimum required by law for non-vintage Champagne. Waiting to remove yeast cells created by the secondary fermentation increases the autolytic character of the wine, giving notes of fresh, thick crusted bread (baguette). Longer time on lees also adds richness to the palate and helps to create a very fine and delicate mousse. Inhibiting malolactic fermentation in the base wines and finishing the wine in a dry brut style allows for bright acidity to balance the richness and weight found in the wine. Overall the result is an aromatically complex wine that possesses a beautiful balance between richness and freshness on the palate.