Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
2004 Late Disgorged Carneros Cuvée
$70
A full-bodied and super-creamy wine with yeastiness and toasted almond accenting the fleshy yellow stone fruit and citrus flavors. Rich and voluptuous, it’s a decadent expression of traditionally made California bubbly. (LM)
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
2007 Carneros Royal Cuvée
$37
First served to Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia during their visit to California in 1987, this sophisticated sparkler is deep and mouth-filling, with a toasty brioche character that comes from extended aging in the bottle. Green apple and citrus flavors and bracing
minerality keep it fresh, yet it has extraordinary concentration and complexity. (LM)
Iron Horse Vineyards
2010 Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Wedding Cuvée
$42
A tremendous sparkler year in and year out. The 2010 vintage is a blend of 74 percent Pinot Noir and 26 percent Chardonnay — the winery’s take on blanc de noirs. Peach, raspberry and blood orange flavors star, with bracing acidity on the long, brisk finish. (VB)
Iron Horse Vineyards
2010 Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Classic Vintage Brut
$42
This Pinot Noir-Chardonnay blend shows the Pinot side in its coppery-pink color and hints of wild berry and cherry. But it’s not effusively fruity, instead precise and refined, with brioche, baked apple, honey and spice complexity gained from four years of aging on spent yeast. (LM)
J Vineyards & Winery
Sonoma County Cuvée 20 Brut
$28
Judy Jordan created this nonvintage bubbly to celebrate J’s 20th anniversary (she founded it in 1986 and sold the winery to E. & J. Gallo
in 2015). It delivers frothy Meyer lemon and green apple flavors, subtle yeastiness and a gentle kiss of sweetness. (LM)