TOP SECRET AWARD INTEL:

Our covert operatives just learned that Wine Enthusiast Magazine will name this fantastic bubbly Editor’s Choice, and give it a score of 95 Points, in their upcoming December issue! Don’t ask us how we learned this. We could tell you, but, you know…

SUPERIOR SPARKLER ALERT!

Today’s wine is so fantastic that we issued this special alert. With the pending 95 point rating, you can be assured that this is your last chance to get your hands on this remarkable wine.

SECRET SAVINGS ALERT!

Subscribe to our Daily Dispatch (above) and you’ll always know what our Top Secret coupon code of the day is. Every day we issue a new members-only code that entitles you to Free Ground Shipping and, sometimes, even added discounts!

Mission Codename: Into the Great White

Operative: Agent Sparkle (& Agent White)

Objective: Visit Iron Horse Vineyards and return with an exceptional sparkling wine for our operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished

Current Winery: Iron Horse Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2002 Blanc de Blancs

Winemaker: David Munksgard

Backgrounder:

Blanc de Blancs, literally ‘white of whites’, made famous in Champagne is a sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. Too often drunk young, these classic sparkling wines need time to develop their full aroma and flavor characteristics.

Iron Horse Vineyards, so say named for the train stop in Sonoma’s Green Valley, is famous for adhering to the strict methode champenoise on its classic and delicious sparking gems. Sonoma County Green Valley AVA is located on the western edge of the Russian River Valley and is separately designated. Its cooler climate and distinct sandy soil is ideal for sparkling wine as is exemplified in today’s selection.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Clear, pale and clean with fine bead effervescents and delicate mouse.

Smell – Clean and pure fruit notes of pears and apples with a hint of citrus backed on toasty notes and a very subtle nutty quality.

Feel – Creamy and dry with good crisp acidity and a distinct stone minerality that is also rich and smooth and delicate on the palate with good effervescents that dances across your palate.

Taste – Like the nose, this classic sparkler has crisp but delicate notes of ripe and tart green apples, pears and a hint of citrus, almost lemon, balanced over notes of buttery toast, a touch of oak, yeast and a hint of nuttiness.

Finish – This sparkling wine finishes clean, crisp and lingers just long enough to inspire another sip.

Conclusion -A wonderful wine from from the undisputed king of Sonoma County sparkling wines, Iron Horse Vineyards! This bubbly beauty is long on elegance, with a tender feel that starts off soft at the tip, but then the bubbles go into high gear at the mid-palate! Soft and flavorful at the back of the mouth, the wine finishes with a tart minerality that is wet and delicious.

Mission Report:

“This is a serious matter, darn it! If our Operatives get hooked on Iron Horse’s Blanc de Blancs, if they don’t drink any other wines, we’ll lose our funding. We’ll be shut down!”

Agent White was on another one of his diatribes. I waited patiently, knowing that I’d get a word in. Eventually.

I had tasted the 2002 Blanc de Blancs [ed. note: Soon to be awarded 95 Points & Editor’s Choice, Wine Enthusiast, and while I would certainly classify it as one of my favorite California sparkling wines, I couldn’t imagine that anyone could get so addicted to a single wine that the would forsake all others.

“Look, the data confirms it. Check these reports. Look at the sheer volume of requests flooding in from our Operatives for Iron Horse’s 2002 Blanc de Blancs! They don’t want anything else! You have to infiltrate Iron Horse and see what they are putting in that wine.”

“Okay,” I said. “First I’ll take a look at the reports,” I replied. “If anything looks hinky, I’ll infiltrate the winery.”

This seemed to calm White down.

I looked. And was shocked.

Some of our finest Operatives were sending in field alerts, filled with praise and kudos and even demands that we supply them with 2002 Blanc de Blancs. Especially now that supplies of the 2002 vintage of the wine are dwindling.

I agreed to take mission to penetrate the winery. I packed my fake I.D., my field wine test kit, a specially crafted resume resume, my disguise – and was off immediately.

Fortunately, there was an opening for “Tasting Room Assistant” at the Iron Horse Winery and, with my industry connections, I managed to get an immediate interview.

Winery owner, Joy Sterling, was warm and welcoming. The interview went very well and I was introduced around to others on staff. Everyone was jovial and just plain nice. No cause for alarm. Or was there?

Joy took me back to her office and asked me to wait there for a few minutes. While I waited, I busied myself with fixing my faux mustache, which had come loose at one corner. I hope that she had not noticed!.

Joy returned and said, “Well, Jack Rouge, you have the job! Everyone really liked you. Can you start today?”

I was after the 3:30 closing time, but I agreed, presuming that I would undergo some sort of training. I was lead down to the tasting room where, oddly, the entire staff seemed to be bellied up to the tasting bar.

There, on the top of the bar, sat a lone bottle. I recognized it instantly as their Blanc de Blancs. Next to the bottle, a single glass, half-filled with the pale fine beaded bubbly liquid.

“All of us start here with a celebratory sip of our Blanc de Blancs,” a smiling young man said to me. “Go on, try. Cheers!”

A shout of “Cheers!” rose up from the rest.

Knowing that there was no faking it, I had confidence in my experience and ability as a Wine Spy. I knew that I would be fine. How could any harm come from a simple taste of wine?

I grabbed the glass, raised it and toasted them. Then I sipped. Great wine… SUPERB sparkler, sure, but no rapturous feelings or euphoria. I will say this, though: I’ll never drink another bubbly as long as I live!

Agent White Reporting: Agent Sparkle has since been undergoing radical treatment to free her from his addiction to Iron Horse’s Blanc de Blancs and, we are happy to report, she is making fine progress. I did try to warn her, but she was sloppy. She should have analyzed the wine before drinking it.

Meanwhile, a detailed analysis is underway as you read this. Use great caution and, unless you want to become totally enamored by a sparkling wine, avoid this one at all costs!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley can be seen in this satellite photo.