2020 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
The 2020 Brut Rosé stands out as the boldest and most vibrant of our sparkling wines, captivating with its brilliant color and dynamic flavors. Crafted from a masterful blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this lively, full-bodied vintage balances crisp dryness with a luxurious, creamy texture. Its rich, deep color comes from letting the Pinot Noir sit on the skins. Aged for over three years en tirage, this extraordinary rosé reveals layers of refined complexity and enduring elegance.
By nose, this wine opens with a vibrant bouquet of lush red fruits. On the palate, it unfolds with a full, velvety texture, delivering a harmonious blend of ripe strawberry, juicy raspberry, and deep, rich dark cherry, elevated by a bright touch of lime. This is Brut with a bold, capital B - its depth and structure make it a perfect pairing for a hearty steak dinner or lobster fest.
Artisanal Winemaking
Hand harvested in the chill of early morning our Chardonnay grapes are de-stemmed into stainless steel tanks where they provide a firm acid backbone. The wine is then blended with a small amount of Pinot Noir that has been cold-soaked (using dry ice) for seven days. After pressing, the juice slowly ferments in stainless steel tanks at 62° to 65° f retaining the bright fresh Pinot Noir fruit tones. The dosage for the 2020 Brut Rosé is 2 ml Blanc de Blancs LEX, 2 ml Brut LEX, and 10 ml 2020 North Block Pinot Noir.
Precision Winegrowing
At Iron Horse “Estate Bottled” means that the winemaking begins in the vineyard. Our location in Green Valley, 12 miles from the ocean, represents the very best soil, climate and aspects for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our goal is to grow the best wine grapes through what we call “precision winegrowing.” All pruning, canopy management, irrigation and cover crop decisions are determined on a block-by-block (and sometimes even vine-by-vine) basis, considering both the vintage at hand and the long-term needs of the land.
For Sparkling and Still Wine, Precision Harvesting is Key Our only rule is to make the best wines we can. We wait until harvest to decide sparkling or still, as the main difference is the brix level (or the amount of sugar in the grapes, less for sparkling, more for still). Then winemaker David Munksgard considers berry size (bigger is better for sparkling, smaller for still), the health of the canopy, clone selection, even small details such as the relative dampness of the cover crop can make a difference. If necessary, parts of the same block may be picked on different days.
Specs
Blend: 62% Chardonnay, 38% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Harvest Dates: August 12—25, 2020
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Barrels: None
Acidity: 8.1 g/Liter
Residual Sugar: 3.9 g/Liter
pH: 3.17
Date Bottled: February 23, 2021
Release Date: Current disgorging, December 2024
Total Production: 650 Cases
2021 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Introducing the 2021 Spring Rosé, a limited-edition seasonal cuvée crafted to capture the essence and vibrancy of spring. The Pinot Noir used for this blend underwent a careful seven-day cold soak before fermentation, enhancing the stunning hue and bright, refreshing flavors that make this wine truly exceptional.
Tasting Notes
Hints of wild raspberries, paired with gentle floral nuances. Ripe peach graces the front palate, with delicate orange blossoms in the mid-palate, finishing with a whisper of blackberry.
Artisanal Winemaking: The blend is composed of crisp Chardonnay and a pre-fermentation cold soak Pinot Noir. The juice slowly ferments in stainless steel tanks at 62° to 65° f retaining bright fruit aromas and flavors in the wine. The dosage for the 2021 Spring Rosé is 4mls Organic Rued Lex, and 4 mls Gold Ridge Pinot Noir.
Precision Winegrowing: At Iron Horse “Estate Bottled” means that the winemaking begins in the vineyard. Our location in Green Valley, 12 miles from the ocean, represents the very best soil, climate and aspects for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Our goal is to grow the best winegrapes we should be growing through what we call “precision farming.” All pruning, canopy management, irrigation and cover crop decisions are determined on a block-by-block (and sometimes even vine-by-vine) basis, considering both the vintage at hand and the long-term needs of the land. We are Certified Sustainable
For Sparkling and Still Wine, Precision Harvesting is Key: Our only rule is to make the best wines we can. We wait until harvest to decide sparkling or still, as a key difference is the brix level (or the amount of sugar in the grapes, less for sparklings, more for still). Then winemaker David Munksgard consider berry size (bigger is better for sparklings, smaller for still), the health of the canopy, clone selection, even small details such as the relative dampness of the cover crop can make a difference. If necessary, parts of the same block may be picked on different days and are all hand harvested.
Specs
Blend: 58% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Harvest Dates: August 17-30, 2021
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Barrels: None
Alcohol: 12.5% v/v
Acidity: 9.3 g/Liter
Residual Sugar: 3.9 g/Liter
pH: 3.07
Date Bottled: June 30, 2022
Release Date: Current disgorging February 2025
Total Production: 500 Cases
What’s Included
4-bottles:
2x - 2020 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
2x - 2021 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Case:
6x - 2020 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
6x - 2021 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Iron Horse is one of Sonoma County’s most prestigious, small, independent, estate, family owned wineries located in cool, foggy Green Valley. Iron Horse Sparkling Wines have been served at the White House for five consecutive presidential administrations, beginning with the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meeting in Geneva on November 20, 1985, which led to the end of the Cold War. Wine & Spirits Magazine has named Iron Horse Sparkling Winery of the Year nine times. From the beginning, Robert Parker has said, “These impressive Sparkling Wines…possess more texture and flavor than just about any sparkler I have tasted from California.”
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
Iron Horse Vineyards Sparkling Rosé - $50 = 10.41%
Not sure that it’s fiscally responsible for me to buy this while losing my shirt in the current tech sell-off on Wall Street, but it’s also a drop in the bucket compared to the losses. At least there is a tangible return for my money with this transaction.
@JoySterling
Yes, I have also heard it attributed to Churchill. I agree, regardless of who said it. This offer was right on time, thank you for gracing us with your lovely bubbles and your lovely self, Lady Joy!
Iron Horse Vineyards Sparkling Rosé
2020 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Artisanal Winemaking
Precision Winegrowing
Specs
2021 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé Sparkling, Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
not for sale on winery website, $900/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 30 - Thursday, Dec 3
Iron Horse Vineyards Sparkling Rosé
4 bottles for $159.99 $40/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $429.99 $35.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2020 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé Sparkling
2021 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé Sparkling
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
Iron Horse Vineyards Sparkling Rosé - $50 = 10.41%
Anybody want to split a case in half in Chicago?
Pretty sure I have ordered darn near every sparkling iron horse offered….not going to stop now
@ern1 Thank you! You are a great friend.
Not sure that it’s fiscally responsible for me to buy this while losing my shirt in the current tech sell-off on Wall Street, but it’s also a drop in the bucket compared to the losses. At least there is a tangible return for my money with this transaction.
@chipgreen You know what Napoleon said.
@JoySterling
Yes, I have also heard it attributed to Churchill. I agree, regardless of who said it. This offer was right on time, thank you for gracing us with your lovely bubbles and your lovely self, Lady Joy!