Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549
{ SOMMjournal.com } 137 Roederer Estate, and Scharffenberger wine- maker Tex Sawyer. 2009 L'Ermitage, a tête-de-cuvée that was first made in 1989, relies on the same neutral oak-aged style of reserve wine employed in Cristal but with a blend of 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir and the addi - tion of 4% reserve wine from the 2006 and 2007 vintages. The 2009 vintage for sparkling began in mid-August with good acidity and maturity. At just 12.2% alcohol, L'Ermitage is a brut style with 12 g/l and shows ripe apri - cot, citrus and roasted nuts with its signature lengthy finish. With a sterling reputation for being long lived, particularly in magnum, 2009 L'Ermitage stands as one of California's finest wines. Scharffenberger winemaker Tex Sawyer compares the difference between the two brands to eating an apple and eating a slice of apple pie. His newest wine, Brut Rosé Excellence, displays the beauty of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir of which about 5% is added during tirage before bottle fermenta - tion. With the benefit of full malolactic, the wine shows creamy, expressive raspberry and Alpine strawberry fruit in a standout quality-for-value pick. REDS AND WHITES—DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED The latest addition to Roederer's California portfolio is Domaine Anderson, a bio- dynamic property sited in the warmer southern end of the valley. Rescued from neglect in 2011, the winery is now in its third vintage release of AVA Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and its first vintage release of estate wines. "Frédéric Rouzaud, President of the Champagne Louis Roederer Group which owns Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Château de Pez in Bordeaux, is a red wine drinker," said Weyrich. "He wanted to find a world-class spot for red wine in Anderson Valley, and this site was a good fit for the Roederer winery family." Domaine Anderson wines are made by Darrin Low, and the dry-farmed 2013 Pinoli Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2013 Dach Vineyard Chardonnay are new 2013 releases. At Domaine Anderson, Low also makes Carpe Diem Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon, introduced in 2005, is made by the Dominus winemaking team at Dominus Estate in Yountville. The 2014 is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot which spends 12 months in barrel, with a fruit-forward style and accessible tan - nins that are not intended for long aging. The 2014 release of Dominus, a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot, is an expression of the dry-farmed Napanook vineyard in the third year of drought. The wine is complex and layered with varietal markers short of none. Seamless and integrated with red and black currant, mushroom, tobacco and dark spice, the vintage shows off the terroir as much as the winemaking of Tod Mostero, Director of Viticulture and Winemaking at Dominus Estate. Moueix established Dominus in 1983 and has made consecutive vintages with the exception of 1984 and 1993. The Right Bank estates of the Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, includ - ing Châteaux Hosanna and Certan de May in Pomerol and Clos St. Martin and Château Puy-Blanquet in Saint Emilion, were also present. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAISONS MARQUES & DOMAINES Scharffenberger Cellars winemaker Tex Sawyer shows off Mendocino County's abilities to produce super-premium sparkling wines, which benefit from the cool, coastal influences of the Pacific and the deep soils and sunshine from Anderson Valley's terroir. Roederer Estate Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAISONS MARQUES & DOMAINES PHOTO: CAL BINGHAM Tod Mostero, Director of Viticulture and Winemaking at Dominus Estate.