Carboniste "Whale" Sparkling Chardonnay 2023

Meet "The Whale" V23, Carboniste's bold, rich and unapologetically Californian Sparkling Chardonnay. This wine shows off the generosity of California fruit - barrel-aged, malolactic complete and then bottle fermented for bubbles that sing. Aromas of Gravenstein apple, pear, ripe tropical fruit and bright yuzu citrus set the stage, while the palate is lush and mouthfilling, with zesty lemon curd and creamy mousse. One review described notes of "cooked lemon flavors" with "exuberant bubble." The aging process on the lees (dead yeast) in the bottle helps develop a creamy texture that enhances the natural fruitiness without imparting confectionary flavors.

The wine is produced using the traditional method (secondary fermentation in the bottle), the same method used for making Champagne. The base wines for this blend were fermented with native yeast and aged in neutral barrels for up to 30 months. During that period, the wine was resting on its dead yeast, gaining a mouthfilling creamy texture on top of the natural bright acidity from the Chardonnay fruit. Once assembled in tank, the wine was bottled with fresh yeast and sugar. After a short aging in bottle, the wine was hand disgorged to an easy-open crown cap to preserve freshness. 

Carboniste is a dedicated producer of modern Californian sparkling wines from husband and wife duo, Dan and Jacqueline Person. After meeting at UC Davis, the Persons worked around the world, then around California. These experiences informed their perspectives on winemaking. Dan worked for Schramsberg Vineyards for three years, making traditional sparkling wines from California grapes. Based on that experience, Dan decided there was a need for a new interpretation of California sparkling wine. Jacqueline was concurrently making still wines from a variety of terroirs across the Golden State, terroirs that have inspired the vineyard selections for Carboniste.