Heintz
Ultramarine Wines
Charles Heintz Vineyard Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé 2015
Ultramarine Wines
Charles Heintz Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Amici Cellars
Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
A very expressive Chardonnay from a single vineyard in Sonoma considered one of the top sites in California. Powerful but not overwhelming on the nose and palate. Shows its multiple tropical fruit notes on both nose and palate. Since it’s 100% barrel fermented with native yeast and full of malolactic, it provides a great level of complexity. The creaminess is balanced and has some weight to it. Long finish and pleasant mouthfeel with a great texture. A show stopper!
— 4 months ago
Haliotide
Blanc de Blancs Stolo Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
My last of a 3-pack the last few years. I chose this as one of my 2018 Cali BdB sparklers I opened to see how the sparkling wine scene is evolving (also opened was a 2018 Ultramarine Heintz BdB, 2018 Ultramarine Michael Mara BdB and 2018 Brick & Mortar Manchester Ridge BdB).
45 months en tirage, 4 g/l dosage
Clean and pure style. If you love Chablis or leaner champagnes, this is your jam. Grilled lemon, sea spray, hint of and honeysuckle aromatically. On the palate, it is mineral heavy (slate/limestone-esque) with sea salt, lemon scone, oyster shell, all wrapped in a crystalline profile. This is undeniably BdB and presents as a grower champagne type profile. Bright and elegant (showed a bit more classical compared to the other three). — 7 months ago
Shay A
One of the bottles I brought for a guys night of rosé sparklers and Brunello.
I’ve been on the Ultramarine list for close to 10yrs. I’ve opened bottles young, old and everywhere in-between (both based on vintage and in relation to disgorgement), and after such a disappointing experience with the 2020s (after reading all the CT notes, I opened a ‘20 of each cuveé and found a profile that is not reminiscent of the early Ultramarine days at all), I wanted to open something that reminded me of the good ‘ol days with Ultramarine.
Amongst Egly’s rosé, Krug’s rosé, Westborn’s rosé and tons of grower champagnes, this wasn’t a standout but it was enjoyable and paired beautifully with the food. This bottle was closer in experience to the 2014 (good richness, fruit, but also big structure) vs the 2016 (lighter/brighter, more mineral). Salmon color in the glass with a dash of pink. Not overly reductive or oxidative with waves of red berry fruit and strawberry marscapone. Lovely richness on the palate with some strawberry shortbread cookies amongst more red berry fruit but a nice mineral streak down the middle. Layered. Mousse isn’t quite creamy but it’s soft. Nod to grower champagne with Cali warmth.
This is in a nice integrated spot where the fruit is taking a step back and dancing with the mineral notes. No rush to open, but worth popping soon. — 21 days ago