2020 RMS Blanc de Blancs

ABOUT THE RMS SPARKLING WINES

In 1987, when all other Willamette Valley wine producers were focused on Pinot Noir, Rollin Soles had a different vision. He believed that Oregon was the best place in North America to grow cool climate grapes for sparkling wine. After making wine at Petaluma Winery in Australia, Rollin moved to Oregon and founded Argyle Winery, the state’s first sparkling wine production facility. During his 27+ years with Argyle, Rollin crafted some of the most highly acclaimed New World sparkling wines, which made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines three times, proof that he has mastered the sophisticated craft of fine Méthode Champenoise. Rollin’s vision has become a reality as the world continues to discover that the Willamette Valley’s cool, maritime climate is indeed ideally suited to world-class sparkling wine production.

THE MÉTHODE CHAMPENOISE PROCESS

This labor-intensive process creates the very best Champagne and high-quality sparkling wines around the world. The wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in bottle creating those signature small bubbles. The process starts with the addition of a liqueur de tirage (a wine solution of sugar and yeast) to a bottle of still wine. This triggers that second fermentation inside the bottle which produces carbon dioxide and lees, or spent yeast cells, which collect at the neck during the riddling process. After an extended time on lees, the bottles are disgorged and the lees is replaced with a solution of wine and sugar, which gives sparkling wine its sweetness.

RMS BLANC DE BLANCS

100% Chardonnay 

This long-awaited Blanc de Blancs beauty will add sumptuous bubbles to your glass. The fruit for this wine is sourced from select Chardonnay vineyard sites throughout the Willamette Valley and chosen by winemaker Rollin Soles for the characteristics they bring to the blend.

WINEMAKER'S TASTING NOTES

"If Venus was a wine, it would be this version of sparkling Blanc de Blancs! The aromas oscillate between white rose and lemon blossoms, golden baked pastry and brioche, oyster shells and pear infused honey.  Orbiting the round and zippy palate are brioche, honey, crème fraiche, pear, and cameo apple. This elegant, opulent sparkling wine will become your morning and evening star!" - Rollin Soles, Winemaker

200 cases produced

91 Wine Enthusiast