2021 Odonata, Blanc de Blanc, Brut Sparkling Wine, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands.
The vivacious and luxurious Odonata Blanc de Blancri Escolle Champagne Method bubbly shines brilliantly in the glass and shows off classic leesy/yeasty character and minerally crisp detail with lemony citrus, pineapple, honeysuckle, brioche, wet stones, clove spice and quince in a precise, dry and delicous sparkling wine. This excellent bubbly is 100% Chardonnay, vintage 2021, and done in 100% Stainless Steel with just 140 cases made and done all Methode Champenoise. Odonata says there was a slow pressing and no skin contact, picked and immediately put to stainless steel tank. It was cold fermented in stainless steel and matured for a full 38 months on yeast. Hoey notes this batch was tirage bottled on January 2022 and was disgorged in March of 2025 with a very low Dosage of 4 g/L. This wine was great on its own, but it gets even better with matching cuisine, with sea food and poultry good options, and or enjoyed with oysters and or caviar.
Odonata, the brainchild of winemaker Denis Hoey, who released his first commercial vintage when he was just 21, is one of Monterey’s most fun and exciting wineries located on River Road on the cool northern edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands and does a wide and unique range of wines from Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara regions. Hoey says he now blends old world methods with new world techniques to make nouveau-style wines, serious, but approachable, as seen here with his Champagne style sparkler. He adds that he strives to produce wines that are rich, textured, and balanced, and that respect terroir and varietal character, which is clearly delivered in his latest wines, in particular his Viognier, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Chardonnay and Syrah offerings. California sparkling wines are now reaching incrediable levels of thrill and quality, as seen in the wines by Caraccioli Cellars, Poe Wines and here with Odonata, especially the ones that are done in this time consuming hand crafted Champagne way and I recommend getting to know these stylish efforts.
($48 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive