Cruse Wine Co. 2023 Sparkling St. Laurent

This wine is a showstopper. The 2023 Sparkling St. Laurent by Michael Cruse captures the essence of what makes California’s sparkling wine scene so exciting today. Made from the Austrian grape variety St. Laurent, grown by Dale Ricci in Sonoma’s Carneros AVA, this wine is rooted in foggy mornings, Haire clay loam, and a friendship going back over 25 years. Located near the San Pablo Bay, the Ricci Vineyard benefits from cool oceanic influences, allowing for crisp acidity and vibrant aromatics.

The grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed and briefly macerated before undergoing a gentle sparkling press cycle. Fermentation began spontaneously in stainless steel and finished in bottle. This pétillant naturel (Pet Nat) was aged on lees for 12 months and disgorged without any additions – no dosage, no sulfur, nothing but wine.

In the glass, it shines with a pale pink hue, giving way to aromas of strawberry, watermelon, and raspberry sorbet. The palate is pure joy: think kumquat, lemon zest, and a chalky, meringue-like finish riding on a wave of fine bubbles. It’s light, fizzy, and dangerously drinkable.

With only 4,000 bottles made, this sparkling rosé is a rare find and we are thrilled to bring it exclusively to Europe via americanwine.club.