Regular price :$80.00,  PRIMA Insiders Pay $69.99 with shipping included on 6 bottles or more

52% Chardonnay (4% from 2016 vintage), 48% Pinot Noir, 6 g/l dosage. When it comes to blue chip sparkling wine from California, the list is small but distinguished and, at the very tip-top of the pyramid, there’s Roederer L’Ermitage and very few others! The first French Champagne house to stray from the Napa Valley in search of a climate compatible with the quality they were seeking, L’Ermitage was created to be the best wine the Roederers could make from their Anderson Valley vineyards and it has stood not only the test of time but also consistently raised the bar for what’s possible in terms of finesse, style and elan for a domestic sparkler. The 2019 is the best vintage we’ve tasted to date and, if the Wine Enthusiast review below is anything to go on, others agree! Almost diaphanous in nature, it is still a rich, toasty bottle of bubbles with layer upon layer of citrusy fruit, fresh herbs and croissant-right-out-of-the-oven yeastiness on a supremely elegant, fine palate with just a touch of crème to bring it all together. Finished at 6 grams per liter dosage, it’s quite dry on the palate but still with enough roundness and fruit enough to enjoy all on its own when you open one for that very special toast this summer. Or any summer, fall, winter or spring for the next ten or more, if you want. We’ve got a parcel from the winery at a very good price but can’t say how long it will last. Looking for something special with which to celebrate life’s ups and downs? This could be your bottle of bubbles. 

Wine Enthusiast: If sunshine could be bottled it would be this. Aromas of fresh succulent stone fruit, a hint of yeast, citrus blossoms and notes of quince on the nose. The mousse is creamy and light with baked red apples, blood orange zest, white grapefruit, sticky caramel and layered salinity with a mouthwatering finish. It will bring a smile to your lips. 100 points

Wine Spectator: Dynamic yet elegantly structured, with alluring flavors of Asian pear, baked apple, brioche, clove and nutmeg that build richness on the graceful finish. 94 points

Jeb Dunnuck: The 2019 Brut L'Ermitage blends 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, all estate grown from one growing season, with 3.9% Chardonnay from the 2016 vintage, and a dosage of 6 grams per liter. A complete, well-integrated, medium-bodied sparkling wine with a balance of fruit and savory notes, it offers flecks of oak spice and pastry crust. Textured and creamy in style, it has a lingering brightness on the finish and should age well over the next 10-15 years. 95 points