PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Ocean Reserve is genuinely built around Iron Horse's own deep, literal connection to the Pacific — the estate sits just 13 miles from the ocean, in Green Valley, and winemaker David Munksgard has long credited that coastal fog and proximity with shaping the entire character of the property's wines. Ocean Reserve itself is a special limited-production cuvée created in partnership with National Geographic's Ocean Initiative, with a portion of proceeds from every bottle sold helping protect the ocean, supporting sustainable fishing practices and the establishment of marine protected areas — real, ongoing conservation impact tied directly to the wine.
Made entirely from estate-grown Chardonnay, hand-harvested August 19-25, 2020, the 2020 vintage was bottled in May 2021 and aged on the lees for several years before release. Iron Horse's founding family, Audrey and Barry Sterling, established the 300-acre Green Valley estate in 1976, playing a genuine pioneering role in establishing Green Valley as its own AVA within Russian River Valley; their daughter Joy Sterling now serves as CEO, and David Munksgard has been winemaker and chef de caves since 1996. Iron Horse's sparkling wines carry real historical weight too — served at the 1985 Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Geneva, and at seven consecutive U.S. presidential administrations since.
Iron Horse's own tasting notes for this exact 2020 vintage describe the aroma as radiating "vibrancy," with "a bright splash of green apple and zesty lemon" greeting "the first sip, while a luxuriously creamy texture carries the flavors smoothly across the palate," developing "ocean-kissed minerality" mid-sip, leading "to a beautifully refreshing finish with just a hint of sea breeze." For genuine house-style context, Wine Enthusiast scored the closely related 2019 vintage 92 Points, describing "vanilla, coconut and toasted brioche tones" lifting "out of the glass before a plush, fine-beaded mousse soothes the palate," with "pastry shop flavors" adding "a sense of sweetness to round off the wine's texture, leaving it smooth and soft." A separate critic tasting of the 2019 found it showing "racy lime and tangerine notes, saline acidity, and a beautiful creamy finish," conjuring "images of the ocean itself" and pairing "flawlessly with all manner of seafood." This is genuinely limited-production, mission-driven sparkling wine — real coastal character, with genuine conservation impact behind every bottle.
Iron Horse Vineyards 2020 Ocean Reserve Blanc de Blancs is produced at Iron Horse Vineyards, founded in 1976 by Audrey and Barry Sterling in Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, now led by CEO Joy Sterling and winemaker David Munksgard. The wine is made entirely from estate-grown Chardonnay, hand-harvested August 19-25, 2020, bottled in May 2021.
Ocean Reserve is a limited-production cuvée created in partnership with National Geographic's Ocean Initiative, with proceeds from every bottle supporting sustainable fishing and the establishment of marine protected areas. Bottled at 13.5% ABV, with 8.0 g/L acidity and 4.7 g/L residual sugar.
No independently confirmed critic score is available for the 2020 vintage specifically at this time. For house-style context, closely related vintages of this exact wine received:
Wine Enthusiast — 92 Points (2019 vintage):
"This wine offers vanilla, coconut and toasted brioche tones that lift out of the glass before a plush, fine-beaded mousse soothes the palate. Pastry shop flavors have a sense of sweetness to round off the wine's texture, leaving it smooth and soft."
Owen Bargreen (house-style note):
"Made from Chardonnay grapes, this exudes class with its silky mousse once on the mouth. Baking spice dusted brioche notes combine with lemon rind and copious minerals on the palate. Truly outstanding with its length, viscosity and underlying tension, this beautiful wine will cellar well for at least a decade."
i-WineReview — 92 Points (2019 vintage):
"After spending 5 years on the lees, the Ocean Reserve has a notable leesy quality to it."
Iron Horse Vineyards (official tasting note, 2020 vintage):
"The aroma radiates vibrancy. A bright splash of green apple and zesty lemon greets the first sip, while a luxuriously creamy texture carries the flavors smoothly across the palate. Ocean-kissed minerality emerges mid-sip, leading to a beautifully refreshing finish with just a hint of sea breeze."
Nose
Vibrant, with green apple and zesty lemon leading, joined by brioche, baking spice, and vanilla.
Palate
Luxuriously creamy, with ocean-kissed minerality emerging mid-sip, developing lemon rind, tangerine, and saline acidity.
Finish
Beautifully refreshing, closing with a genuine hint of sea breeze — real coastal character throughout.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California |
| Variety | 100% Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Producer | Iron Horse Vineyards |
| Founded | 1976, by Audrey & Barry Sterling |
| Winemaker | David Munksgard (since 1996) |
| Harvest | August 19-25, 2020 |
| Bottled | May 2021 |
| ABV | 13.5% |
| Partnership | National Geographic's Ocean Initiative |
| Mission | Proceeds support sustainable fishing & marine protected areas |
| Style / Identity | A limited-production, genuinely mission-driven sparkling wine — real coastal character and conservation impact |
| Aromas & Flavors | Green apple, zesty lemon, ocean-kissed minerality, sea breeze |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Serve well chilled, as a celebratory aperitif or alongside seafood.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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