Winemaker Notes
On the nose one encounters subtle red fruits, saddle leather, and tobacco leaf. The palate delivers vibrant red fruits including baked cherry and fig, followed by notes of spice and warming finish. Ten months of barrel age lends a subtle sweetness that balances the supple tannin from this exceptional vintage producing an intense full bodied Pinot Noir. Thee hallmark of Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir is the texture, and this wine delivers with a supple and rich mouthfeel.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Vibrant aromas of strawberries, blueberry bush, citrus peel and cassia bark. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, showing a plush and generous mouthfeel with underlying tension. Very refined and pure, with a soft touch. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Ripe, dark red fruits swirled through with baking spices and freshly cracked pine, reveal a mouthwatering, flavorful, and juicy still, Pinot Noir. Silken tannins and an ultra long finish.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.