Carte Blanche Sun Chase Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
As to the reds, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard was mostly destemmed (there’s 30% stems) and spent 16 months in 40% new barrels. It’s another layered, rich, yet impeccably balanced wine and offers lots of red and black fruits, savory herbs, and earthy, forest floor-like nuances. Drink it over the coming decade or more.
-
James Suckling
Dense and layered, offering beautiful dark-fruit and walnut character with some black olives and dried strawberries. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Excellent energy and tightness. Drink in 2020.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a vineyard planted at 900 to 1,400 feet in elevation, using 30% whole cluster and aged in 40% new Burgundian oak, the medium to deep ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard gives up notes of redcurrants, cranberries and pomegranate with touches of bay leaves, tilled soil and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully perfumed with a soft, plush texture and refreshing lift to the finish.
Other Vintages
2021-
Jeb
Dunnuck
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
The core of the Carte Blanche wine producing philosophy is to respect the terroir in each wine, thus accepting the responsibility to honor what the earth has given us. In early 2014, Carte Blanche continued its commitment to that mantra in welcoming Helen Keplinger as the new winemaker. With each vintage, Carte Blanche is celebrated —the freedom to create wines from singular or multiple vineyards, varietals or appellations. They constantly strive to extract the best out of nature and science. Their art and creative freedom allows them to work with an open canvas and develop exceptional wines that enhance our celebration of life.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.