Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir 2017

Cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant before serving.

Domaine Carneros was founded in 1987 by the famous Taittinger Champagne house following Charles Taittinger’s quest to identify the best terroir in Napa Valley where they could make America’s answer to French Champagne. Today it’s regarded as one of the US’s top producers of Champagne-style sparkling wines. The estate goes to great lengths to ensure exceptional quality, including harvesting their grapes by hand at night and using only the first pressings of the grape juice.

In addition to their sparkling wines, Domaine Carneros also produces some fantastic quality-driven Pinot Noirs like this bottling. It’s made from fruit sourced from six estate vineyards located close to the chateau. In total the winery grows 11 different clones of Pinot in these vineyards, producing a complex, multi-layered wine that tells the story of the Domaine Carneros terroir.

Luscious plums, cherries, dark berries and hints of bergamot dominate on the nose, while the palate offers supple tannins, a generous full body, and gentle spiced and woodsmoke hints from the 10 months of ageing in barrels. The finish is long and delicate with notes of crushed berries, leather, and baked earth which linger on the tongue. Great enjoyed with classic Pinot pairings like roast duck, grilled pork chops, or a platter of French charcuterie.