Domaine Carneros Brut Vintage, Methode Traditionelle

Description

Domaine Carneros Brut Vintage is a California sparkling wine made in the Napa Valley in a joint venture between Champagne Taittinger and the Kobrand Corporation (one of the largest wine companies in the USA).

Claude Taittinger had been searching for an opportunity to make wine in the USA since the 1970s. In 1987, he eventually selected this 138 hectare estate in the heart of the Carneros wine-growing region as the place he would produce quality sparkling wine and Pinot Noir. Domaine Carneros farms grapes in four different vineyard sites and uses different grape clones to produce different flavours and intensity in their wines.

The sparkling wines made at Domaine Carneros remain the only Californian sparkling wines that are made from grapes that are 100% from the Carneros appellation. Additionally, in April 2008, Domaine Carneros received organic certification of all its estate vineyards by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). The certification gave the winery the distinction of becoming the first sparkling winery in the United States with all estate vineyards certified.

Domaine Carneros Brut Vintage is a blend of 59% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay. Unusually, only 2% of the cuvée underwent malolactic fermentation before blending the cuvée for tirage bottling. The wine has been aged for three years before release and will further age gracefully in your cellar for 10 years or more. The style is reminiscent of Champagne Taittinger’s own house style, demonstrating lightness, elegance and finesse but perhaps a little riper and softer.