One of my fondest memories of 2020 is tasting at Domaine Carneros on a smoke-filled day. Truly one of the most beautiful sites in Napa, Domaine Carneros is a stunning winery in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. Taking inspiration from a French chateau in Champagne, Domaine Carneros towers over the valley, showcasing sweeping views of the Napa Valley. Claude Taittinger of famed Champagne house Taittinger, began his search for a good spot to make California Sparkling Wine in the late 1970s. Finally in 1987 he selected a 138-acre parcel in the Carneros region of the Napa Valley.
Over the past year Domaine Carneros has a new CEO, Remi Cohen who in 2015 was named to Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 recognition as a tastemaker and influencer in the Napa Valley. Remi follows famed Napa Sparkling Wine pioneer, Eileen Crane, in crafting wines for this impressive bubbles house.
I was blown away with the new 2014 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine (OB, 96) which is amongst the best sparkling wines made in North America. Quite frankly this is up there with the best edition of this wine that I have ever sampled. The wine was initially inspired by Champagne Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne, as their tête-de-cuvée, and impresses its silky mouthfeel and wonderful veil of tension. This edition is particularly bold with some incredible cellaring potential. It will surely be a 20 year old wine! Learn more about these outstanding wines at https://www.domainecarneros.com Here are the new wines by Domaine Carneros
2019 Domaine Carneros ‘The Famous Gate’ Pinot Noir- Ripe and chewy now at the two year mark, the 2019 ‘The Famous Gate’ reveals black cherry cola notes alongside bramble and tilled soils on the palate. Fresh and viscous with lovely citrus rind accents, with a light salinity, this outstanding 2019 Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2014 Domaine Carneros ‘Le Reve’ Sparkling Wine- Taken from this warmer vintage in Carneros, the 2014 ‘Le Reve’ is a spectacular new bottling that is dense and intense, yet exceedingly well-balanced. 100%Chardonnay sourced from their estate vineyard, with only .9% dosage, the wine shows off white peach and star jasmine tones aromatically alongside shades of Meyer lemon zest dusted brioche and freshly tilled salty soils. Complex and ripe once on the mouth this takes on pretty Gravenstein apple and baking spice topped Challah bread tones that march on across a great veil of tension and salinity. A complete wine, considering the weight and freshness, the stunning 2014 ‘Le Reve’ will cellar well over the next two decades. Drink 2021-2039- 96