Brut Vintage Cuvée 2021
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America / Carneros
The Vintage Brut Cuvée is the signature wine of Domaine Carneros. It encompasses the widest range of estate clones and vineyard blocks of the winery’s collection. The tapestry of flavors that result, married with the
inherent finesse of the cool Carneros fruit, create wines of depth and complexity that are enhanced by a minimum of three years of bottle age sur lie in the cellar before release.
93 Points
jamessuckling.com
2021 vintage
Harvest Note
The 2021 growing season commenced with an early bud break followed by unseasonably cool spring and early summer temperatures, which helped preserve vineyard health as we entered a second year of drought conditions. Summer temperatures were moderated by the marine layer which allowed the grapes to mature slowly and consistently and resulted in wonderful depth of flavor and concentration in the generous harvest.
Tasting Note
The wine displays lovely notes of lemon zest, ripe pear, and a hint of brioche on the nose. On the palate this wine reveals nuances of white nectarine, fresh apple pie, lemon meringue, and crème brûlée. Aged in our cellar to enhance complexity and development, this cuvée presents the classic long and round toasty flavor that Domaine Carneros is known for.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 49% Pinot Noir, 51% Chardonnay
APPELLATION: Carneros
PH: 3.10
ACIDITY: 0.8g/100ml
ABV: 12%
DOSAGE: 0.90%
AGING: Aged over three years in our cellar to enhance complexity
Unique Selling Points
- Made primarily from estate-grown, green-certified Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes
- Bottle aged for more than 3 years, yielding a toasty aroma and fine, pinpoint bubbles
- With proper cellaring, this wine will develop further for decades
“The first obligation of any wine is to be delicious.”
Eileen Crane, Founding Winemaker
About the Grape
Chardonnay
Though it has a distinctive profile, Chardonnay reflects other factors such as soil composition and vinification technique. Chardonnay is a reliable, hardy and prolific vine whose only real vulnerabilities are frost and uneven development of fruit.
Pinot Noir
In France, makes a silky, deceptively powerful wine of elegant, complex aromas and subtle, red fruit flavors, with earthy, floral, mushroom and mineral notes. In California, shows ripe, sweet characters.
