Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. My Wine Of The Week is the 2005 Domaine Carneros Le Rêve
The Winery
Domaine Carneros was founded in 1987 by Champagne Taittinger of France in partnership with Kobrand Corporation. It is located in the heart of Carneros in Napa Valley, along with Gloria Ferrer. The Carneros terroir is ideally suited to producing Chardonnay,and Pinot Noir, typically the backbone of both Champagne, and California Sparkling wine. That’s because Carneros offers cool nights, foggy mornings, and sunny, breezy days offering fruit of extraordinary elegance, complexity, and intensity.
Domaine Carneros is a beautiful Chateau that was built in 1988. The building was inspired by historic Chateau de la Marquetterie in Champagne France, which is the estate home of the Taittinger family.
The Wine
Domaine Carneros sources 95% of their fruit from organic estate vineyards, and all of their wines are labeled with the Carneros appellation. Eileen Crane is CEO/Founding Winemaker.
This wine is a Blanc de Blancs, which means the wine is produced from all white grapes. Le Rêve, which translates to “the dream” in French, is considered to be the tête du cuvee (flagship wine) of the winery. The wine is aged 6 years in Domaine Carneros’ cellars, carved into the hillside beneath the winery, before release.
My tasting notes follow
Light straw color with persistent bead of tiny bubbles, with brioche baked pear, tropical fruit, and a touch of mineral aromas. On the palate it shows a soft creamy mousse, and is elegant, balanced, and complex with stone fruit, apple, tropical fruit, and mineral flavors. Long finish – 93pts.
Rating: Highly recommended!
Pair with: It makes a great apéritif, but is also fantastic with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, and ceviche. Try with an aged Gouda or other hard cheeses. And it makes a delicious counterpoint with triple cream cheeses.
The Wine Geek Stuff:
Alcohol: 12% alcohol.
Closure: Cork
AVA: > California> Napa / Sonoma> Carneros
Varietal(s): 99%% Chardonnay, 1% Pinot Blanc
Cooperage: Aged on lees in the bottle for five and one-half years
Retail: $95
Cases produced: 4,450
Purchased for review
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