Domaine Carneros Sparkling Brut 2019

Region and Vineyards

Domaine Carneros is nestled in the southern reaches of Napa Valley, within the Carneros AVA, a region celebrated for its fog-kissed mornings and cool Pacific breezes. These climatic influences make Carneros an ideal terroir for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the noble varieties of Champagne. The estate comprises a mosaic of vineyard blocks planted to specific clones, allowing for nuanced blending and consistent quality vintage after vintage.

Carneros' shallow clay loam soils with good drainage, combined with its cooler climate, help retain acidity while promoting slow, even ripening. These growing conditions yield base wines with vibrant structure, lifted aromatics, and graceful longevity, which are essential for crafting traditional-method sparkling wines of finesse and depth.

Winemaking

This estate-grown blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir is crafted using the méthode traditionnelle, the time-honored technique used in Champagne. Grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness for sparkling production, ensuring bright acidity and subtle phenolic ripeness.

The cuvée undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle, followed by over three years of aging sur lie, which imparts depth, creaminess, and finely integrated autolytic notes. The final dosage is modest at 0.9%, yielding a dry style that accentuates the wine’s balance and elegance. The wine is bottled at 12.0% alcohol with vibrant acidity (TA 0.84 g/100 ml) and a pH of 3.0, ensuring freshness and age-worthiness.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Pale straw with golden glints and a persistent, delicate mousse.
• Aroma: Expressive notes of lemon zest, green apple, and white florals intermingle with nuances of brioche and toasted almonds.
• Palate: A creamy, layered mouthfeel reveals poached pear, yuzu, honeycomb, and baked apple. The finish is bright, toasty, and lingering, with crystalline acidity that refreshes the palate.

Did you know?

Domaine Carneros was established by the Taittinger family of Champagne fame, bringing Champenoise savoir-faire to California. Their focus on estate-grown fruit and traditional methods ensures exceptional typicity and consistency across vintages.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Goat cheese crostini: The acidity and bubbles cut through the richness, highlighting the cheese’s tang.
• Oysters on the half shell: A classic pairing; the wine’s freshness complements the briny salinity.
• Asian-style dumplings: A superb match with yuzu or soy-based dishes, the citrus and umami interplay beautifully.
• Apple tart or lemon curd dessert: Echoes the wine’s orchard fruit and citrus zest while cleansing the palate.

History of Domaine Carneros

Founded in 1987 by Claude Taittinger, then president of Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Carneros was established with a clear and ambitious vision: to create a benchmark American sparkling wine estate, rooted in the traditional Champagne method and powered by the unique terroir of Carneros.

The site chosen for the estate lies in the southern part of Napa Valley, where the cool maritime climate is ideally suited to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A French-style château, modeled after Taittinger's own Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, was built atop the hills overlooking the vineyards, symbolizing the deep connection between Old World tradition and New World innovation.

From the outset, the estate committed to sustainable viticulture and estate-only production, ensuring full control over quality from vine to bottle. Over the decades, Domaine Carneros has become a reference point in the U.S. for Méthode Traditionnelle sparkling wines and refined, cool-climate Pinot Noir.

Winemaking is led by Zak Miller (CEO and sparkling winemaker) and TJ Evans (still wines), both of whom combine Burgundian finesse with Californian expressiveness. Their philosophy balances precision, aging potential, and terroir expression—particularly in the flagship wines Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs and the Estate Pinot Noir.

Region and Vineyards

Domaine Carneros is located in the heart of the Carneros AVA, straddling Napa and Sonoma counties. This region is defined by its cool, fog-laced mornings and breezy afternoons, moderated by nearby San Pablo Bay. These conditions slow grape maturation, promoting high natural acidity, subtle aromatics, and a long growing season—ideal for producing sparkling wines of finesse and Pinot Noir of texture and purity.

The estate comprises six distinct vineyard sites, all certified sustainable, planted predominantly to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Particular attention is given to clonal diversity, especially in Pinot Noir, with over twenty clones planted to optimize complexity and site expression.

Each plot is farmed with precision, allowing the winemaking team to craft blends that reflect both the personality of the vintage and the signature of the estate. This commitment to estate-grown fruit sets Domaine Carneros apart in the American sparkling wine landscape.

Wine Range of Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros produces a focused portfolio centered around sparkling and Pinot Noir wines:

• Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs: The prestige cuvée, made from 100% Chardonnay, aged six years sur lie, and considered one of the finest American sparkling wines.
• Estate Brut Cuvée: The flagship sparkling wine, made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with classic method aging and bright, balanced fruit.
• Brut Rosé – Cuvée de la Pompadour: A vibrant, dry rosé with expressive red fruit and elegance.
• Ultra Brut: An Extra Brut style for lovers of crisp, low-dosage sparkling wine.
• Estate Pinot Noir: A structured, silky red wine showcasing the full clonal diversity of the estate’s vineyards.
• Avant-Garde Pinot Noir: A fruit-forward, early-drinking Pinot Noir highlighting the vintage’s aromatic charm.

Did you know?

The estate’s name, Le Rêve, meaning “The Dream,” was chosen to honor Claude Taittinger's dream of producing a world-class American sparkling wine. Today, Le Rêve is widely regarded as one of the top blanc de blancs outside of Champagne.