Domaine Carneros Avant Garde Pinot Noir

Domaine Carneros was established in 1987, a joint venture between Champagne Taittinger and Kobrand Corporation – one of the foremost players in the U.S wine industry. This impressive venture was a fulfilment of Claude Taittinger’s dream after he visited the Carneros region and realised its potential to produce world class sparkling and still Pinot Noir wines.

All the wines from Domaine Carneros are made from 100% Carneros fruit. When founding Domaine Carneros, the intent was to focus specifically on sparkling wines. However, the Pinot Noir fruit produced on the Domaine Carneros estate vineyards was of such high quality that a still wine was produced. 1992 saw the inaugural vintage of the highly acclaimed Famous Gate Pinot Noir. The winery also houses an excellent visitor centre where guests can enjoy flights of wines in luxurious surroundings.

Domaine Carneros farms vineyards in 6 separate Carneros sites. Clones are selected for subtle differences of flavour and intensity. Like an artist working from a multi-coloured palette, the winemakers blend the wines from the different clones, each contributing to the complexity and depth of the final cuvée.

Situated in the very heart of the region, the Domaine Carneros estate encompasses 400 acres in six separate sites and exclusively uses Carneros grapes. The newest addition to their collection of vineyards, Entre Amis, was planted in 2017 to half Pinot Noir and half Chardonnay. With western sun exposure and light, gravely soil, Pinot Noir winemaker TJ is excited about its potential.

The Carneros climate is characterised by a long, moderately cool growing season. Breezes and lingering fog from San Pablo Bay moderate temperatures, making them slightly cooler than Burgundy and slightly warmer than Champagne. This, with the slopes and range of soils, creates the perfect conditions for slow and even ripening of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Pinot Noir,

This blend exhibits the most fragrant characteristics present in select lots from these vineyards.

The wine is fermented in small open-topped tanks and then aged for nine months in mostly neutral Burgundian French oak barrels. The barrel regimen for this wine is specially designed to preserve the wine’s bright, floral, and fruity characteristics.

Exceptionally aromatic, this wine features aromas of fresh pomegranate followed by a bowl of sweet cherries, red currants, warm oak, and cinnamon. The palate presents exuberant flavours of juicy black cherries and raspberry, dark chocolate with a hint of savoury tobacco leaf.