Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot Noir (2018)

The 2018 edition of this Estate Pinot Noir packs a full range of red and darker berry flavors. Beginning with the nose one encounters plum clafouti, cherries, bergamot tea, and red roses. Ten months of barrel age lends a sweetness that balances the supple tannin from this exceptional vintage producing an intense full bodied Pinot Noir. Of particular note in this edition is the juicy and sweet fruited entry upon the palate, backed up by delicate spice notes (sassafras) and leather that lead to baked cherry and black raspberry. The hallmark of Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir is the texture, and this wine delivers with a supple and silky mouth-feel. This hand-crafted Pinot Noir can be enjoyed alone as an aperitif or matched with a diverse group of dishes such as beef, poultry, pork or grilled salmon, prepared in a variety of culinary styles. The winemaker recommends grilled heritage pork chop, seared venison, or duck confit with sour cherry sauce.

Tasting Notes

92 James Suckling
Dried cherries, plums, strawberries, licorice and cloves on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with soft, ripe tannins and a caressing texture. Juicy, round and flavorful. Savory-earth notes come out on the finish. Vegan. Drink now.

91 Wine Spectator
Rich and plush, with concentrated cherry tart, plum pudding and dark currant flavors that are well-structured, showing cocoa powder and allspice accents on the open-textured finish.