Domaine Carneros Brut Rose by Taittinger Cuvee de la Pompadour NV (750ml)

 

Rated 95 Points & Editors’ Choice by Wine Enthusiast

 

Aromas of stone and rose lead to a rich, unctuous midpalate of wild strawberry, tangerine and Meyer lemon in this persistently bright blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%).  Elegant and lively, it offers complexity within an inviting, approachable context of tremendous likability.  Editors’ Choice

 

Rated 94 Points by James Suckling

 

This has a pale copper-pink color.  Aromas of grapefruit zest, raspberry, wild strawberry, rose petal and biscuit.  Some savory undertones.  It’s medium-bodied with a succulent, sleek texture and delicate bubbles.  Orange peel and flowers at the end.  Very fine with a fresh, saline character.  Bright, crisp finish.  60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay.  Vegan. Drink now.

 

Rated 92 Points by Wine Spectator

 

Lovely rose petal and strawberry aromas combine with bright, steely watermelon, graham cracker and lemon flavors that finish with zing.  Drink now.

 

Rated 91 Points by Connoisseurs' Guide

 

59% Pinot Noir; 41% Chardonnay.  If by no means lacking in the yeasty richness of defined champenization, the current Cuvée de la Pompadour takes its lead from exuberant, fresh cherry fruit and shows off its solid Rosé credentials with a fine sense of vinosity and a bit of extra palatal weight.  It is rich, full and foamy with a decidedly creamy, very long-lasting mousse, and its ample flavors are free of evident sweetness.  It will work famously with food owing to the slight finishing grip expected of its genre, but it is never outwardly astringent and is thoroughly enjoyable on its own.

 

Rated 90 Points by Wine & Spirits

 

Organically grown pinot noir from the Domaine Carneros estate forms the base of this pretty rosé.  It spent several days on the skins before pressing, offering up clean red fruit flavors that suggest fresh strawberries at peak ripeness.  The result is a clean, juicy, crowd-pleasing sparkling wine to keep on hand for the holidays.  (3,800 cases)

 

Domaine Carneros Brut Rose by Taittinger

 

Cuvee de la Pompadour NV

 

Our Rose is named for La Grande Courtesan, Madame Pompadour, who is remembered for introducing sparkling wine to the French Court in the 1700’s.  Produced with sustainably farmed grapes from our Carneros vineyards using methode traditionnelle, it exemplifies the style of Domaine Carneros with its great balance and finesse, an homage to our founding owners Champagne Taittinger.

 

The Domaine Carneros Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé celebrates the life and times of Madame de Pompadour (the great courtesan and mistress of Louis XV) who is credited with introducing Champagne to the court and was an influential tastemaker in the matters of art, architecture, and philosophy - famous for her comment, "Champagne is the only wine a woman can drink and remain beautiful."

 

A favorite among our enthusiasts, this wine expresses great balance while emphasizing fruity and floral characteristics.  Rosé wines are often believed to be made only from Pinot Noir, but the best, including ours, have Chardonnay added for structure.  The latest vintage of our beloved Brut Rosé entices with luscious notes of rose petal, honeysuckle, and grilled peaches.

 

Winemaking

 

"Making great wine is about passion," says Founding Winemaker Eileen Crane.  "There is no formula.  You have to be attuned to the rhythm of the grapes, the pulse of the wine."

 

At Domaine Carneros, winemaking begins with impeccable Carneros fruit, most of it grown in our beautiful Napa estate vineyards.  Gentle handling and attention to detail at every step preserve the purity of each distinct variety and clone.  Our acclaimed sparkling wine cuvées are crafted from a wide array of clones – an exacting and time-consuming art, honed from decades of experience.

 

Sparkling Winemaking

 

Founded by the Taittinger family of Reims, France, Domaine Carneros is first and foremost a sparkling wine house, and with a heritage as distinguished as that of Champagne Taittinger, it's no surprise all of our California sparkling wines are produced using the exacting méthode traditionnelle.

 

While méthode traditionnelle is the most time consuming and costly way to produce sparkling wine, we knew there was simply no other option, for it produces the world’s finest sparkling wines: rich and complex with bubbles that create a pleasant, tingly, and creamy sensation on the palate.

 

The X-Factors

And yet, méthode traditionnelle is only one important factor in our finished product.  As with all great wines, the difference begins in the vineyards.  The finest sparkling wines are crafted from cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and our homebase of Carneros, just like Champagne, France, is considered "Region 1," the coolest of the five designated regions.  Our grapes are also harvested in the cool of the night to ensure minimal bitterness and tannin in the resulting juice.

 

Once in the winery cellar, it’s time for blending.  Our sparkling wines are first made like still wines, which are then blended into cuvées - arguably the most crucial step in the sparkling winemaking process.  Sparkling winemaker Zak Miller and his team taste through every single vineyard block and fermentation and then carefully select the ones that will come together to create the best wine possible.  "Bringing everything together so each blend has its own signature and personality is something I enjoy very much," says Zak.  There is no recipe, it's really about relying on my experience and passion to create something that will evolve in bottle and emerge as a wine that will bring people joy."

 

And Now, for the Long Finale

Once the blends have been established, we start the long, patient process of méthode traditionnelle.  The best known distinction of this technique from other sparkling wine processes is that the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle.  Tirage, the addition of sugar and yeast to each bottle, is what ignites the second fermentation and creates those lovely little bubbles.

 

Our vintage-dated sparkling wines are aged in the bottle for at least three years, while the esteemed Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs is aged a full six years.  Even three years is a rarity among sparkling wine houses, but the extra time on the lees (spent yeast cells) yields the rich complexity, seamless balance and delicious mouth-feel for which Domaine Carneros wines are known and loved.

 

 

Domaine Carneros

 

"Those who know our sparkling wines speak of their balance, depth of flavor and wonderful finish; their great aroma, elegant style and little, tiny bubbles," says Founding Winemaker Eileen Crane.   Classic.  Sophisticated.  Timeless.  Think Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress."

 

Domaine Carneros is a singular Napa Valley winery best known as a small grower-producer of méthode traditionelle sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, estate vineyards, and a breathtakingly beautiful Château.

 

Founded by the noble family behind Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Carneros was established in 1987 when Claude Taittinger selected a 138-acre parcel in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley, wisely choosing Eileen Crane-often referred to as America's doyenne of Sparkling Wine-to oversee the development of the Taittinger style in Carneros.  In 2020, after 33 years, Crane passed the torch to a new CEO, Remi Cohen, whose role carries on the Taittinger tradition of visionary female leadership.  Ushering in a new era of Domaine Carneros, Cohen brings two decades of experience in all facets of the wine industry to the Château.

 

The heart of Domaine Carneros has always been our méthode traditionelle sparkling wines, with distinctive styles ranging from the classic vintage-dated Brut cuvee to our luxury Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs.  In 1992 we added rich, complex Pinot Noir to our portfolio and our passion for exceptional sparkling and still wines continues to grow.

 

All of our wines proudly hail from the Carneros appellation, and 100% of our fruit comes from our six estate vineyards comprising 400 acres.  As anyone who has driven between Napa and Sonoma can tell you, the Domaine Carneros Château is a stunning regional landmark.  Join us for tableside service on the terrace or in the salon and savor the spirit of the Northern California wine country.

 

 

Rated 95 Points & Editors’ Choice by Wine Enthusiast

 

Aromas of stone and rose lead to a rich, unctuous midpalate of wild strawberry, tangerine and Meyer lemon in this persistently bright blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%).  Elegant and lively, it offers complexity within an inviting, approachable context of tremendous likability.  Editors’ Choice

 

 

 

Rated 92 Points by Wine Spectator

 

Lovely rose petal and strawberry aromas combine with bright, steely watermelon, graham cracker and lemon flavors that finish with zing.  Drink now.