Domaine Carneros: Le Rêve and Pinot Noir Tasting
I received a welcome package recently from Domaine with a two-pack of Le Rêve 2005 ($95) and Domaine Pinot Noir 07 ($35) to review. I have always been a big fan of Domaine wines from all price points and find that they make delightful sparkling wine and pinot noir.
The Le Rêve, the winery’s flagship blanc de blanc, was how I remembered it. Lots of pears, lemon, and toasted almond on the end with a fantastic finish. While this is a splurge wine, it is definitely one that I will buy again.
The Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir was a strong, but elegant pinot with juicy red fruits like raspberry and cherry combined with cedar and chocolate.
Pinot from any producer in Carneros is an interesting proposition to me. To a wine, I find that there is a slightly bitter finish that I don’t find in RRV, Santa Maria, Willamette, Burgundy, etc. Not entirely sure what’s at the root of it, but almost every Carneros Pinot I open has it — which is why I’ve largely stopped buying Carneros Pinots.
I’ve had some really smooth ones – Sojourn, Failla, etc. – try those and see if you have the same experience.