Where to begin?  This winery is easily one of the best all-around wineries that I have visited in my short life.

Operated by Taittinger, Domaine Carneros makes one think of a lavish, French estate as you approach its sprawling grounds.  The hell of it is , Domaine Carneros IS a lavish French estate, even sporting authentic Frenchmen serving their sparkling wines.  As we were seated for our tasting (that’s right, seated outside at a table on the patio) Jean Claude, our authentic Frenchman, offered us a tasting sheet.

F’ing spectacular.

The tasting flight included a Brut, a Brut Rose and a Blanc de Blancs, all of which were really excellent.  Even the Brut Rose, which was pink in color, was an excellent wine.  Very dry and fruity, the Rose was actually a really good wine.  Also excellent was a the Brut Cuvee, this was easily one of the better sparklers that i’ve enjoyed, but it was sadly put in its place by the Blanc de Blancs - truly a formidable opponent.  This at least six year old Blanc de Blancs had everything that a luxury champagne should have: tiny bubbles, a buttery finish and a Frenchman serving it.

As I’m sitting here sipping on my gin and tonic, I’m wondering whether I was ever actually at this winery, or whether I’m just making all this nonsense up.  Luckily, I have a bottle of Brut Cuvee in my cellar to back up my story.

From the grounds, to the three sparkling wines in the tasting flight (the Blanc de Blancs is currently the sparkling wine of choice served in the White House), to our incredibly polite and helpful French server - who asked only that we “…do not mix this with orange juice”, this was a really incredible tasting.  The selection of wines at Domaine Carneros was not large, but what wines they did produce were really notable.

This is a must see winery on any trip to Napa, and one of my favorites.

Also, they are certified organic - apparently pesticides and expensive bubbly don’t mix.

Au revoir!
Ryan

The view from Domaine Carneros