Wine By Nine

Vintage by Dom. Carneros from Carneros, California. The 2004 vintage was the earliest harvest in memory. The early spring was followed by nearly ideal ripening conditions and the crop was small, as were 2002 and 2003. The resulting Brut cuvee is one of Dom. Carneros' most fragrant vintages. The 2004 cuvee is composed of 61% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 2% Pinot Blanc. Approximately 9% of the cuvee underwent malolactic fermentation prior to blending the cuvee for tirage bottling. The wine has been aged for three years prior to release and will further age gracefully in your cellar (if you can resist opening). This cuvee has wonderful fruit aromas of pears, baked apples and citrus peel enhanced with hints of caramel, spice. The wine is unusually round for its age, very mouth-filling and with a long creamy finish. Lovely served with double or triple cream cheeses, it also matches especially well with fish, shellfish, poultry and most Asian dishes.

Vintage by Dom. Carneros from Carneros, California. This superb, handcrafted sparkling wine, immediately reminiscent of the Taittinger style, is marked by an exceptional refinement and finesse. Its brilliant straw gold color is punctuated by strands of persistent, pinpoint bubbles. The subtle, ripe fruit richness of the Pinot Noir is balanced by the elegant depth and structure of the Chardonnay, converging in notes of toast and vanilla which linger in the extended finish.