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The 2002 cuvée is composed of 63% pinot noir, 35% chardonnay and 2% pinot blanc. The appellation is 100% Carneros and 100% from the 2002 vintage. The Brut was aged in the bottle for three years before release. It will continue to develop further depth and complexity as it ages. The cuvée intertwines lovely flavors of lemon blossom, honeydew melon, ripe peaches and pears. Toasted nuts,caramel and hints of baking spice add to the complexity. The wine finishes with the signature creamy flavors for which Domaine Carneros is famous.

The exceptional 2004 growing season produced this very graceful and well balanced wine. Aromas of peach, apricot, melon, lemon zest and vanilla swirl from the glass. One hundred percent malolactic fermentation, this beautiful wine is rich and long yet fresh and crisp. If you can resist drinking it now, it should age nicely for five to ten years.

The Avant-Garde 2002 Merlot represents the second vintage of a rich and elegant wine. Production of this small block of old vine merlot began as a wine-making experiment and has already become a standard in the line-up of high quality Domaine Carneros wines. The Carneros Region is ideal for growing merlot. The clay soils of the region create rich deep color. The cooler, moister weather preserves and brings out the complexity of high tone aromas and fresh berry fruit flavors. It is then fermented in small open-topped tanks and aged for 16 months in French oak barrels that have been selected to broaden and enhance the essence of the merlot. The Avant-Garde Merlot is a wine of dark and intense fruit flavors such as blackberry and cassis complemented by exotic East Indian spices, tea and orange peel. A perfect accompaniment to lamb, pork and beef, the Avant-Garde Merlot will also enhance the flavors of great winter dishes such as stews and cassoulets. Only 1875 cases of this second vintage were made and it is available only at the winery.

The latest complement to our distinguished line of pinot noirs, the Avant-Garde Pinot Noir is the third pinot noir in our collection. Created to be the vanguard of the vintage, this wine heralds the particular fresh fruit qualities of the Carneros Region. The Avant-Garde is a delicate wine intensely aromatic with notes of strawberries, raspberries, clove, orange peel, chocolate, and black tea. Blended primarily from our own Pinot Noir vineyards, the fruit for this wine is grown on the Estate Vineyard near the Chateau as well as on our Pompadour Vineyard located near the town of Sonoma. This blend exhibits the most fragrant characteristics present in select lots from both of these vineyards. The wine is fermented in small open topped tanks and then aged for 10 months in French Oak Burgundy barrels. The barrels used in the aging of the Avant-Garde Pinot Noir are specially selected from cooperages that complement the aroma and flavor profile of the wine. The Avant-Garde is a wonderful accompaniment to salmon, chicken, veal or pork. This wine will enhance the vibrant flavors of California and Mediterranean cuisine. It is available in limited release only at the winery.

The Avant-Garde is a delicate wine intensely aromatic with notes of cherry, raspberries, spice, dark chocolate and black tea. Blended primarily from our own Pinot Noir vineyards, the fruit for this wine is grown on the Estate Vineyard near the Chateau as well as on our Pompadour Vineyard located near the town of Sonoma. This blend exhibits the most fragrant characteristics present in select lots from both of these vineyards. The wine is fermented in small open topped tanks and then aged for 10 months in French Oak Burgundy barrels. The barrels used in the aging of the Avant-Garde Pinot Noir are specially selected from cooperages that complement the aroma and flavor profile of the wine. The Avant-Garde is a wonderful accompaniment to salmon, chicken, veal or pork. This wine will enhance the vibrant flavors of California and Mediterranean cuisine. It is available in limited release only at the winery.

In creating our Brut Rosé, we worked to create a wine of great balance. The blend is 62% pinot noir and 38% chardonnay, emphasizing fruity and floral characteristics. Our Rosé is meant to be enjoyed at a fairly young age, when the fruity character is still predominant yet there is enough age to make the wine round and balanced. At about two years, the wine's aroma has hints of wild strawberries and roses with notes of peach. Although it is pink in color, it is not sweeter than our other wines. It is a true Brut. Traditionally, fine Rosé sparkling wines and champagne have been made in very small quantities and ours is no exception. Foods that pair well with the Brut Rosé are duck and salmon. It is a beautiful wine for a wedding, brunch, Valentine's Day or any romantic dinner for two.

Our 2003 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir is complex and elegant with rich fruit tones of black cherry, cassis and violets overlaid with notes of chocolate, smoke and East Indian spices. Round forward fruit on the nose is followed by an extraordinarily balanced palate adding richness, body and a long velvety finish to this wine. To maintain the character and intensity of our 2003 Pinot Noir fruit, the fermentation occurs in small open-topped vats. The fruit is gently destemmed with whole berries. The grapes are then cold soaked for four days prior to the beginning of fermentation. The fermentation lasts for 8-12 days. A “punch-down” or mixing of grape skins and fermenting juice are done every six hours to enhance color and flavor development. After pressing, the finished wine goes directly into French barrels where it is gently racked once during the 10 months in the barrel. The grapes for the 2003 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir consist of eight clonal selections of Estate-grown, 100% Carneros Appellation, pinot noir from three different Domaine Carneros vineyards. Harvest is done in the morning while the grapes are cool. All the harvesting is done by hand into shallow bins to minimize damage to the fruit.

The 1999 Le Rêve is the eighth in a highly distinguished line of Blanc de Blancs, repeatedly voted Best of Class. This 100% chardonnay sparkling wine is seductively luscious, with an elegant structure that is enhanced with layers of tropical fruit flavors such as passion fruit, lichi and ginger. These are accented with floral notes of honeysuckle and white rose. The wine is overlaid with a honeyed, toasty character. Creamy elements wind through the lingering silky finish and texture. The 1999 vintage began with a cool spring. Bud break did not occur until April. The summer evenings were exceptionally cool and harvest began a full month later than usual. The crop was small and the long ripening period allowed time for full flavor development while maintaining high levels of acidity producing an exceptional quality of fruit. The blend of the 1999 Le Rêve is 100% chardonnay selected from six different estate-grown clones. It has been aged on the lees in the bottle for six years. The appellation is 100% Carneros, 100% from the 1999 vintage and 100% estate-grown. It is drinking beautifully now but will continue to age and develop for many years. This wine matches particularly well with shellfish such as crab, lobster and prawns. It will also enhance a variety of fish and poultry dishes and is an excellent match with goat and double or triple cream cheeses.

2003 Famous Gate Pinot Noir marks the twelfth vintage of a highly distinguished wine reflecting the consistent excellence of Domaine Carneros’ intensive and dedicated pinot noir program. Following fermentation in small, open topped fermenters, the wine was transferred to barrels and aged for a total of ten months. An exhaustive French barrel program comprises seven cooperages that specifically air-dry wood staves for us for three years, yielding softer tannins and less astringency. Winemakers selected special lots from six clonally distinctive wines and composed the blend over a period of months to create a wine of extraordinary finesse and depth. After bottling, Famous Gate matures an additional two years in the bottle before release. The wine has rich, dark flavors of black cherry, blackberry, chocolate and spice that mingle with hints of smoke and toast. The soft, velvety texture and elegant structure will allow the wine to gracefully mature over time. It can be enjoyed now, or can be aged in the bottle for 3-5 years. It is available domestically only at the winery and for our Chateau Society members.