Description
Carte Blanche is a new find for us, and we have been mightily impressed. The proprietor is Nicholas Allen, whose family own Ch. Haut-Brion – he’s decided to make his own side-project. First laid out by Luc Morlet and then carried on by Helen Keplinger, the winemaking is top-notch and the sourcing absolutely amazing. We were seriously impressed by all the wines we tried.
“This infamous vineyard, owned and farmed by the one and only, Ulises Valdez and family, is home to the longtime prized clone of Wente Chardonnay. Our Chardonnay is comprised of 100% Wente clone, providing everything we love about Chardonnay – depth, weight, finesse, brightness – all fittingly strung together in seamless harmony. The vineyard is six miles from the Pacific Ocean and contains a unique mix of sand and clay – the “Sebastopol Clays.” The 2021 UV Vineyard Chardonnay is 100% Old Wente Chardonnay Clone in this vintage and shows off the purity of this varietal from entry to finish. Aromatics of mineral, orange blossom, tangerine, ginger, blanched almond. Great density and energy. A very bright, intense palate with Asian pear, citrus – tangerine, light zest, brioche, Meyer lemon. Effortlessly balanced, a touch of phenolics drives a long finish. (notes from the estate).”
No reviews as of yet, but the previous reviews are 96, 96, 96, 94 on Jeb Dunnock. Having tasted, it’s highly recommended!