From the California house of famed Champagne producer Taittinger, this vintage brut is consistently rated in the 90 and above range, and the judges at the 2015 San Diego International Wine Competition gave 94 points and a Platinum award to the 2010 bottling. Winemaker Eileen Crane makes several different sparklers, and it’s quite a lineup to choose from. The 2010 Brut shows zesty lemon and green fig over stony minerality on the nose, presented as palate flavors in a dry, scouring style that doesn’t dry you out while it’s setting you up for the next sip – or bite of food. Watch for my upcoming set of reviews on the entire Domaine Carneros sparkling lineup.
Domaine Carneros, Carneros (California) 2010
By Rich Cook