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Jeb Dunnuck’s Review – Vintage 2016

August 6, 2019

2016 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 97 Points

A different beast, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is more backward and reticent, and while it needs 4-5 years of bottle age, is packed with potential. Both black and blue fruits, earth, tobacco, and freshly crushed rock notes all flow to a full-bodied 2016 that has plenty of fine tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and beautiful intensity and length. Do your best to give this some bottle age, and you’ll be rewarded with a phenomenal Napa Valley Cabernet that will keep for 2-3 decades.

2016 Carte Blanche Chardonnay, UV Vineyard, Sonoma Coast – 96 Points

From a great site on the Sonoma Coast, which is also known as the Laguna Vineyard, the 2016 Chardonnay UV Vineyard was barrel fermented and spent 16 months in 30% new French oak. This brilliant wine offers a medium gold color to go with rich, powerful notes of pineapple, crushed rocks, and brioche. It shows more and more minerality with time in the glass, has good acidity, and a concentrated, medium to full-bodied style that’s a joy to drink. It reminds me of a slightly Burgundian style Chardonnay from Mark Aubert.

2016 Carte Blanche Pinot Noir, Sun Chase Vineyard, Sonoma Coast – 95+ Points

As to the reds, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard was mostly destemmed (there’s 30% stems) and spent 16 months in 40% new barrels. It’s another layered, rich, yet impeccably balanced wine and offers lots of red and black fruits, savory herbs, and earthy, forest floor-like nuances. Drink it over the coming decade or more.

2016 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 95 Points

Coming from Napa Valley, the 2016 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, all aged in new barrels. This cuvée is made with the idea to be slightly more accessible and offers a St. Emilion-like feel in its blue fruits, tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, and cedary, spice-laced aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, has a layered, balanced texture, and terrific tannin quality. It’s another powerful yet elegant wine from Keplinger.


Jeb Dunnuck’s Review – Vintage 2015

March 8, 2019

2015 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 100 Points

Lastly, and pure perfection in the glass, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal from two great sites: Missouri Hopper in Oakville and Las Posadas in Howell Mountain. Aged in 100% new French oak, it offers an incredible bouquet of crème de cassis, liquid rock, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and unsmoked tobacco, with searing minerality in the aromatics as well as on the palate. Offering full-bodied richness, terrific concentration, and building tannin, this backward, dense, yet perfectly balanced 2015 needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will impress for 2-3 decades. Bravo!

2015 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 98 Points

Leading off the 2015s from this estate, the 2015 Proprietary Red is a much more Cabernet-dominated blend than the 2014 and is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and the rest Malbec. Brought up all in new French oak, this monster effort boasts a deep purple color as well as sensational notes of currants, blackberry liqueur, graphite, espresso roast and leafy herbs. Full-bodied, ripe, opulent and incredibly concentrated, this killer effort needs 2-3 years to shed some baby fat, but it’s going to keep for 2-3 decades.


Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Review – Vintage 2015

2015 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 97 Points

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is made predominately from Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard. It gives a very deep purple-black color and is redolent of crème de cassis, blueberry compote, Indian spices and crushed rocks with touches of black soil, cigar boxes and Provence herbs. The palate is built like a brick house with a solid frame of firm, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the generous black and blue fruits and beautiful spice layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

2015 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 94 Points

Blended of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard with 18% Merlot, 18.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Malbec, the 2015 Proprietary Red gives a very deep inky purple color and very pretty nose of baking spices, potpourri, underbrush and rose hip tea over a core of crushed black plums and black currants, with hints of dried mint and chocolate box. Rich, full-bodied and impactful with its layers of perfumed fruit in the mouth, it has lovely plush tannins and just enough acid lift, finishing with great length.


Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Review

November 8, 2017

2014 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – 95+ Points

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard with 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It offers up notions of crushed blackberries, warm blueberries and dried herbs with suggestions of cedar, Marmite toast and unsmoked cigar. Medium to full-bodied with impressive concentration and a rock-solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, the palate delivers mouth-filling black and blue fruit with a lively kick on the long, earthy finish.

2014 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley – 94 Points

Composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 10.5% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Malbec, the 2014 Proprietary Red has a deep garnet-purple color and compelling cassis, black cherries, mulberries and plums nose with hints of chocolate box and menthol. Full-bodied and jam-packed with muscular black fruit, it has a very firm, ripe, fine-grained tannic backbone and a long, pure-fruited finish.


Vinous – Antonio Galloni Reviews

Antonio Galloni shares his thoughts on the 2014 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon and Proprietary Red Wine.

2014 Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 Points

A totally striking wine, Carte Blanche’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as good from bottle as it was from barrel. Black cherry, graphite, earthiness, tobacco and licorice all give the wine its savory personality. Rich, voluptuous and racy, the 2014 offers superb depth in an opulent, flamboyant style that will be easy to enjoy with minimal cellaring.

2014 Carte Blanche Proprietary Red – 94 Points

The 2014 Proprietary Red Wine is a powerful, tannic wine that is going to need at least a few years to fully come together, but it is impressive, even at this early stage. This is an especially vibrant 2014. Floral, savory overtones laced with violet, lavender, spice and menthol add shades of nuance throughout. The 2014 has developed nicely since I last tasted it from barrel a year ago.


Antonio Gallonis review

September 12, 2016

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Antonio Galloni’s review of our 2013 Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley
93 Points

Another racy, expressive wine from Carte Blanche, the 2013 Proprietary Red Wine is beautifully perfumed throughout. Dark red cherry, pomegranate, mint, spice and sweet floral notes are woven together in a sensual, supple wine that will drink well pretty much upon release. The blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc works quite well here.—Antonio Galloni


Gallery News

August 25, 2016


Thank you!

March 11, 2016

Thank you to syndicated wine columnist Kelly Hayes for his classy column featuring Carte Blanche Wine!
Click here to view column


Hot Off the Press!

February 29, 2016

We’re honored to have been reviewed in the Fermented Fruit and featured in the Palm Beach Daily News
Cheers!


2012 Red Scores

February 3, 2016

Vinous / Antonio Galloni  | 2012 Proprietary Red – 94 Points
A great example of the vintage at its best, the 2012 Proprietary Red Wine exudes richness and voluptuousness. A host of sweet red cherry, rose petal, mint and spices notes open up, with expressive aromatics that add a gorgeous top register. The positive reputation of the vintage is built on wines like this that offer tremendous radiance and near term appeal.

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon – 92 Points
Dark, powerful and intense, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is laced with black cherry, plum, leather, smoke, licorice, tar, smoke and savory herbs. Plump and expressive, with a good range of textures and flavors, the 2012 is a delicious Cabernet to drink now and over the next decade.

Wine Spectator  | 2012 Proprietary Red – 93 Points
Herbal and cedary in a pleasant way, rich and full-bodied, with juicy blackberry, cherry, currant and loamy earth notes. The flavors fairly coat the palate, revealing uncommon depth and density. Very chewy on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2017 through 2030.