Taittinger, Domaine Carneros

Alcohol percentage: 12%

Area:
Carneros is the southern end of both Napa and Sonoma. Close to the bay, fog cools the vineyards most mornings.

Grape variety:
Roughly equal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, mature for 3years on its lees in bottle.

Producer:
Claude Taittinger bought the estate (now totalling 400 acres) in 1987. The focus was originally all on sparkling wine, but they now also make excellent still Pinot Noir. The family also built a rather extraordinary ‘château’, an almost exactly replica of their Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne.

The Bottle Shop rating:
Riper and softer than Champagne, but still showing real delicacy and elegance, this is great value for the quality.