I just don`t get it .... What do they see in Carneros

http://www.winesandvines.com/headline_0 ... _25th.html

I tasted alot of wine from here and I just think
this fruit is only good for sparkling.
Still wines they seem to light .
What do you think of this area?

I like some Syrahs from the Hudson Vineyard. Don't particularly care for Carneros style light and perfumey Pinot Noirs (personal preference). Not a big chardonnay drinker, so I overall agree with you.

I'm a big fan of the Truchards; their '00 Pinot Noir seemed to have nice earthy tones in any case.

Though I didn't care much for the ones I've had from Domaine Carneros.

http://www.winesandvines.com/headline_09_27_06_25th.html

I tasted alot of wine from here and I just think
this fruit is only good for sparkling.
Still wines they seem to light .
What do you think of this area?

Bouchaine has some lovely stuff, especially the Pinot Noir.

Though I didn't care much for the ones I've had from Domaine Carneros.

Plus, those folks built an absolute monstrosity of a winery-a typical cheap California giant stucco box with cutesy little "French" cliches tacked only onto the front, with the other facades being blank stucco walls highly visible fro the road. A true abomination of winery architecture and the prime eyesore on the drive between Napa and Sonoma.

I like some of the pinots from the area. I've had some from Saintsbury that I thought were excellent. And the best California merlot I've ever had was from the Sangiacomo vineyard, which I believe is in Carneros.


Mike

De gustibus non est disputandum. Some of my favorite all-time Cal Pinots have been Carneros, especially Saintsbury.

[Robin Garr]

What do you think of this area?

It's cool, very cool, and that's the point. Carneros certainly has the capability to make more stylish Pinot and Chardonnay - the Burgundy varieties - than much of California. In addition to the producers others have mentioned, I used to consider Acacia one of my go-to wines, although I haven't seen much of them lately.

I think that the area produces some of the best still pinot noirs in the whole state of California. I'm a big fan of Saintsbury, in particular.

-Paul W.

I just don`t get it .... What do they see in Carneros

Two words: Pinot Noir.

What do you think of this area?

I think that it's beautiful to visit and produces some very fine Pinot Noirs (Saintsbury and Domaine Carneros in particular). I also have some very fond memories of Acacia wines from there during the '80s.

Mark Lipton

Well alright !!
I prefer Russian River Valley Pinots for their spiciyness and rich color .
Maybe I`ll have to give them another try.

My wife and I were at Domaine Carneros a few weeks ago. She had the sparkler sampler and I had the pinot Noir sampler with a cheese plate. While I do prefer Pinots from oregon, these were quite nice, though light and perfumey as someone mentioned. I also had a glass of pinot at Mumm in Napa and I believe the grapes were from Carneros. Nice too. As Leslie really enjoys sparkling wine, I try to taste something else when we visit, and it's usually pinot.

I favor some of the Russian River Valley and Oregon Pinots, but in Carneros I really like some from Saintsbury, Steele, Casa Carneros (limited production) and Greg Opitz (using grapes from Casa Carneros--also limited production). The 1998 and 1999 Casa Carneros Pinot Noir is holding up well today demonstrating that some California Pinot Noir can be aged more than a few years.

Note the continuing repetition of the name "Saintsbury." They really are Burgundian in their approach, I think. Very nice wines at more-or-less reasonable prices.

Just because I'm a geeky twerp, I'll throw in my favorite Carneros obscurity: Kazmer & Blaise. They make wonderfully rich, beautifully perfumed wines, but they have very small production and, as I understand it anyway, prices these days on a par with Chambertin.