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Carte Blanche 2011 Sonoma County Proprietary White

Carte Blanche 2011 Sonoma County Proprietary White

...a medium-bodied, fresh, intense personality.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
V 91
WA 91
...a medium-bodied, fresh, intense personality.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Mission Codename Creampuff

The calm before tomorrow’s storm? Not exactly.

Agent Noir just came back from a trade buyers’ luncheon where they go all out, deep into their cellars. His birthyear 1970 Stony Hill Pinot Chardonnay ASTONISHED everyone with its youth. A “freakshow” of a white, in 52 years it hadn’t aged a day. These things happen. But very rarely, they are unicorns.

Today’s wine is a potential white unicorn too, at the tender age of 11, this Sauvignon Blanc based Bordeaux blend hasn’t budged a bit. Fascinating stuff!

As with all these indestructibly built white wines, there are reasons why and how.

This wine is essentially the very same blend as Peter Michael’s L’Apres-Midi and Morlet Family’s La Proportion Dorée, all 3 made by superstar winemaker Luc Morlet and modeled after the very best whites of Bordeaux. The other 2 go for $70-100 any given vintage, as they age effortlessly too.

But this, fresh as a daisy, and under $20 today?! Was once $75 mind you… no more!

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate describes Carte Blanche as “an impressive range of well-sourced, impeccably made wines” and this Left Bank styled white could not be better defined. Morlet’s whites have incredible longevity built-in so don’t let the library vintage deter you, it drinks like a dream now, and will continue to for years.

Pale golden with accents of hay and lemon skin glimmering. The nose marries fresh-cut ripe citrus notes from Sauvignon Blanc with floral and creamy hints from the Semillon, time in barrel, and bottle. One sip and you’re transformed to Pessac-Léognan, with that telltale balance between fresh fruits and a texture that can be best described as pleasantly fat. It’s the finish that makes today’s deal remarkable, as you’re not going to find anything out there under $20 that lasts over a minute like this. The pairing potential is as varied as it gets, with day boat scallops in Meyer lemon beurre blanc, and a Pad Thai being two prime examples of how we’d do it.

Proprietor Nicholas Allen is no stranger to fine wine. His family acquired THE Château Haut-Brion in 1935, and La Mission Haut-Brion in 1983. He grew up in a setting where fine wine was part of everyday life, and eventually, he set out to bring a world-class boutique label to life in Napa. To accomplish this, he brought rockstar Luc Morlet on board to help craft these wines. Morlet is a force of reckoning in Napa’s winemaker scene, turning out huge scoring wines for Peter Michael, Vineyard 7 & 8 and his very own Morlet Family, to name a few.

The countdown has begun…

91 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“This new operation that hired talented winemaking consultant Luc Morlet is fashioning an assortment of reds and whites, including a Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend… The 2011 Proprietary White, a blend of 64% Sauvignon Blanc and 36% Semillon, reveals copious aromas of caramelized grapefruit, honeysuckle, melon and fig as well as a medium-bodied, fresh, intense personality.”

91 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Bright yellow. Vibrant, complex nose combines stone fruits, gooseberry, pineapple, lanolin, minerals, licorice and juniper. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with mineral-driven lemon and spice flavors. Quite dry and firmly built, with the Semillon giving a touch of roundness to the rather bracing Sauvignon Blanc.”

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Tasting Profile Fresh-cut ripe citrus notes with floral & creamy hints

dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
Look

Pale golden with accents of hay and lemon skin glimmering. Fresh.

Smell

Fresh-cut ripe citrus, floral and creamy hints from time in barrel, and bottle

Taste

Fresh fruits in perfect balance with a texture best described as pleasantly fat

Finish

Not going to find anything out there under $20 that lasts over a minute like this

Pairing

Day boat scallops in Meyer lemon beurre blanc, or enjoy with a Pad Thai

What the Winery Says 2011 Sonoma County Proprietary White

Carte Blanche
Carte Blanche
Winemaker
Luc Morlet
Varietals
64% Sauvignon Blanc, 36% Semillon
Vintage
2011
Alcohol
14.2%
Appellation
Knights Valley & Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Vineyards
Blau & DeLorimier Vineyards
Yields
1.5 (S) - 3 (SB) tons/acre
Aging
10 months
Barrels
100% new French oak by Darnajou, Taransaud, Gauthier Frères
Production
9 barrels

About the Winery Carte Blanche

Carte Blanche Winemaker Luc Morlet
Carte Blanche Winemaker Luc Morlet
Carte Blanche 2011 Sonoma County Proprietary White 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Mar 21, 2022 at 11:59 pm
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Carte Blanche 2011 Sonoma County Proprietary White 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Mar 21, 2022 at 11:59 pm
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