2011 Nicolas Allen 'Carte Blanche' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Winemaker Notes:  Carte Blanche is the wine project of Nicholas Allen, the great-grandson of Clarence Dillon who purchased Château Haut-Brion in 1935. Renowned winemaker Helen Keplinger is in charge of crafting Carte Blanche's impressive wines which are blends from some of Napa Valley's top vineyards: Orchard Vineyard, Missouri Hopper and ToKalon.

The Carte Blanche Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon mainly from Oakville's Missouri Hopper Vineyard, as well as a small amount of fruit from Las Posadas Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Deep purple in color, this Napa Cab features complex aromas of cassis, black berry fruits and a lead pencil minerality. On the palate the wine is rich, decadent and full-bodied with velvet tannins and deep fruit flavors with an added element of tobacco and spice that seamlessly blend into a long, luxuriant finish. Ready to drink now, this wine has the structure and intensity to age gracefully.

Tasting Notes: The nose opens to reveal dried fig, wet cedar, with high notes of black cherry and white pepper. On the palate, the attack reveals silky tannins showcasing blackberry, cassis, dried Provençal herbs and graphite. Bittersweet chocolate, black cherry and tobacco linger on the finish. Fine grain tannins and lively acidity will allow for cellar aging.