Please The Palate Pick of the Week: March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley

Written by Allison Levine on August 7, 2019

Wine

Rosé is made from so many different grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and more. But the March Wines rosé is made from St. Laurent, a grape that originated in Austria and is thought to be a crossing of Pinot Noir and an unknown parent. While the origin of the grape may be unknown, I know that the March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley is the Please The Palate Wine of the Week.

St. Laurent is a highly aromatic dark-skinned wine grape variety. Typical notes include raspberry, blackberry, sweet tobacco, baking spices and chocolate. Think of it like a deeper colored, meatier version of Pinot Noir.

March Wines sources the St. Laurent from Ricci Vineyard in the cool Carneros region of Sonoma. The Ricci Vineyard is home to the first and only three acres of St. Laurent in all of California. Dale Ricci, owner of Ricci Vineyard, planted St. Laurent after falling in love with the wine when traveling in Austria.

The March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley is made in the Provence style with the grapes being direct pressed. The wine is cold fermented to enhance aromatics and then stirred on the less. The resulting wine is a bright salmon pink color with bright fruit aromatics and lovely fresh lively acidity on the palate.

There are only 28 cases of March Rosé of St. Laurent 2018 Ricci Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma Valley, which is available for $25. March Wines are the only producers of Rose of St. Laurent in California so order a bottle today.

Domaine Carneros: A pure expression of Carneros

Written by Allison Levine on July 18, 2019

Wine

There is no need to wait for a special occasion to enjoy a glass of bubbles. Sparkling wine should be drunk everyday, especially Domaine Carneros, inspired by France but a true reflection of Carneros. With a range of sparkling wines, there is one for every day or every occasion. I had the pleasure to meet with sparkling winemakers Zak Miller and wrote about it in the Napa Valley Register, which you can read here.

Domaine Carneros is an unmistakable landmark in Napa Valley. Sitting between Napa and Sonoma in Carneros, the magnificent chateau at Domaine Carneros sits on a hill overlooking Highway 12.

While the winery is modeled after the Chateau de la Marquetterie in Epernay and inspired by its French legacy, Domaine Carneros is a pure reflection of the Carneros terroir.

Established in 1987, Claude Taittinger of Champagne Taittinger selected a 138-acre parcel in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley. From its beginning, Domaine Carneros has been a sparkling wine house and a worthy counterpoint to its French sibling.

A Wine and Food Pairing Experience at Jardin d’Hiver at Domaine Carneros

Written by Allison Levine on November 1, 2018

Wine

A visit to Napa or Sonoma is not complete without a stop at Domaine Carneros. Located in the Carneros AVA, between Napa and Sonoma counties, the eye-catching Domaine Carneros sits on a hill in its grandiosity. Owned by the Tattinger family, the magnificent château was inspired by the 18^thcentury Château de la Marquetterie, the Taittinger family residence in the Champagne region.

To get to the château, you walk up a large set of stairs. At the top, you will be greeted and seated at a table along the outdoor terrace where you can enjoy a flight of wine or a glass of wine. It is a relaxing, elegant wine tasting experience. But, Domaine Carneros has now taken it to the next level with the Jardin d’Hiver, a garden conservatory.