2018 Carte Blanche The Mark

2018 Carte Blanche The Mark is a luxurious Bordeaux-style red blend that showcases the depth and pedigree of top California vineyard sites. Crafted in small quantities, it brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in a seamless, layered expression. Equal parts power and poise, this is a collector-worthy bottle with immediate charm and the structure to age gracefully.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, The Mark 2018 is deep, dark ruby with an almost opaque core and a vibrant, youthful rim. The nose is beautifully aromatic and perfumed, opening with rose petals and lavender, followed by notes of fresh mint, wild herbs and subtle mocha. With a bit of air, darker fruit tones unfold—blackcurrant, ripe plum and blackberry—interwoven with hints of cedar and graphite. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet refined, with a plush, velvety texture framed by ripe, polished tannins. Layers of cassis, black cherry and mulberry are lifted by floral and herbal nuances, while mocha and a touch of baking spice add depth on the mid-palate. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure and length, the Merlot brings richness and suppleness, and the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot contribute aromatic complexity and tension. The finish is long, persistent and savoury, with lingering notes of dark fruit, rose and cocoa. Enjoyable now with a decant, this 2018 has the balance and concentration to evolve gracefully for 10–15 years from vintage.

Production
The Mark 2018 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon from the renowned Missouri Hopper vineyard, 40% Merlot from Orchard Vineyard, and carefully selected Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the high-elevation Sage Ridge site. These vineyards, with their mix of well-drained gravelly and rocky soils, low yields and favourable exposures, deliver naturally concentrated, complex fruit. Grapes are typically harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and sorted to ensure only pristine berries make it into the final blend. The wine is vinified in small lots, allowing each variety and vineyard parcel to be fermented separately before a meticulous blending process. Maturation in carefully chosen oak barrels polishes the tannins and adds subtle notes of spice and mocha while preserving purity of fruit and a clear sense of place.

Food & Serving
This is a serious, food-friendly red that shines alongside richly flavoured dishes. Pair it with dry-aged ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, lamb chops with rosemary, venison, or a classic beef Wellington. It also complements truffle-infused dishes, wild mushroom ragù, and aged hard cheeses such as Comté or mature cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (60–65°F) for optimal expression. Decant for 1–2 hours in its youth to allow the aromatics of rose, lavender and mint to unfurl and to soften the structure; older bottles will need a gentler, shorter decant primarily to remove sediment.

Producer
Carte Blanche is a boutique Californian label founded by Nicholas Allen, a member of the family behind some of Bordeaux’s most storied châteaux. Drawing on that Old World heritage, Carte Blanche focuses on limited-production wines from top vineyard sites, marrying French sensibility with the richness and energy of California fruit. Working with acclaimed growers and winemakers, the estate is known for meticulous attention to detail in both vineyard sourcing and cellar work, resulting in wines that are at once modern and classically structured. The Mark sits among their flagship bottlings, regularly earning critical praise for its depth, balance and age-worthiness, and underscoring Carte Blanche’s status as a sought-after producer in the premium California wine landscape.

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