2019 Carte Blanche UV Chardonnay

The 2019 Carte Blanche UV Chardonnay is a single-vineyard expression from Sonoma County that showcases the revered Old Wente clone at its most precise and layered. Sourced from the famed UV Vineyard, just a few miles from the cool Pacific coast, this is a Chardonnay that marries depth and richness with striking clarity and tension. Crafted in very limited quantities, it’s a serious, cellar-worthy white that still offers immediate charm in the glass.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Carte Blanche UV Chardonnay shows a luminous, pale gold hue with green-tinged highlights, signaling freshness and energy. The nose is detailed and refined, opening with mineral-driven aromas, orange blossom, and mandarin zest, followed by hints of ginger, blanched almond, and a delicate brioche note from careful élevage. On the palate, the wine is both dense and lifted, with a core of Asian pear, citrus-mandarin, and Meyer lemon framed by subtle citrus peel and a fine, chalky minerality. The texture is silky yet structured, with a touch of phenolic grip that adds precision and length to the finish. The balance of ripe fruit, vibrant acidity, and understated oak suggests excellent aging potential; it should drink beautifully now and continue to evolve gracefully over the next 7–10 years, gaining further complexity and complexity with time in bottle.

Production
The UV Vineyard sits roughly ten kilometers from the Pacific Ocean in western Sonoma County, where cool marine breezes and fog preserve acidity and extend the growing season. The site’s distinctive ‘Sebastopol Clays’—a mix of sandy loam and clay—provide excellent drainage while encouraging low yields and concentrated fruit. Planted to 100% Old Wente Chardonnay clone, the vines are meticulously farmed, with careful canopy management and selective hand harvesting to ensure optimal ripeness and flavor development. In the cellar, the fruit is gently pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled conditions, often with a thoughtful use of French oak and extended lees contact to build texture, complexity, and a subtle brioche character, all while preserving the purity of the Old Wente clone and the vineyard’s mineral signature.

Food & Serving
This is a versatile, gastronomic Chardonnay that shines alongside refined dishes. Pair it with butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, or roasted chicken with lemon and thyme, as well as richer seafood like halibut with a light cream or beurre blanc sauce. It also complements dishes with Asian accents—think miso-glazed cod or ginger-scented crab—as its citrus, pear, and ginger notes echo the flavors on the plate. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to highlight its freshness and aromatic complexity. A short decant of 20–30 minutes, or a few minutes in a larger-bowled glass, helps the wine open up and reveal its layered texture and full aromatic range.

Producer
Carte Blanche is the personal wine project of proprietor Nicholas Allen, whose family heritage is deeply rooted in some of France’s most renowned châteaux. With Carte Blanche, Allen set out to create world-class, small-lot wines from top California sites, working with elite growers and vineyard managers to secure exceptional fruit. The UV Vineyard, farmed by the legendary Ulises Valdez and his family, is one of Sonoma County’s most respected Chardonnay sources, celebrated for its Old Wente plantings and cool coastal influence. Carte Blanche has earned a strong reputation among collectors and critics for its precise, terroir-driven wines, and the UV Chardonnay is a flagship example of the estate’s commitment to quality and regional expression.

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