Carte Blanche The Mark Proprietary Red 2017
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Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A rather bold red with blackcurrant, pine-cone and bark character on the nose and palate. Full-bodied with juicy, velvety tannins. Walnut undertones. Hints of dark earth. Mushrooms, too. Needs time to come together, but already a beauty. Try in 2024.
- Jeb Dunnuck
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 The Mark is blended of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper vineyard in Oakville, the Merlot from the Beckstoffer Orchard vineyard and the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the Sage Canyon vineyard in Napa Valley. It was aged 22 months in 100% French Darnajou, Taransaud and Sylvain barrels. Very deep purple-black in color, it gives up serious, classic scents of cassis, preserved plums and cedar chest with touches of pencil lead, dried herbs and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is well expressed with bags of juicy black fruit and plush tannins, finishing long.
Other Vintages
2019-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb
The core of the Carte Blanche wine producing philosophy is to respect the terroir in each wine, thus accepting the responsibility to honor what the earth has given us. In early 2014, Carte Blanche continued its commitment to that mantra in welcoming Helen Keplinger as the new winemaker. With each vintage, Carte Blanche is celebrated —the freedom to create wines from singular or multiple vineyards, varietals or appellations. They constantly strive to extract the best out of nature and science. Their art and creative freedom allows them to work with an open canvas and develop exceptional wines that enhance our celebration of life.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.