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The 2022 Carter Estate Les Nobles white wine blend of Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris is not what you expect when you think of wines from this part of California. Wines from Temecula’s warmer climes are typically big and bold, thanks to the long sunny days that this part of California is known for. After all, there’s a reason Temecula is known for its red wines. And yet, despite the challenging growing conditions for producing a lighter-bodied white wine, this bottling manages to exhibit elegant restraint, balance, and a delicate profile.
If you know where to look, going wine tasting in Temecula can offer some excellent hidden gems, as this bottle from Carter Estate Winery proves.
Jim Carter fell in love with Southern California wine country at an early age when his father brought him to the Golden State as a young man. The vast views of the undisturbed landscape made an impression on Jim, and later in life, he revisited that connection with the land and purchased 400 acres in Temecula.
Becoming a vintner wasn’t the immediate goal for Jim Carter, but an ah-ha moment in a movie theater changed all that. The plot of the movie A Walk in the Clouds revolves around the love story between a California vineyard owner’s daughter and a World War II veteran. And while the movie itself was filmed in Napa Valley wine country, at Mayacamas Vineyards and Mount Veeder Winery, to be exact, it touched Jim so profoundly that he wanted to turn his 400 acres into a vineyard, a winery, and a resort so that others could experience the magic of vineyard life in Southern California.
Based on the current Carter Estate portfolio, which includes Carter Estate Winery, South Coast Winery, and Carter Creek Winery, we’d say that Jim has achieved his vision. All of Jim Carter’s projects are housed under the umbrella company Carter Hospitality Group.
One of the most popular draws to the Carter Estate brand is the sister property, South Coast Winery, Resort & Spa. Visitors to Temecula wine country adore this property because it does not just offer its own incredible line-up of Southern California wines, but the winery and resort also put on a concert series called Rhythm on the Vine, featuring artists like Jewel, Daughtry, Spin Doctors, and Everclear.
As if the winery concert series was not enough, if you head to Carter Estate for a weekend of wine tasting, you can stay right on the property surrounded by gorgeous vineyard views! The estate’s resort features spacious suites with romantic fireplaces, soaking tubs, and patios that offer the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee or evening wine!
The resort at Carter Estate Winery was even granted a Reader’s Choice Award in 2019 by Conde Nast Magazine.
Head winemaker Jon McPherson comes from a family of winemakers and growers. His father, Doc McPherson, was at the forefront of establishing the Texas wine community and planting some of the state’s first grapes.
When crafting wines for Carter Estates, Jon pulls his influence from Old World wines. He does not believe that oakiness should overpower the fruit, and he is proud of the fact that all of the grapes that make it to bottle at both South Coast Winery and Carter Estate are estate-grown and sustainability-managed.
Supporting Jon in the winemaking efforts is fellow winemaker Javier Flores, who cut his teeth at Tecnologico de Tijuana, where he obtained his degree as a Biochemist Engineer.
USA
California, Temecula
44% Gewurztraminer, 42% Riesling, and 14% Pinot Gris
13.4
Jon Mcpherson & Javier Flores
49–55°F / 9–12°C
Chardonnay
Not Needed
Drink now to 2027
Carter Estate Winery
The 2022 Carter Estate Les Nobles white wine is a blend of 44% Gewurztraminer, 42% Riesling, and 14% Pinot Gris.
The nose offers sweet qualities like sun-ripened peaches, which leads you to think this wine is going to lean into a sweeter profile and palate, but that first sip turns that thought right on its head. Instead of a sticky, sweet Riesling blend, you are greeted with drier, acidic notes of lemon-lime, leche, and complementary peach. The fruit is layered and lean, and the aromatics bring elegance and balance.
This blend demonstrates winemaker Jon McPherson’s talent at amplifying the qualities of Gewurztraminer, which adds aromatics and tropical fruit, and Riesling, which brings moderating acidity.
There’s a misconception in the wine world that you need to spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine and that wine must come from the most acclaimed vineyards in premium regions like Napa or Tuscany in order to be worthwhile, but that simply isn’t the case.
The sweet spot for a good bottle of wine is one that delivers on quality craftsmanship and value, and the Carter Estate Les Nobles delivers on both.
