Robb Report, November 2011 Edition
November 15, 2011
Wine Spectator, Nov. 15th 2011
Cabernet Sauvignon and Proprietary Red received 96 points Wine Spectator
August 25, 2011
96 Points from Wine Spectator!
June 24, 2011
Tampa Bay Metro
May 6, 2011
St. Petersburg Times
April 24, 2011
Tampa vintner, Bern’s Winefest newcomer uncorks a dream
Nicholas Allen, left, and his chief winemaker, Luc Morlet, toast at SideBern’s during the Bern’s Winefest. Allen’s family owns French wineries; his company is based in Napa Valley.
TAMPA — Soon enough, Nicholas Allen will learn whether the four years he has spent trying to break into the wine business will pay off.
But for now, looking out over a sea of friendly faces at the 14th annual Bern’s Winefest on Sunday, the former Tampa real estate broker could only smile.
“This is sort of a dream realized for me,” said Allen, 37, during a seminar launching his new California wine label, Carte Blanche. “I’m a little overwhelmed.”
A few days before, in his first media interview, Allen said he frequently hears the old saw about how to make a small fortune in the wine business: Start with a large one.
He says he doesn’t have a large fortune but does enjoy a few advantages over your average Tampa real estate guy interested in starting a luxury-priced wine label.
There was the advice and support from the sommeliers at Bern’s Steak House and SideBern’s (and a huge wine cellar to explore). There was Luc Morlet, one of the top winemakers in the world, who agreed to join his team.
And there was his family, which just happens to own two of the most important wineries in France.
His great-grandfather, Clarence Dillon, bought Chateau Haut-Brion in 1935 (a first-growth winery operation where grapes have grown since the 1400s), and in 1983 the family company, Domaine Clarence Dillon, bought Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion. It’s the kind of pedigree that opens doors and draws wine lovers.
He grew up on the family farm in New Jersey, and fine wine from the family cellar was part of every celebration. He moved to Tampa in 2003 to be near the family of his wife, Teil.
Kevin Pelley, wine director for SideBern’s and its wine store, says he initially knew nothing about Allen’s wine background. He was just a regular customer who knew and loved wine. “He’s really down to earth,” Pelley said.
The Bern’s wine experts cheered him along as he planned Carte Blanche, gave him a prime perch at Winefest and made room on the shelves.
Allen is producing “microcult” wines, meaning they are limited and expensive. There is a 2008 cabernet sauvignon (300 cases), a 2008 chardonnay (200), a 2008 proprietary red (125) and a 2009 proprietary white (125). The proprietaries are special blends from Napa and Sonoma vineyards where Allen’s company has long-term commitments (he doesn’t grow grapes). They are priced from around $50 to $125 a bottle.
The wines are so new they have not been rated. So it will be an anxious few months ahead for Allen as the small but intensely interested (and opinionated) world of luxury wine lovers takes its measure of this new label. Morlet has had some wines with stratospheric scores, and Allen can only hope some of his magic rubs off on Carte Blanche.
Kurt Cuccaro, co-owner of Mazzaro’s Italian Market in St. Petersburg, was there as Allen and Morlet poured samples for eager festgoers inside a crowded tent. He liked what he tried and ordered what he could for the store. “I think they’re definitely geared toward the American palate,” Cuccaro said. They are riper, fruitier, not as earthy and dry as the Old World wines Allen’s family produces. Having Morlet helps, Cuccaro said. “He’s a name. You have to kind of be into wines to know who he is. He has a cult status.”
Allen told the seminar that he is running a 4-year-old startup and has four years to break even, “if I ever do.”
Tom Scherberger can be reached at scherberger@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8312.
NEW YORK Guest of a Guest
March 30, 2011
Banker Andrew Drexel Allen hosted an evening cocktail reception on March at his Soho loft to raise awareness and support for the work of Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO). Allen is a First Vice President at Merrill Lynch and co-founder of The Harbor Group, a prominent Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Team.
More than 100 guests feasted on hors d’oeuvres by Gavin McLaughlin Chef Services and wine by Carte Blanche.
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Wall Street Journal
December 20, 2010
In a recent interview, the Wall Street Journal’s Lettie Teague asks 750 Wines’ Owner, David Stevens a few questions…
WSJ: You’re famous for your ability to find, and feature, future superstars. What’s your latest find?
DS: Carte Blanche – it’s made by Luc Morlet (former winemaker of Peter Michael) at a winery owned by Nicolas Allen. It was just released two weeks ago and we have the exclusive retail offering (NB: $75). It’s a very lush, mouthfilling Chardonnay, much in the Peter Michael style.
New York Social Diary
December 19, 2010
Meanwhile, back at city life, there was a private tasting and preview of the already well-reviewed four new wines from CARTE BLANCHE at a midtown club. Hosted by his brothers Andrew Allen and Christopher Allen, Nicholas Allen introduced the select crowd, CARTE BLANCHE’s Chardonnay 2008 and Proprietary White 2009 from Sonoma and two wines from Napa: Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and Proprietary Red from that same year.
The guest list was made up of friends, family and business associates from the worlds of finance, investment, philanthropy and the arts, including Stephen Farrelly, Jake Ward, Will Krusen, and Tripp Ridder, among others.
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Inaugural Pre-Release Events
December 18, 2010
November 13, 2010
Tampa, Florida: Our sincere gratitude to Kevin Pelley and Bern’s Fine Wine & Spirits for hosting the Carte Blanche tasting for our Tampa friends and family! We very much appreciate all who attended and our Florida supporters.
November 19, 2010
Manhattan, New York: Many thanks to our hosts, Andrew Allen and Chris Allen, for organizing the Carte Blanche tasting event for our New York friends and family! Additionally, thank you to the member host-committee of Stephen Farrelly, Jake Ward, Will Krusen and Tripp Ridder. Our sincerest gratitude to John Samayoa and the Club for its tremendous hospitality. We very much appreciate all who attended and our New York area supporters.
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