Napa Valley
$50 (Wine Club Reorder Price: $45)
A New World wine with an homage to its Old World origins, Cotiere is a low-production, one-man winery that is the realiation of owner Kevin Law’s dream that began with his college wine epiphany. He produces small amounts of wine from about twenty-four dierent vineyards in Santa Barbara County with a total annual production of about 2,000 cases.
Kevin started the Bordeaux varietal program in 2008 with the first use of Napa Valley fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Lewelling Ranch Vineyard in Saint Helena, and the Merlot is from McKenzie Mueller Vineyard in Los Carneros. They expanded their sourcing to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from Santa Ynez Valley.
The fruit from these disparate vineyards works incredibly well together in this blend, a unique introduction to a wine that blends four Bordeaux varietals, from four different vineyards located in three of California’s top growing regions! It’s an entire showcase of California wine in a single bottle.
This blend is 51% Cabernet Franc (Santa Ynez), 27% Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley), and 22% Petit Verdot (Santa Ynez), aged 50% new oak for 20 months, this wine is unfined and unfiltered. Only 90 cases were produced.
This Red Bordeaux style cuvee is a 50/50 blend of two iconic regions, Napa and Santa Ynez Valley. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from St. Helena in Napa Valley and the Merlot of course is from the clay-based soils of Los Carneros. While the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are both from our cooler and local regions right here in Santa Yne. The final blend is 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and to finish it off – 10% Petit Verdot.
Vinous 93 points. Jeb Dunnuck 93 points.
Amy Ryan – September 2021