Wine of the Week:: Domaine de la Côte

Domaine de la Côte is a relatively young winery located in the Santa Rita Hills AVA of California's Central Coast region. It was founded in 2007 by a group of friends, including sommelier Rajat Parr and winemaker Sashi Moorman, with the goal of producing world-class Pinot Noir from a specific range of vineyards in the area.

Bloom's Field Pinot Noir 2018 is a single-vineyard bottling from the estate, made from grapes grown on a 5.5-acre parcel of sandy loam soil. The vineyard is located on a steep hillside, and the vines are farmed using organic and biodynamic practices.

The wine itself is characterized by its vibrant acidity, with bright cherry and raspberry notes on the nose and palate. There are also hints of baking spices and a subtle earthiness, which gives way to a long and elegant finish.

One of the unique aspects of Domaine de la Côte's winemaking philosophy is their use of whole-cluster fermentation, where the entire grape clusters are fermented together rather than being destemmed first. This technique is thought to add complexity and structure to the wine, and it is a hallmark of many of their bottlings.

Domaine de la Côte has received widespread critical acclaim for their wines, with Bloom's Field Pinot Noir 2018 earning a score of 96 points from Wine Enthusiast and a spot on their Top 100 Wines of 2020 list.

For those interested in purchasing the wine, it is available for purchase directly from the winery's website, as well as from a number of retailers across the United States. More information about the winery, including their other wines and vineyard sites, can be found on their website and social media channels.