
Counoise is a red wine grape hailing from France’s Rhone Valley. Counoise is one of the grapes allowed for use in Chateauneuf du Pape. Counoise is black skinned and will display notes of pepper and moderate acidity, but will also add plum, strawberry, raspberry, anise, and licorice flavors. Chateau de Beaucastel is one of the producers that prefer the Counoise grape and incorporate about 5% in their blends. Besides Southern Rhone, Counoise is also grown in Provence, Languedoc, and recently released in California. Syrah makes for an ideal blending grape for Counoise, in addition to Grenache and Mouvedre. Counoise will allow younger wines to display more powerful aromas and a stronger palate. Counoise is primarily utilized in blends due to the lack of color, tannin, and alchohol when by itself. In Provence, Counoise is used in making Rose wine with good acidity that is dynamic and refreshing. California is trending towards the production of Counoise single varietal wines.
No products found
Thorn Clarke Mount Crawford Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
This Chardonnay is a fine example of Mount Crawford climate, soil and aspect combining to display great varietal characters. The light green color has a vibrancy that is characteristic of the wine. Peach and tropical fruit flavors are complemented by a creamy texture from lees contact and a small amount of exposure to French oak. This also gives the wine a rich, long but clean finish with delicious white peach, pear and citrus notes.
The winemaker recommends trying this wine with chicken teppanyaki.
Bright fruit on the nose boasts notes of black cherry, black plum, violets, rose, orange, cocoa nibs, tobacco, mushroom and forest floor. On the palate, complex layers of fruit slowly melt into a bold, structured wine that impresses from start to finish. Velvety tannins interact gracefully with the wine’s fruit and acidity, all coming together to create a delightful wine and a beautiful expression of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Review:
The 2021 King Estate ‘Domaine’ Pinot Noir was stored in 26% new French oak before bottling and represents the top one percent of Estate Pinot Noir barrels. Red currants combine with freshly tilled soils, Black cherry and shades of dried herbs. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins that frame a core of red and dark fruit flavors. Finishing long, with good viscosity, this is already sgiwubg beautifully right now.
Owen Bargreen 94 Points