2019 2019 Counoise
Counoise, pronounced COON-WAHZ , is a dark, thin skinned red grape, hailing from the Southern Rhone in France. Normally blended away as a balancing act in Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines adding a nice pepper note with bright acidity.
In California, there is very little acreage of the varietal planted. This wines is meant to be a fun summer red, served slightly chilled to go along with your charcuterie plate.
Technical
Tasting Notes
This wine is bright, fresh, and fun. At just 11.5% alcohol, it is a super easy sipper. There is bright tart raspberry on the nose, and followed by fresh cherry. On the palate, there's gorgeous lavender and sage, with a delicate rose flavor water note. Truly unique and truly delicious.
Details
Up above the Central Valley, lies a vineyard in the foothills called Love Ranch. Organically farmed, 1300 feet elevation, and on Ahwahnee Vista soil – decomposed and weathered granite – this vineyard feels like a glimpse of the Rhone in California. There is very little Counoise in California, and Raft Wines is so excited to show the grape to the consumers as we doubled production in 2019.
The Counoise was the second to last pick for Raft Wines in 2019, on October 14. The grapes were beautiful, and came into the winery still chilled after being picked in the early morning fall cool air. The grapes were 100% destemmed, and fermented in a small T Bin.
The grapes finished primary fermentation in 16 days and were set to pressed to age in neutral oak barrels.
The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered on March 26, 2020