Domaine de La Cote Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2014 |  California’s most talked about fine Pinot Noir 

Glistening ruby-red to the rim, infused with mouthwatering aromas of dark berry fruit.  Adding a cranberry and cherry-cola flash, tinged with textbook mineral smokiness. While suave and energetic on entry, packed with cedar, strawberry, and rose petal. Yet, showing perfect structure thanks to the juicy, supple tannin backbone. Drink the Domaine de La Cote Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2014 now-2022. Acclaimed Winemakers Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr

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Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr make their Pinots taste effortlessly elegant.  But it’s a fine-tuned approach in the cellar and ultra-attentive viticulture that achieve those mouthwatering results. Their Domaine de La Cote Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2014 estate bottling exudes a juicy cross between Burgundy’s Volnay and Beaujolais’ Morgon.

Decanter’s Greatest 2014 California Pinot

Domaine de la Côte is perhaps California’s most talked about fine Pinot Noir.  And the buzz is only getting louder with the release of this 2014 masterpiece.  While Decanter pinned on 97 points naming it their top Californian Pinot Noir of the 2014 vintage.  In addition, “Outstanding,” says Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate of La Côte. “A fascinating young winery to follow,” acclaims Vinous’ Antonio Galloni.

$90 from the winery, just $45 per bottle from Wine Access.  Probably there will be no better chance to secure a true collectors Californian Pinot of this caliber at this affordable price.

 Acclaimed Winemakers Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr

The superstar duo at the helm — Rajat Parr, author, sommelier and one of America’s most famous vignerons.  And Sashi Moorman, the ingenious winemaker at Stolpman Vineyards. Together mesmerizing wine directors in Michelin-starred restaurants throughout America.

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Parr, who spent his childhood in Calcutta, India, is Michael Mina’s sommelier-to-the-stars.  As well as the winemaker at the perennially high-scoring Sandhi estate. While Vassar-educated Moorman has overseen a brilliant, critically acclaimed run of Rhône varieties at Stolpman. What the two men share is a desire to push coastal Pinots to the limit.  Most notably setting up shop for Domaine de la Côte on one of the coldest, most extreme sites in Sta. Rita Hills.

Domaine de La Cote | James Beard Award Winner

Moorman, Parr and a financial partner purchased a collection of vineyards that were originally part of Evening Land Vineyards.   And are planted over 40 acres at the chilly western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Hence, set at 700 feet in elevation, with clayey soils strewn with chunks of white flint.  Plus the vines were planted to tight spacing of up to 7,000 plants per acre.

Since temperatures rarely reach 80 degrees, even on hot summer days, the Pinot Noir vines are treated to extraordinarily extended hangtime.   While explaining this bottle’s marriage of red-fruit opulence and riveting acid backbone. Consequently, in the miracle vintage of 2014, acids held firm while berries were part and ultra-sweet.  Finally, making for this dazzling New World Pinot.