2019 Hawks Butte Vineyard Syrah

Perched on slopes 1,500 feet above the valley floor in the Yorkville Highlands, this Syrah vineyard is located just shy of the southeastern end of Anderson Valley. Cool nighttime temperatures and rocky soils, reminiscent of the northern Rhône Valley, render a truly site-specific wine bearing pronounced aromatics, blackberries and hints of spice.

Winemaker's Notes: The 2019 Hawks Butte Syrah has explosive aromas of blackberry, dried fig, cracked pepper and pipe tobacco. As it opens, dried herbs and blackberry compote and cream come into focus. The palate is a bit intense with grippy tannins at the moment but will soften with additional aging or decanting. Drink now or over the course of the next 10 years.

2020 Edmeades Vineyard Pinot Noir  

The historical Edmeades Vineyard is the crown jewel of our Anderson Valley vineyard portfolio. With its mid-valley location, it enjoys the best qualities of the two different weather characteristics of Anderson Valley. Closer to the coast, in the northern part of the valley it is much foggier and cooler, and the south end of the valley, near the town of Boonville, the weather is milder with less fog influence.

The Edmeades Vineyard was planted in the late 90s along the bank of the Navarro River where shallow decomposed sandstone sits upon millions of years of sedimentary rock that has deposited from upstream creates a well-drained foundation. Perfect soil complex and ideal weather are what make the grapes from the Edmeades Vineyard special.

Winemaker's Notes: 2020 Edmeades Pinot Noir is a classic example of what Anderson Valley is all about. Because of it’s cool-climate nature, we can pick at perfect ripeness and retain fresh fruit flavors. On the nose, the Edmeades loudly expresses ripe strawberry, blueberry, and saltwater taffy. Hints of clove, pennyroyal and wild cherry are the highlights of this inviting, luscious wine. Fine grain tannins give this wine a persistent backbone and age ability. This wine will please serious Pinot Noir fans as well as wine drinkers who want something just plain delicious. Drink now or anytime over the next 5-7 years.

2020 Sealift Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Sealift vineyard is planted in what the locals term the “true Sonoma Coast”, north of the Fort Ross/Seaview AVA and just to the south of the Mendocino County border. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides a long, cool growing season each year. Planted at 1,200 feet above sea level, the Sealift Pinot Noir vines are planted at the fog line and are on a southwest facing aspect, giving the grapes exposure to the later, warmer sun. The loam topsoil provides excellent drainage to ensure we get concentrated fruit come harvest.

Winemaker's Notes: On the nose, the 2020 Sealift Vineyard Pinot Noir is all about pomegranate, cherries and dried herbs, giving me classic Sonoma Coast Pinot vibes. Bright and electric, the palate is given structure by fine grain tannins from a little bit of stem inclusion during fermentation and vibrant acidity. Flavors of ripe blueberries and raspberry are the highlights of this truly pleasurable wine. Drinking well now, but will continue to improve over the next 3 years.

2020 Brosseau Vineyard Chardonnay

Located in the Chalone appellation that made history in the 1976 Paris Tasting, Brosseau is Copain’s most southern vineyard source. These old vines, reaping the benefits of the cool marine influence, are planted in a particularly rocky mixture of limestone and decomposed granite. Whole-cluster pressed into neutral oak barrels, the mature Wente clones produce one of the most mineral-driven Chardonnays in California.

Winemaker's Notes: 2020 displays the perennial characteristics that we expect from this legendary Chalone site. Equal parts savory and fruit driven, the Brosseau has incredible weight and mouthfeel without being heavy. On the nose, pear, green apple, sage and yeast. On the palate, those scents manifest themselves into flavors. All held upright by perfectly woven acidity. Plush yet refreshing, this wine is drinking incredibly well at the moment, and will continue to evolve into an even more interesting wine over the next 3-4 years.

2020 Skycrest Vineyard Chardonnay

The Skycrest Vineyard is planted on the eastern slopes of Anderson Valley outside the small town of Boonville. Planted at a staggering 2100 feet above sea level, this vineyard looks down on the rolling fog cover that blankets the valley below. The steep hillside with a southwest aspect allows this vineyard to receive the warmer afternoon sun exposure during the growing season. The high altitude, however, provides a thinner, cooler atmosphere that allows the fruit to enjoy a long hangtime and retain its acids.

Winemaker's Notes: The 2020 Skycrest Vineyard Chardonnay is a more voluptuous expression of this vineyard where intense flavors of baked biscuit, green apple and pie crust fly out of the glass. The palate is plush and wide but held together by chalky tannins and vibrant acidity. Pear, quinine, wet stone and a slight creaminess are the hallmark flavors of this wine. Drink now or over the next 3 years.

2016 Baker Ranch Syrah

Syrah is exceedingly hard to find in the Pinot Noir-centric Anderson Valley, though Baker Ranch dared to plant it, and it delivers with flying colors. Sustainably farmed and wonderfully expressive, this wine offers a unique addition to the Copain Syrah portfolio. 

Winemaker's Notes: Aromas of ground black peppercorn, savory, clove, blackberries, and violets with a medium plus weight on the palate with flavors of plums, cloves, menthol, pink peppercorn, and fennel. 

2017 Côte Bannie Pinot Noir 

Meaning “Banished Coast” in French, the Côte Bannie vineyard is in the small town of Bloomfield along the Sonoma Coast. Located in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, this vineyard is known for its prolonged fog cover throughout the growing season. Planted on steep southern facing hillsides, the grapes from Côte Bannie produce a wine that is intensely concentrated and densely layered. 

Winemaker's Notes: The medium weight palate is youthful with firm tannins and mouthwatering acidity. At its core the flavors are distinctively true Sonoma Coast, erring on the side of dried blackberries and cherries with hints of cola and dried thyme.