2021 L'Aventure Côte à Côte

Refined nose with cherries, cassis, ripe plums, herbs and sweet spices. It's full-bodied with creamy tannins. An elegant development on the palate with a velvety texture. The fruit is obvious at the center with a discreet touch of spices and grilled herbs on the mid-palate. Slightly chewy with a focused, flavorful developing finish. 37% grenache, 32% syrah and 31% mourvedre. Drink or hold. (10/2023)

The 2021 Cote a Cote checks in as nearly equal thirds of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. It's a killer bottle of wine revealing full-bodied richness, an expansive, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a complex bouquet of blackberries, savory herbs, peppered meats, and hints of violets. This concentrated, powerful wine stays just about weightless, has ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. The élevage here was 14 months in 30% new French oak, with 16% in amphora and 18% in concrete, and the balance in once-used barrels. (08/2023)

The 2021 Côte a Côte is a blend of 37% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 31% Mourvèdre that combines power and elegance, concentration and weightlessness. The glass reveals a deep well of aromas—maraschino cherry, blueberry, licorice, rooibos tea and autumn leaves emerge from the glass and are made even more complex by undertones of earth and spice. The full-bodied palate is plush, supple and generous, though its chocolaty, floral fruit is perfectly ripe. It has a foil of mouthwatering acidity, flinty accents and a long, very latent finish. It will take several years in bottle to fully unfurl.

- Erin Brooks (12/2023)