Domaine de la Cote Bloom’s Field Pinot Noir 2020

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Domain de la Cote

“Breathtakingly delicious and captivating…”

Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com

“This new project from Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr is, even in its first vintage, a hallmark of California’s achievements with this grape. Layer upon layer unfold: intense white-stone minerality, a subtle peppercorn-like spice, bergamot, wintergreen, plum and watermelon. Astonishing energy in this rare bottling.”

Jon Bonne, Top 100 Wines

“Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr turned out a memorable set of Pinots at Domaine de la Côte. The just bottled 2020s are deep, lush and exquisitely layered. They show all of the concentration of the 2020 vintage and yet are so expressive of site. One of the recent developments here has been a move towards bottling the Pinots earlier, especially in vintages where the fruit is so intense. That certainly seems to have paid with the 2020s. Because of a change in timing of the estate’s release cycle I missed the 2019s, but will add them to the database as soon as I am able to taste the wines.”

Antonio Galloni

Domaine de la Côte has, in a very brief period, established itself as one of California’s top proponents of Pinot Noir. It is based on six vineyards – Pinot Noir only – on the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills. Planted at extremely high vine densities (one site is as high as 17,000 vines/ha), each vineyard has a unique geology, aspect, elevation, and microclimate. The complexity and diversity of these sites, even though they are in close proximity, is unique in California. From these vineyards the aim is to produce a distinct expression of terroir.

The Domaine farms its vineyards organically and makes its wines with the philosophy of ‘add nothing; take nothing away.’ Fruit is picked early before any overtly ripe character can mask the personality of each vineyard, and the resulting wines naturally have a good level of acidity and a moderate level of alcohol – in most cases around 12.5%. The wines, which really are quite special, embody the philosophy of owners Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr, which centres around freshness, vitality and balance. In Jancis Robinson MW’s words, “these are wines that eschew the heavy-handed, overripe approach of so many Californian producers. They are beautifully elegant, always refreshing and effortlessly drinkable.”

In Raj and Sashi’s own words: “Domaine de la Côte is a collection of five vineyards in the far western reaches of the Sta. Rita Hills, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here in Santa Barbara County, California, our vineyards negotiate a landscape narrated by faults and folds. In this moment of immense geologic upheaval, in a place remarkable for its rhythmic coalescence of wind, fog and sun, Domaine de la Côte presents a singular opportunity for engaging with Pinot Noir. We planted our vineyards in 2007, intent on comprehensively investigating the diversity of a south-facing hillside of marine sedimentary soils. To do so, we utilized California’s heritage selections of Pinot Noir, planted with extraordinary density, and today we farm in the service of posterity and ecological stewardship.When making wine we equally consult memory and intuition. We make use of the whole grape cluster – its berries and stems – and ferment without additives or temperature control. We raise our wine in barrels assembled by a single cooper. The winery is a simple and collaborative space in which we can compose wines with clarity, detail, and, above all, authenticity.”

Where in the World is Domaine de la Cote?

Domaine de la Cote is located in Santa Barbara, California.