Domaine de la côte
Seven miles from the Pacific Coast, in an appellation called Sta. Rita Hills, the twin aromas of grapes and sea air mingle sensuously. The soil here is dense and clayey, littered with the ages-old fossils of sea creatures. The hillside on which grapes grow rises precipitously. Beyond the green hills lies the imposing, impassive desert. Among it all sits Domaine de la Côte.
Sta. Rita Hills is not an easy place to make wine. It’s cold, windy, and prone to disaster. Nor is Pinot Noir an easy grape to grow. Thin-skinned and temperamental, it prefers calm and consistency. And yet, sometimes the greatest stress produces the greatest success. Domaine de la Côte codifies this wisdom. It eschews comfort for the challenge of creating exceptional wine.
Exceptionality, to be sure, comes at a price. A spring frost here, a late autumn storm there, and the grape yields can be ruinously small. Sometimes, vintages can be lost completely. But the winemakers at Domaine de la Côte have learned not just how to survive but how to thrive. The public has taken notice since their first vintage in 2008. One can spend years on the waiting list for a chance at Domaine de la Côte.
The Wine Press has been fortunate to receive an allocation of Domaine de la Côte for many years. Befitting a wine of this pedigree, we have laid it down in ideal conditions until it has reached the prime age of drinkability. We let time work its magic, creating softness, depth, and complexity out of potentiality. And now, we offer it to you: three exceptional cuvées to grace your holiday table, your intimate evenings, or your long-awaited moments of celebration.
Like all good things, these wines will not last. We invite you to join us in this opportunity to own a rare gem of California Pinot Noir.
Our Offerings
Memorious
The “Memorious” hill is a steep slope facing southwest - fully exposed to the Pacific winds. Shatter is common here among the grapes. Salinity is high from the sea air, but the heavy clay soil, replete with alluvial deposits, provides a welcome counterweight effect.
“Memorious” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2020 750ml - $99.99. 6 Available
“Memorious” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018 750ml - $134.99. 2 Available
“Memorious” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2017 750ml - $129.99. 1 Available
Bloom’s Field
Abutting the “Memorious” fields, “Bloom’s Field” receives less of the wind. Its clay soil, however, is more porous and thin, causing the roots to dig deeper into the earth to extract the necessary nutrients. The result is a more concentrated and textured Pinot Noir.
“Bloom’s Field” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2021 750ml - $104.99. 6 Available
“Bloom’s Field” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2020 750ml - $169.99. 6 Available
“Bloom’s Field” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018 750ml - $254.99. 2 Available
La Côte
Situated on the leeward side of the Domaine’s holdings, shatter is unknown and pollination thrives. Grapes grow confidently and deep, drinking in the minerality of alluvial soil and fossilized sea life from millennia long since past. This is one of the Domaine’s most complex and rewarding expressions of Pinot Noir.
“La Côte” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2021 750ml - $154.99. 3 Available
“La Côte” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2020 750ml - $154.99. 7 Available
“La Côte” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018 750ml - $204.99. 4 Available
