2011 Broc, Counoise “Eagle Point Ranch Vineyard” Mendocino.
It is a rare wine, a single varietal bottling of Counoise, and I’ve only had a handful even from France, and it is even more rare in California, and this 2011 Broc Counoise is a great example. I had Turley’s rare Counoise last year, but as fun as it was it was nowhere near as compelling as this Broc bottling and I hope to have another bottle myself, and suggest you look high and low to find it yourself. This interesting wine is one of many really unique wines that are coming out from talented winemakers across California, like Sheldon Wines Graciano and single vineyard Grenace, Arnot-Roberts Trousseau and many others to be mentioned later. The Broc Counoise is full of spices, mineral and briar with textured fruit layers that include red cherries, poached plum, strawberry and blueberry while all spice, red pepper and dusty rocks add complexity with good acidity, supple tannins and a crisp bright finish of bramble berry. This wine is savory and lower alcohol in style, but still very pleasing and should fill out and develop nicely over the next year or so.
($26 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive