Elyse Winery was founded in 1987 by Ray Coursen and his wife Nancy. They crushed 4.5 tons of Zinfandel from the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford to craft 286 cases of their first wine. The vineyard is located between Niebaum and Manley Lanes in the heart of the Rutherford Bench. Some of the Zinfandel in the vineyard dates back over 100 years. While their portfolio has grown over the last 25 years, the focus of Elyse remains on creating vineyard-driven wines that pair well with food. The total production of 10,000 cases is predominantly made up of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
Opaque purple in color. 14.8% ABV. Cassis, raspberry liqueur, allspice and licorice on the nose. Medium bodied yet rich and lush. Blueberries, currants, cedar and cocoa on the palate. Fine grained tannins on the long finish. Really delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. I’d be inclined to drink this wine over the next 5-7 years.
My rating: 92 points.
This wine is available at the winery and retail. A relative steal at right around $70. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon does not get much better at this price point.
This review was based on a sample provided by the winery.
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