Cote Nicault is a story all about winemaker Gilles Nicault, one of Washington’s great winemakers whose family has a history in agriculture dating back to the 1930s in Africa. Growing up Gilles was exposed to the great wines of the Rhone Valley by his father who was an enophile, particularly enjoying the great wines of Chateauneuf du Pape. Gilles became infatuated with those wines as well and made the decision to study winemaking and viticulture at the acclaimed University of Avignon. It was a huge move for Gilles to move to the United States and he landed in Walla Walla back in 1994, working for Woodward Canyon. Studying under the guidance of eminent Washington wine icon Rick Small he knew there was unparalleled potential in Washington wine. Washington wine visionary Allen Shoupe hired him as the first and only winemaker for Long Shadows Vintners in 2003, and for many years he has served as Director of Winemaking and Viticulture there, making some of the finest wines that Washington State has to offer.
Côte Nicault is a limited production, Rhone inspired wine that Gilles makes each year. The wine is all about balance between Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah. It is a very different wine to the Long Shadows ‘Sequel’ — one with more finesse, subtlety and nuance. I absolutely love the new 2019 Côte Nicault Red Wine (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated with pure dark fruits and herbal accents. This beauty is already nicely evolved. Learn more about these great wine at https://www.cotenicault.com and here is the great new future release by Côte Nicault.
2020 Cote Nicault Red Wine- The 2020 Cote Nicault is a seductive melange of near equal parts Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache — all hailing from the Red Haven Vineyard on Red Mountain. Stored in a combination of new and used French oak and terracotta botti, this offers really good richness and tension. Smoked beef ribs, Hoisin sauce, black currants and garrigue notes all combine with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Coming off clean, this is rich and broad-shouldered wine that is drinking marvelously now. No reason to cellar this beauty. Drink 2024-2030- 96