One of the most distinctive wines in the range, 2014 Chardonnay Dupratt Vineyard is a wine of phenolic intensity and power. Savory herbs, chamomile, mint and crushed rocks are pushed forward, while the fruit lies more in the background. The flavors are remarkably vivid. This is a gorgeous, nuanced Chardonnay from Copain.
One of the many highlights in this range, the 2013 Pinot Noir Kiser En Haut is powerful and direct, with a blast of fruit that makes an immediate impression. The flavors are bright and nicely focused throughout. There is an element of reduction that sits above the fruit. Even so, the depth and intensity of the flavors is compelling. This is a gorgeous wine from Copain.
Beams of tannin give the 2014 Syrah Brousseau its intense, salivating personality. Today, the Brosseau is raw and not fully formed. I imagine the 2014 will require at least a few years to come together. Not surprisingly, this will be the last 2014 Syrah that Copain will release. The 2014 will need every bit of that time to be approachable.
The flavors really pop in the 2014 Pinot Noir Wendling. Bright, precise and nuanced, the 2014 is beautifully delineated throughout. There is plenty of depth, while darker notes shape the bottom end of the wine. This impeccably balanced Pinot will drink well for at least the next handful of years.
The 2013 Syrah Baker Ranch is bold and succulent, as all the wines are here in this vintage. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and licorice are front and center in this juicy, open-knit Syrah. The 100% whole clusters add aromatic nuance, but they also are very nicely integrated, and not especially evident.
The 2014 Chardonnay Brosseau is another gorgeous wine from Copain. Lemon confit, wild flowers, mint, sage and orange zest are all beautifully delineated in the glass. The 2014 is powerful, but also nuanced, vibrant and super-expressive. There is a real sense of energy in the 2014 that is palpable.
The 2013 Chardonnay Laurales Grade is wild, unrestrained in style. Chamomile, herbs, slate and intensely saline notes abound. A Chardonnay of real structure and pedigree, the Laurales Grade exudes class from start to finish. There is a gorgeous sense of translucency that gives the 2013 its crystal clear, nuanced personality.
The 2014 Pinot Noir Kiser En Bas presents a much soft expression of this Anderson Valley site because of the greater presence of clay in this part of the vineyard. Ample and creamy, but in the restrained Copain style, the 2014 possesses striking immediacy and impeccable overall balance.
An addition to the range, the 2013 Pinot Noir Wendling is a powerful, immediate wine. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, chocolate and sweet spices give the wine its round, succulent personality. The 2013 is bold, ripe and voluptuous, with striking intensity and plenty of up-front appeal. This is one of the riper wines in the range.
The 2014 Syrah Les Voisins is superb. Rich, pliant and expressive, the 2014 Syrah Les Voisins is beautifully layered in the glass, the 2014 exudes balance and class. Sweet red plum, blood orange, mint and pomegranate shape this creamy, deeply expressive Syrah. The flavors are bright and nicely lifted throughout. This is a terrific, mid-tier wine from Copain.
Copain's 2013 Chardonnay Brosseau is powerful, rich and enveloping, with striking creaminess and textural richness throughout. There is a real sense of oiliness to the orchard fruit flavors. White flowers, chamomile, almonds, mint and sage add further shades of nuance. All the elements are impeccably balanced in a wine that captures the essence of this highly-regarded Chalone site.
The 2014 Pinot Noir Les Voisins is quite a bit more delicate and floral than the 2013 tasted alongside it. The flavors lean towards the redder end of the spectrum in this gracious, Pinot Noir from Copain. There is good depth in the glass, but the 2014 is a wine built on understatement. The higher yields of the year are evident. Even so, the 2014 is very pretty.
The 2013 Pinot Noir Les Voisins is deep, pliant and super-expressive. Dark cherry, lavender, cloves and licorice are beautifully delineated. In 2013, the flavors are dark, intense and utterly beguiling. All the elements simply fall into place effortlessly.
The 2013 Syrah Les Voisins is deep, powerful and pliant. Like most of the 2013s at Copain, the 2013 leans towards the darker, ripe end of spectrum. Succulent black cherry, plum, lavender, sage and licorice give the wine its bold, exotically ripe personality. There is a wonderful sense of immediacy to the 2013 that is best enjoyed on the young side.
The 2015 Chardonnay Les Voisins packs a serious punch. The intensity of the vintage comes through in the wine's texture and density, but the aromatics are fresh and nicely lifted throughout. Pear, green apple and lightly spiced notes are some of the signatures in this delicate, finessed Chardonnay.
An addition to the range, the 2014 Chardonnay Les Voisins is gorgeous. Made from a collection of estate vineyards in Anderson Valley, the Voisins offers lovely intensity in the classic Copain style that favors finesse. Lemon confit, chalk, graphite, white flowers and white pepper give the 2014 its signature high-toned aromatics, but there is plenty of structure beneath.
Austere and stately aromas of warm spice, rich mineral earth and black cherry fruit of incredible depth. In the mouth this is harmonious and complex, delivering rich mixed berry and ripe cherry fruit, a constant pull of refreshing acidity and delicate yet firm tannins, the entire experience is settled on a bed of fertile earthiness. Approachable yet refined.
Copain's 2014 Pinot Noir Tous Ensemble is one of the classiest wines readers will find in its price range. Bright red cherry, plum, blood orange and sweet spice give the wine its beguiling aromatic and flavor profile. This is a wine to buy by the case and to enjoy over the next handful of years. In a word: terrific.
The 2014 Syrah Tous Ensemble is a delicious entry-level offering laced with scents of lavender, plum, licorice, sage and menthol. I would prefer to drink this delicate, mid-weight Syrah over the next few years, even if the tannins are a bit present. This is a very serious wine for the money.
The 2015 Chardonnay Tous Ensemble is a silky, voluptuous wine with lovely creaminess and intensity, while retaining its mid-weight personality. Baked apple, pear, white flowers and mint all open up nicely in the glass. This is a striking, value-priced Chardonnay from Copain.
In 2014, the Chardonnay Laurales Grade is an intense, powerful wine with a huge core of fruit and a palpable sense of weight. There is plenty of depth and richness, but the 2014 doesn't quite have the nuance or finesse of the finest Copain Chardonnays. Today, the 2014 comes across as a bit monolithic.
Very light straw color; core apple and stone fruit aroma, hint of nectarine, pleasing, fresh, fine depth; medium bodied, crisp and lively on the palate; dry, nice acidity, well-balanced; bright tangerine with a trace of minerality; medium finish. Another solid effort from one of Oregon's most consistent and top producers of this grape variety.
Bright, creamy and delicate aromas of banana, vanilla bean, light lemon and fresh spice on the nose. Zesty and refreshing on the palate, this shines with leading notes of green apple, lemon and grapefruit notes that soften on the midpalate, leaving behind tropical fruits, sunflower and white blossom notes and a creamy texture that fade slowly.
The nose is bright cranberry and raspberry, smoky, cherry, tomato and spice. The palate shows notes of herb, graphite and lean, textured cherry. Well focused for a production of this size. 89 points.
The nose is a ripe currant and peppercorn with underlying notes of raspberry. The palate has a crisp, narrowly focused entry of blueberry and mineral. Bright acidity. A charming wine to keep around by the case. 89 points.