AccoladesRadio-Coteau Tasting Recap

2017

March 2017

“This is a superb set of wines from Eric Sussman and Davida Ebner. My Radio-Coteau tasting was a little later than normal this year (we can thank intense flooding for that), but one of the benefits was that I was able to see more finished, bottled wine than in the past. The 2014s are just as compelling from bottle as they were from barrel. Some of the 2014s show the struggle of the drought year, but the wines are strong across the board. The 2015s offer the combination of intensity of fruit and freshness that is the signature of this great Sonoma vintage. Sadly, Radio-Coteau has moved out of the Platt vineyard, which means there is no more Platt Riesling or Pinot Noir in the range. As always, the Pinots are vinified with a relatively small amount of stems, usually around 10-20% depending on the wine and are bottled over-vintage, with 16-17 in barrel. Similarly, the Syrahs also see some stem inclusion (30-40%) and are bottled with 21-22 months in oak. Those are mere details, however. What stands out most is a total commitment to quality, expressing site-specific character and sustainable, artisan family practices, all of which place Radio-Coteau squarely among California’s elite, small production estates.”