Winemaker Notes
Cosentino Winery is renowned for creating the first designated and licensed Meritage wine, Bordeaux inspired blend that set the standard that others would follow in Napa Valley.
Cosentino Winery made its first wines with its inaugural vintage released in 1981. In 1989 Cosentino released “The Poet”; one of America’s first designated and licensed Meritage wine. Shortly after in 1990 THE Series was introduced with THE Zin, showcasing the best grapes from the Lodi AVA and paving the way for THE Series of wines. THE Series is now Cosentino's largest volume collection of wine from the Lodi AVA.
Today Cosentino Winery has grown in quality and reputation and continues to gain recognition for innovative winemaking. After over 35 years of winemaking, Cosentino's commitment to the future is still focused on producing quality ultra-premium wines.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.