Producer Article
Domaine de la Côte
Last edited on 7/14/2023 by LindsayM
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Domaine de la Côte has, in a very brief period, established itself as one of California’s top proponents of Pinot Noir. It is based on six vineyards - Pinot Noir only - on the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills. Planted at extremely high vine densities (one site is as high as 17,000 vines/ha), each vineyard has a unique geology, aspect, elevation, and microclimate. The complexity and diversity of these sites, even though they are in close proximity, is unique in California. From these vineyards the aim is to produce a distinct expression of terroir.
The Domaine farms its vineyards organically and makes its wines with the philosophy of ‘add nothing; take nothing away.’ Fruit is picked early before any overtly ripe character can mask the personality of each vineyard, and the resulting wines naturally have a good level of acidity and a moderate level of alcohol - in most cases around 12.5%. The wines, which really are quite special, embody the philosophy of owners Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr, which centres around freshness, vitality and balance. In Jancis Robinson MW’s words, “these are wines that eschew the heavy-handed, overripe approach of so many Californian producers. They are beautifully elegant, always refreshing and effortlessly drinkable.”
In Raj and Sashi’s own words: Domaine de la Côte is a collection of five vineyards in the far western reaches of the Sta. Rita Hills, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here in Santa Barbara County, California, our vineyards negotiate a landscape narrated by faults and folds. In this moment of immense geologic upheaval, in a place remarkable for its rhythmic coalescence of wind, fog and sun, Domaine de la Côte presents a singular opportunity for engaging with Pinot Noir.
We planted our vineyards in 2007, intent on comprehensively investigating the diversity of a south-facing hillside of marine sedimentary soils. To do so, we utilised California’s heritage selections of Pinot Noir, planted with extraordinary density, and today we farm in the service of posterity and ecological stewardship.
When making wine we equally consult memory and intuition. We make use of the whole grape cluster – its berries and stems – and ferment without additives or temperature control. We raise our wine in barrels assembled by a single cooper. The winery is a simple and collaborative space in which we can compose wines with clarity, detail, and, above all, authenticity.
Winery History
Domaine de la Côte is a project founded in 2013 by famed sommelier Rajat Parr and esteemed winemaker Sashi Moorman based in the Santa Rita Hills. Sashi had been developing and cultivating the vines since 2007 with Chris King, perhaps the most famous organic grower in Santa Barbara county. When the opportunity arose to purchase the land with a few other investors, the duo jumped at the opportunity. A collection of 6 vineyards planted over 40 acres, their aim is to produce single vineyard Pinot Noirs with distinct expressions of terroir.
Fought over by sommeliers and collectors the world over, the wines of Domaine de la Côte have catapulted to cult status in less than a decade. Because of the limited vineyard area, only 5000 cases of wine are produced annually, with no plans to expand due to the location and its geology. These are some of the most coveted California wines of our time.
Viticulture/Winemaking Style
The Domaine de la Cote property sits upon a south facing slope in the Santa Rita Hills with varied soils lying on top of 25 million year silex and diatomaceous seabed. The five single vineyards on this tiny 60 acre property - Memorious, Bloom’s Field, la Côte, Clos Juliet and Siren’s Call, each have a unique geology, aspect, elevation and microclimate. The Domaine farms its vineyards organically and makes its wines with the philosophy of ‘add nothing; take nothing away.’ All the wines are fermented with high levels of stem inclusion, which is intended to imbue the wines with additional freshness, silky tannins. They are produced and bottled at the winery in the town of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, three miles from the Domaine.
Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir
Fun Fact
In addition to restaurants, Raj Parr worked at Calera in 1997 and then with Jim Clendenen for five years making his own label called Parr Selections, a small label that came before Sandhi and Domaine de la Cote.
Domaine de la Côte is a collection of 6 vineyards planted over 40 acres on the furthest western edge of the Sta.
Rita Hills appellation: Memorious (3.5 acres), Bloom’s Field (7.5 acres), Siren’s Call (3 acres), Clos Juliet (1 acre), La Côte (9.5 acres), and 15.5 acres of appellation Sta. Rita Hills. Dramatically rising to an elevation of 700 feet above the Santa Ynez River, the Domaine lies on an ancient 25 million year old siliceous (silex) and diatomaceous seabed 7 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
The Domaine was purchased by Raj Parr and Sashi Moorman at the beginning of 2013. Sashi Moorman discovered the site and developed the vineyards with Chris King in 2007. Under his direction, the vineyards were planted entirely to California heritage selections at extremely high vine densities between 4,000 and 7,000 vines per acre, unprecedented at the time for the appellation. Although the Domaine spans a mere 40 acres, the diversity of its climats is staggering: each vineyard has a unique geology, aspect, elevation and microclimate. Such distinct expression of site, or terroir, in such close proximity, is unparalleled in California.
The Domaine organically farms its vineyards and makes its wines with the philosophy of “add nothing; take nothing away.” All the wines are produced and bottled at the winery in the town of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, three miles from the domaine.”- Skurnik
Domaine de la Côte has, in a very brief period, established itself as one of California’s top proponents of Pinot Noir. It is based on six vineyards - Pinot Noir only - on the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills. Planted at extremely high vine densities (one site is as high as 17,000 vines/ha), each vineyard has a unique geology, aspect, elevation, and microclimate. The complexity and diversity of these sites, even though they are in close proximity, is unique in California. From these vineyards the aim is to produce a distinct expression of terroir.
The Domaine farms its vineyards organically and makes its wines with the philosophy of ‘add nothing; take nothing away.’ Fruit is picked early before any overtly ripe character can mask the personality of each vineyard, and the resulting wines naturally have a good level of acidity and a moderate level of alcohol - in most cases around 12.5%. The wines, which really are quite special, embody the philosophy of owners Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr, which centres around freshness, vitality and balance. In Jancis Robinson MW’s words, “these are wines that eschew the heavy-handed, overripe approach of so many Californian producers. They are beautifully elegant, always refreshing and effortlessly drinkable.”
In Raj and Sashi’s own words: Domaine de la Côte is a collection of five vineyards in the far western reaches of the Sta. Rita Hills, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here in Santa Barbara County, California, our vineyards negotiate a landscape narrated by faults and folds. In this moment of immense geologic upheaval, in a place remarkable for its rhythmic coalescence of wind, fog and sun, Domaine de la Côte presents a singular opportunity for engaging with Pinot Noir.
We planted our vineyards in 2007, intent on comprehensively investigating the diversity of a south-facing hillside of marine sedimentary soils. To do so, we utilised California’s heritage selections of Pinot Noir, planted with extraordinary density, and today we farm in the service of posterity and ecological stewardship.
When making wine we equally consult memory and intuition. We make use of the whole grape cluster – its berries and stems – and ferment without additives or temperature control. We raise our wine in barrels assembled by a single cooper. The winery is a simple and collaborative space in which we can compose wines with clarity, detail, and, above all, authenticity.
Winery History
Domaine de la Côte is a project founded in 2013 by famed sommelier Rajat Parr and esteemed winemaker Sashi Moorman based in the Santa Rita Hills. Sashi had been developing and cultivating the vines since 2007 with Chris King, perhaps the most famous organic grower in Santa Barbara county. When the opportunity arose to purchase the land with a few other investors, the duo jumped at the opportunity. A collection of 6 vineyards planted over 40 acres, their aim is to produce single vineyard Pinot Noirs with distinct expressions of terroir.
Fought over by sommeliers and collectors the world over, the wines of Domaine de la Côte have catapulted to cult status in less than a decade. Because of the limited vineyard area, only 5000 cases of wine are produced annually, with no plans to expand due to the location and its geology. These are some of the most coveted California wines of our time.
Viticulture/Winemaking Style
The Domaine de la Cote property sits upon a south facing slope in the Santa Rita Hills with varied soils lying on top of 25 million year silex and diatomaceous seabed. The five single vineyards on this tiny 60 acre property - Memorious, Bloom’s Field, la Côte, Clos Juliet and Siren’s Call, each have a unique geology, aspect, elevation and microclimate. The Domaine farms its vineyards organically and makes its wines with the philosophy of ‘add nothing; take nothing away.’ All the wines are fermented with high levels of stem inclusion, which is intended to imbue the wines with additional freshness, silky tannins. They are produced and bottled at the winery in the town of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, three miles from the Domaine.
Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir
Fun Fact
In addition to restaurants, Raj Parr worked at Calera in 1997 and then with Jim Clendenen for five years making his own label called Parr Selections, a small label that came before Sandhi and Domaine de la Cote.
Domaine de la Côte is a collection of 6 vineyards planted over 40 acres on the furthest western edge of the Sta.
Rita Hills appellation: Memorious (3.5 acres), Bloom’s Field (7.5 acres), Siren’s Call (3 acres), Clos Juliet (1 acre), La Côte (9.5 acres), and 15.5 acres of appellation Sta. Rita Hills. Dramatically rising to an elevation of 700 feet above the Santa Ynez River, the Domaine lies on an ancient 25 million year old siliceous (silex) and diatomaceous seabed 7 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
The Domaine was purchased by Raj Parr and Sashi Moorman at the beginning of 2013. Sashi Moorman discovered the site and developed the vineyards with Chris King in 2007. Under his direction, the vineyards were planted entirely to California heritage selections at extremely high vine densities between 4,000 and 7,000 vines per acre, unprecedented at the time for the appellation. Although the Domaine spans a mere 40 acres, the diversity of its climats is staggering: each vineyard has a unique geology, aspect, elevation and microclimate. Such distinct expression of site, or terroir, in such close proximity, is unparalleled in California.
The Domaine organically farms its vineyards and makes its wines with the philosophy of “add nothing; take nothing away.” All the wines are produced and bottled at the winery in the town of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, three miles from the domaine.”- Skurnik