2020 J. Brix 'Coucou' Counoise

Region: San Diego County < California

Grapes: Counoise

Winemaker: Jody and Emily Towe

From a lovely husband and wife team, Jody and Emily Towe, San
Diego-based "garagiste" producers.  They contract with a few stellar,
organically farmed vineyards up and down the California coast, and
make the wine in San Diego.  There are literally barrels in their
garage.  The Counoise grapes come from Rancho Guejito Vineyard, way off the beaten path in San Diego County, where the Brix are based.
Coucou is a casual way to say “hello” or “hey there!” to friends in
French. This Counoise, a French variety mostly used in Southern Rhône
blends, is a fun and juicy chillable red. (Coucou, glou-glou!)  We'll
let Jody explain this wine for you: "This is one to chill down, sip
up, repeat. Easy-drinking, generous, light-bodied – with enough earth
to be interesting. Counoise is technically a red grape, and this was
made the same way we make all our red wines, but the berries are so
variegated in color (greenish to lavender to purple) that the wine
emerges neon-rouge. We'll pair with spicy BBQ; cheese boards; grilled
hot/veggie dogs; sunshine."

This wine is so vibrant and fun, sporting the prettiest translucent
pinky-red hue and literally bursting with bright cherry and strawberry
fruit, balanced by good structure, a kiss of oak and zingy acidity.
It's somehow light and luscious at the same time, and tastes
nostalgic, sort of like cherry Kool-Aid, without the sweetness or
chemical tang.