Alain Ducasse and Wild Coyote Estate Winery Paso Robles
Alain Ducasse, restaurateur, entrepreneur and most recently, chocolatier, said ” To start from scratch with passion, without expertise but with passion, and expertise will come from passion” reminded me of afternoon we spent talking to Gianni Manucci, the owner and wine maker at Wild Coyote Vineyard in Paso Robles. Immediately with the first handshake, direct eye contact and warm smile, Gianni was a man of no pretense. His rough hand drew my attention allowing me a brief glimpse at a soul at peace with the vines. This is no gentleman farmer! He knows his fruit intimately and creates a product that isn’t huge in bottling, yet sells out every year.
“What it means is, that wines shouldn’t be all about taste & price per bottle, but more so about the love and passion for winemaking with integrity. You are what you drink…” a quote from Gianni.
He goes on to say, “If you like the true taste of Westside Paso Robles fruit, then Wild Coyote Estate Winery can deliver exactly that. Our wines are close to 100% pure varietals, as compared to most other wines, legally they only have to be about 80% accurate, so it can legally be called varietal. Let’s face it, the other 20% can be any varietals which is not called out on the label, then the consumers really don’t know what is real.
Also, we are not too shy in producing high alcohol content wines (14-16% alc) as I believe the wines under 14% are done mostly on purpose to pay less taxes and appeal to the masses. We will not compromise the quality of the fruit that can produce world class wines, just so that we can save a few bucks.”
I learned the Tannat grape, originally from Southwest France, now has over 140 acres growing in California. The initial interest was in South America and as a blending in conjunction with Rhone varietals and Cabernet franc. Some wine producers blend with Sangiovese and syrah. We enjoyed the rich color and complex nature of this wine born in the hands of Gianni. Sold out every year, Tannat “El Macho” it is a delight for the red wine lover.
The bed and breakfast, Wild Coyote Estate Winery, is a Southwestern style gem in the rolling green hills of Paso Robles. One of the first wineries in the United States to adopt the European DOCG (DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita): the highest classification for Italian wines, introduced in 1963. It denotes controlled (controllata) production methods and guaranteed (garantita) wine quality. There are strict rules governing the production of DOCG wines, most obviously the permitted grape varieties, yield limits, grape ripeness, winemaking procedures and ageing specifications.) Dry farming and alcohol percentage are two areas that create quite a bit of conversation!
Back to the B & B! Complete with an authentic teepee, Wild Coyote creates a comfortable ambiance in which to return after a long day of tasting. One evening we opted to stay in the room and order from a wonderfully reliable service Menu Club (http://www.menuclub.com) for hotel room delivery. We had the choice of many Paso restaurants and our food arrived hot and on time. It was a great value and fun to just stay in the room and enjoy a quiet movie!
Next Daou is WOW!