Region: Anderson Valley (Mendocino County), California, United States
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Fresh wild strawberry, tart red cherry, crushed pomegranate, forest floor, orange peel, and damp redwood bark, with driving coastal acidity, fine chalky tannins, and a long, savory, mineral-driven finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, roasted duck breast, pan-seared wild salmon, chanterelle mushroom risotto, or roasted pork tenderloin with herbs
The Producer
Lussier is a boutique, low-intervention winery founded by winemaker Paul Lussier, dedicated to expressing the singular, cool-climate terroirs of Mendocino County and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Working closely with small, family-owned vineyards that practice organic and sustainable farming, Lussier prioritizes high-elevation and coastal sites influenced by Pacific ocean fogs. In the cellar, Paul employs an ultra-honest, minimalist approach: wild ambient-yeast fermentations, thoughtful whole-cluster inclusions, gentle punch-downs, aging exclusively in neutral French oak barrels, and bottling without fining or filtration to keep the vineyard’s raw voice intact.
The Wine
"Côte de Boont" is Lussier’s homage to the cool, fog-laden hills of Boonville in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley ("Boont" referencing the local 19th-century Boontling dialect). Sourced from dry-farmed hillside blocks rooted in sandstone and clay soils, the hand-harvested grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts and a generous percentage of whole clusters to impart floral lift and herbal spice. Aged in neutral French oak barrels on fine lees, the 2024 vintage captures a quintessential cool-climate California profile—packed with bright red berries, wild earthiness, and electric natural acidity, balanced by silky, fine-grained tannins and a bone-dry finish.
Region: Anderson Valley (Mendocino County), California, United States
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Fresh wild strawberry, tart red cherry, crushed pomegranate, forest floor, orange peel, and damp redwood bark, with driving coastal acidity, fine chalky tannins, and a long, savory, mineral-driven finish
Pairing: Continuous charcuterie boards, roasted duck breast, pan-seared wild salmon, chanterelle mushroom risotto, or roasted pork tenderloin with herbs
The Producer
Lussier is a boutique, low-intervention winery founded by winemaker Paul Lussier, dedicated to expressing the singular, cool-climate terroirs of Mendocino County and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Working closely with small, family-owned vineyards that practice organic and sustainable farming, Lussier prioritizes high-elevation and coastal sites influenced by Pacific ocean fogs. In the cellar, Paul employs an ultra-honest, minimalist approach: wild ambient-yeast fermentations, thoughtful whole-cluster inclusions, gentle punch-downs, aging exclusively in neutral French oak barrels, and bottling without fining or filtration to keep the vineyard’s raw voice intact.
The Wine
"Côte de Boont" is Lussier’s homage to the cool, fog-laden hills of Boonville in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley ("Boont" referencing the local 19th-century Boontling dialect). Sourced from dry-farmed hillside blocks rooted in sandstone and clay soils, the hand-harvested grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts and a generous percentage of whole clusters to impart floral lift and herbal spice. Aged in neutral French oak barrels on fine lees, the 2024 vintage captures a quintessential cool-climate California profile—packed with bright red berries, wild earthiness, and electric natural acidity, balanced by silky, fine-grained tannins and a bone-dry finish.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.