{"product_id":"railsback-freres-counoise-cuvee-speciale-santa-ynez-valley-santa-barbara-2022","title":"Railsback Fréres, Counoise, 'Cuvée Speciale', Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara, 2022","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are wines that impress intellectually, and then there are wines that you simply cannot stop drinking, and then there are the rare bottles that somehow do both. This Railsback Frères Counoise falls firmly into that last category. It is both deeply intellectual and outrageously delicious. In fact, this may be one of the most delicious wines being made in California that you’ve likely never heard of. Imagine top Cru Beaujolais, all energy, perfume, and drinkability, but layered with a touch more black fruit, savory Southern Rhône character, and a mineral backbone that gives it serious depth. The delicious factor here is a full 10 out of 10. Every sommelier buzzword aside, this is the kind of bottle that disappears shockingly fast once opened. It’s no surprise that if you walk into many of the top restaurants around the country, you’ll quietly find Railsback Frères on lists for those in the know. The wines massively overdeliver, the price-to-quality ratio is absurd, and today we secured a special price you simply will not see elsewhere.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSanta Barbara County has quietly become one of the most exciting wine regions in America over the past few decades. While Napa and Sonoma built international fame earlier, Santa Barbara evolved differently, more coastal, more windswept, more experimental, and in many ways more influenced by the Mediterranean wine cultures of France, Italy, and Spain. Grapevines first arrived here with the Spanish missions in the late 1700s, but modern fine wine growing really accelerated in the 1970s and 1980s as pioneering producers realized the region’s extraordinary cooling influence from the Pacific Ocean. Unlike most California wine regions that run north to south, Santa Barbara’s valleys run east to west, creating natural corridors for cold ocean air and fog to penetrate deep inland. The result is one of the longest growing seasons in California, preserving freshness and aromatic complexity even in warm vintages. Within Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley has emerged as one of the most dynamic AVAs, capable of producing everything from world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to deeply compelling Rhône varieties. This bottling comes specifically from Alisos Canyon, a rugged, limestone-rich pocket of Santa Ynez loaded with marine fossils and dramatic topography that feels almost eerily reminiscent of parts of Southern France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCounoise itself remains one of the great under-the-radar grapes of the Rhône Valley. Traditionally used as a blending grape in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Counoise is prized for its soaring floral aromatics, bright acidity, spice, and remarkable freshness even in warm climates. In an era where many regions are struggling with rising temperatures, some top growers in the Rhône and Bandol have quietly begun referring to Counoise as “the grape of the future” for Mediterranean climates. What makes this bottling even more compelling is that the vines come from original budwood sourced directly from Château de Beaucastel, one of the most iconic estates in all of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and one of the world’s greatest champions of traditional Rhône varieties. That lineage matters. Beaucastel has long believed Counoise plays a critical role in bringing aromatic lift, freshness, and energy to Rhône blends, and here in the limestone-loaded soils of Alisos Canyon, you can absolutely feel that philosophy come alive in the glass. The grape’s naturally floral, spice-driven personality marries beautifully with the fossil-rich terroir, producing a wine that somehow feels both wildly energetic and incredibly composed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRailsback Frères was founded by brothers Eric and Lyle Railsback nearly a decade ago with a vision centered around transparency, freshness, and wines that people genuinely love to drink. Long before starting the label, both brothers had already built deep reputations in the wine world through importing, distribution, and relationships with some of the most respected growers in Europe and California. Rather than chasing heavy extraction or over-polished styles, they leaned into restraint, balance, and site expression, philosophies deeply influenced by the wines of the Rhône, Burgundy, and the Mediterranean coast. This Counoise perfectly captures that ethos. Sourced from a steep ridge in Alisos Canyon packed with limestone and fossils, the wine was fermented with whole bunches to amplify aromatic complexity and structure, then aged ten months in neutral French oak before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The result is a wine that has the joyous freshness of Cru Beaujolais, the savory chewiness of old-school Southern Rhône reds, and the tightrope elegance that makes Santa Ynez such a thrilling place to grow grapes today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2022 opens with explosive aromatics of crushed wild strawberries, black raspberry, violets, dried herbs, wild spice, blood orange, and rose petals, all wrapped around a deeply mineral core. On the palate it is juicy, vibrant, and incredibly energetic, with bright acidity and just enough savory grip to keep everything grounded. There’s a beautiful balance between crunchy red fruits, darker black cherry tones, floral lift, and stony tension that makes every sip pull you immediately back for another. This is an outrageously versatile food wine,perfect with grilled lamb, merguez sausage, ratatouille, wood-fired chicken, mushroom dishes, or classic Provençal cuisine loaded with herbs and olive oil. Serve just about cellar temperature around 55–60°F, give it 30 minutes in a decanter, and drink it from Burgundy stems to fully appreciate the explosive aromatics.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grand Cru","offers":[{"title":"750ml","offer_id":46929713528988,"sku":"CAUB2605-TOG23TAN-750","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0694\/6937\/2572\/files\/RailsbackFreres2022Cuvee-WEB.png?v=1779465544","url":"https:\/\/thecaubleist.com\/products\/railsback-freres-counoise-cuvee-speciale-santa-ynez-valley-santa-barbara-2022","provider":"The Caubleist","version":"1.0","type":"link"}