{"id":7451,"date":"2022-05-12T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grape-to-glass.com\/?page_id=7451"},"modified":"2023-03-22T09:57:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T20:57:40","slug":"lusine-wine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/grape-to-glass.com\/index.php\/lusine-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"L’usine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

L\u2019usine Wines – unapologetically expressive Pinot Noir: 12 May 2022.<\/h3>\nIn January 2020 David Phinney released his Andy Warhol-inspired range of wine bottles. Californian winemaker Dave Phinney, who was behind the wine \u2018The Prisoner\u2019 – which quickly achieved a cult following, then went on to establish Orin Swift Wines. His a new label called L\u2019usine – French for \u2018The Factory\u2019 – it pays homage to Andy Warhol\u2019s \u2018The Factory\u2019, his New York City studio that became a hangout for artists and other creative types.
\nIn choosing such a name, Warhol was \u2018tongue-in-cheek\u2019 making fun of the art world in all its loftiness and embracing the idea that art is something that requires hard work. And Dave says, so it goes with wine, he also adds: \u201cLike with art, for every good or great wine that is made there have been thousands of failures.\u201d – thankfully there have been few failures with his avantgarde wines.
\nThough it must be said that L\u2019usine does not aim to be an everyday wine. The label\u2019s focus is on Pinot Noir, with grapes sourced from what Dave calls some of California\u2019s most desirable vineyard plots, including the Annapolis Ridge Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast area. Adding to the artsy aspect of the wine, is the artwork on the bottles, which feature women photographed in a highly stylized way that Phinney says was inspired by Warhol.
\nDavid has always been a master at marketing and packaging – and it no doubt explains why he has been able to sell his previous wine brands to large multi-national wine companies for millions of dollars. But he is also a serious winemaker: These three L\u2019usine Pinot Noir\u2019s offer a great deal of expression.
\nL\u2019usine might be seen as an alter ego to Orin Swift or inspired by – (a brand no longer owned by Dave, though he remains as consultant \/ winemaker). Like myself, early in my career I worked in fine wine retail – as did Dave for a stint, and quickly learnt, as I. That it is a fact that more than half of wine customers will buy a bottle if they pick it up. So how do you get them to pick up the bottle? – so Dave has designed labels you want to explore.
\nDave designs and art-directs all of his labels with the help of some iconic artists and brilliant modern-day photographers – like Caitlin Mitchell, and seeks to create a relationship between consumer and wine that is indelible yet still full of mystery with each successive release. The wines themselves definitely deliver. They are unapologetically expressive, yet with a backbone of varietal typicity that holds them in place. Dave is not afraid to mix vineyards and appellations to create the desired alchemy for each and every wine. Despite his success and the broad visibility of his wines, Dave continues to maintain a discreet profile. He lives with his wife Kim and their two children in St. Helena, California, and is a generous supporter of several local charities. \nI recently had the opportunity to open the following vintages, now available in New Zealand – short notes to tempt your taste buds.<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"L'usine-Santa-Rita-Bottle-01\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tL\u2019usine \u2018Santa Rita Hills\u2019 Pinot Noir 2018
\nGrape Varietal:<\/strong> 100% Pinot Noir
\nGrowing Region:<\/strong> Santa Rita Hills, California – USA
\nFounder \/ Winemaker:<\/strong> David Phinney
\n4 Stars \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 \nThe low cropping vineyard sites were hand-harvested. During fermentation the cap was punched down 3-4 times a day depending on each parcel. The wine was gravity racked into French oak barrels (40% new) for 9 months and sat on lees, with no stirring, and just before bottling it was lightly filtered.
\n\u2022 On the appealing nose you have aromas of dark cherries, pomegranate, raspberries, dried herbs, and a hint of vanilla. The palate is far from shy, confidently expressing ripe redcurrants, cherry-chocolate and highlights of dried herb and spice that follow through. A strong varietal backbone of fruit acidity and a deft use of oak have created a lengthy finish.\n

\u2022 Mild Decanting & serve between 15\u00b0- 17\u00b0C : 15.2% Alc. – Classic Dry Style : Cellar 7 – 9 years : *Retail ~ NZ$119.99 <\/p>\n\tL\u2019usine \u2018Sleepy Hollow Vineyard\u2019 Pinot Noir 2018
\nGrape Varietal:<\/strong> 100% Pinot Noir
\nGrowing Region:<\/strong> Santa Lucia Highlands, California – USA
\nFounder \/ Winemaker:<\/strong> David Phinney
\n4 Stars \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 \nThe low cropping fruit was hand-harvested. The cap was punched down 3-4 times a day depending on each parcel. Gravity racked to French oak barrel (60% new) for 8-9 months and sat on lees, with no stirring, and before bottling just lightly filtered.
\n\u2022 Enticing confident aromas of ripe cranberries, ripe cherries, red plums and a touch of bramble and dried forest herbs. The medium weighted palate has a broad smooth texture, showcasing fleshy fruit flavours and layers of preserved cherries nicely seasoned by herbs, tannins and infused oak. The wine is well-balanced and engaging, with good varietal concentration and finishing with finesse as it jumps off the back of your tongue.\n

\u2022 Medium Decanting & serve between 15\u00b0- 17\u00b0C : 15.1% Alc. – Classic Dry Style : Cellar 8 – 10 years : *Retail ~ NZ$189.99 <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"L'usine-Sleep-Hollow-Bottle-01\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"L'usine-Annapolis-Bottle-01\"\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tL\u2019usine \u2018Annapolis Ridge Vineyard\u2019 Pinot Noir 2018
\nGrape Varietal:<\/strong> 100% Pinot Noir
\nGrowing Region:<\/strong> Sonoma Coast, California – USA
\nFounder \/ Winemaker:<\/strong> David Phinney
\n4\u00bd Stars \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606 \nThe Annapolis vineyard is extremely isolated and requires a lot of handwork to farm. Hand-picked fruit, the cap was punched down 3-4 times a day depending on each lot. Then after fermentation, the wine was gravity racked into French oak barrel (43% new) for around 9-10 months and sat on its own lees, with no stirring, not fined and only lightly filtered.
\n\u2022 In your glass you will have an intense dark garnet colour with a rich ruby rim. Aromatically, the wine offers elevated notes of cloves, black cherries and dried herbs. On the palate your senses are met by classic varietal acidity releasing flavours of wild blueberries, kirsch, cacao and freshly dried herbs and an undertone of truffle. The wine is framed by an engaging soft velvety texture and rustic tannins and defined oak combine to produce a dynamic lingering finish.
\n\u2022 Medium Decanting & serve between 15\u00b0- 17\u00b0C : 15% Alc. – Classic Dry Style : Cellar 10 – 12 years : *Retail ~ NZ$219.99 \n\t\t\t\t\"David-Phinney-Long-Image-01\"\n\tThese avantgarde L’usine Wines are available from Fine Wine Retailers \u2022 Restaurants \u2022 Wine Bars & Winery Website.
*(prices, vintages & availability will vary by outlet & country)\n

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