Mark West: Pinot for the People
Alex Cose’s spent six years at Napa’s Peter Michael Winery under Mark Aubert working as production
manager and oversaw the release of high-end Chardonnays costing up to $150 a bottle. Today, he
makes wine for the Purple Wine Co. which produces Mark West Pinot Noir priced closer to $14.
Cose’s background was in finance and he worked in the banking industry before a cellar rat job at
Monticello Cellars in Napa Valley sent him on a path to pursue formal training in winemaking at Fresno
State.
The Purple Wine Co. was started by Derek Benham, who founded Blackstone Winery with his brother,
Courtney Benham. Blackstone was begun on a shoestring with 400 cases of Merlot and grew into a
wine industry giant that was sold to Constellation Brands for $144 million. After selling Blackstone,
Benham knew that Pinot Noir was the next hot wine.
Cose is an innovator. He was searching for more oak notes in the Mark West Pinot Noir and decided to
add a small amount of amply-oaked Chardonnay. This did the trick and now the Mark West Pinot Noir
contains 2% Chardonnay. 13% Syrah is also added to the Pinot Noir for structure and color. The wine
is sourced from multiple producers and includes both grapes and press wine. Foreign sources of Pinot
Noir might include Corsica if availability is tight in the States. Oak staves are utilized instead of expensive
new French oak barrels. Alcohol is kept below 14% so consumers can comfortably drink more
than one glass. The goal is not to craft wines that will achieve high scores, but to produce readily accessible
and drinkable wine that people can enjoy now. Part of the winery’s manifesto is “Get affordable
Pinot into as many hands as we can.” The slogan, “Pinot for the People,” is a extension of this
goal.
Most of Purple Wine Co. production (they also make Mark West Chardonnay, Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon,
Rock Rabbit Syrah, Rock Rabbit Sauvignon Blanc and Bex Riesling) is sold to restaurants and
Mark West Pinot Noir is the Marriott Hotel chain’s house Pinot Noir.
2006 Mark West California Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $14. 56% Central Coast, 16%
Sonoma County, 12% Mendocino County, 4% Napa County, and 12% other.
·
Red fruits,
spice, oak char and smoke on the nose and echoed in the flavors. Silky, light and easy to
drink. Plenty of pinotosity. The fruit lacks punch and is shallow on the palate and on the
back end but I have tasted a lot worse for three times the price.
Mark West Winery Pinot Noir is distributed nationally. The wine is made in Graton,
Sonoma County. The website is www.markwestwinery.com. 707-938-9229.
Mark West: Pinot for the People
