Church & State is a long time favourite.  We visited the Coyote Bowl premises in 2012 and purchased this bottle (plus several others) at that time.

I always know that I’m going to get something enjoyable and worthwhile when I purchase a Coyote Bowl series bottle – and I’m not the only one.

Church & State wins many awards for its wines – nationally and internationally – and more importantly, from competitions that actually mean something.

I realized recently this one was sitting at the bottom of the wine rack, so I rescued it. Poor, dusty, lonely bottle.

The bottle may have been dusty, but the wine was waiting patiently to be enjoyed. We did so with nutty, salty Gran Padano and Iberian sheep cheese which loved the light edges of the plush palate.

The colour is a deep garnet with legs on a nose of medium plus blueberry, cassis, black olive and garrigue aromas of thyme and sage.

The palate is dry with medium plus alcohol and body, medium plus acidity and medium plus ripe and powdery tannins.  Flavours consist of more blueberry and cassis along with black pepper, dried herbs, black licorice and a pleasing finish.

Drinking beautifully or if you can restrain yourself, lay it down for an additional 2-3 years.