Featured Winery, Spring 2008
ELYSE Pinot Noir
Wild Horse Valley
2005 ($45)
ELYSE Zinfandel
"Eaglepoint Ranch" Mendocino
2004 ($28)
ELYSE Zinfandel
"Morisoli Vineyard" Napa Valley
2005 ($34)
The ELYSE Mixed Case
Four Bottles of each wine above
$385 includes 10% discount
The ELYSE Mixed Half-Case
two Bottles of each wine above
$205 includes 5% discount
Order Today!
For pure, unblemished, glorious, rich California fruit in a bottle of fine wine, look no further than the wines of Elyse.
Ray and Nancy Coursen started Elyse in the 1980's. Over some twenty years, they've staked their reputation of 
making great wine while still maintaining their "smallness." An Elyse wine (Elyse is Ray & Nancy's daughter) is almost always juicy, jammy, briary, spicy, quite large and still balanced - precariously at times, but balanced.
Their winery is not far from Back Room Wines. It's just up Highway 29. Just before Yountville, turn left onto Hoffman Lane and drive up just about a hundred yards. If you're in luck, the tasting room will be open and you'll enjoy many wines of Elyse (and Jacob Franklin, their other label, named for their son).
Ray (that's him to the left) has never been one to make wine conventionally. He likes to add a little Gamay to most of his reds. It brightens the wine just so. I also remember him adding frozen aromatic white skins (Viognier maybe) into his Syrah. Reason being: add dimension and flavor while also keeping fermentation temperature down. Back in 2001, he traded me a demijohn (about 10 gallons) of my homemade Merlot for an equal amount of a Petit Verdot he had in barrel. (Don't know what the trade did for him, but it sure helped my 40 case production!)
We have three wines in our Elyse offering today. They make more than three wines. We like these three the best right now. Should your likes lean toward the bold, deeply fruity, luscious reds, then these three Elyse wines are certainly your kinda wines. Check out our mixed case and mixed half case suggestions.
ELYSE Pinot Noir Wild Horse Valley
2005 ($45)
Wild Horse Valley, a sub-AVA of Napa Valley, is not terribly well known for its fine wine. Just a matter of time, for there's loads of great grapes growing here. A vast array, too. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon: all do well here. Many microclimates in this small region that lies just east of Napa town.
This Elyse Pinot Noir is not shy. Starts with sweet oak sensations like vanilla bean, malt and cinnamon toast.
Fruit comes out with a little coaxing. Deep plum, stem strawberries and red currants come to mind. Sweet fruit, medium acidity and a persistent yet silky texture make 
thisquite the joy to drink. Only 150 cases (more or less) were made.
ELYSE Zinfandel "Eaglepoint Ranch" Mendocino 2004 ($28)
From high above the Ukiah Valley, with sweeping views from Sonoma to Humboldt Counties, is "Eaglepoint Ranch." Planted to a number of red grapes, Zinfandel being one the least grown here, Eaglepoint is a pretty special place for winegrowing. Must have been a unique offering for Ray as he made this Zin only this one time. Look at the Elyse website and you won't even find this wine listed. 22% Petite Sirah adds power.
This Zin is very brambly, bordering on jammy. Spices all over: allspice, anise, cloveand black pepper are easily identified. This is boisterous, animated and gregarious.
ELYSE Zinfandel "Morisoli Vineyard"
Napa Valley 2005 ($34)
From the heart of Napa Valley, in Rutherford, lies "Morisoli Vineyard." It's renowned for big, powerful Zins and Cabernet Sauvignon. This Zin, partly because of the vintage, is more restrained than the "usual" Morisoli Zin.
Think of the brightness and silkiness of the Elyse
Pinot Noir blended with the super ripeness of the "Eaglepoint" Zinfandel. Taste sweet red cherry, plum pudding, white pepper, ruby red grapefruit and mint. Bon Appétit nailed it by naming this wine one of their "Top Turkey Wines."