2003 Pont 21 - A Wine From Tacoma?
We found something on Friday afternoon that was truly unexpected – a good Tacoma wine. As many of you know, we do like our wine and have been known to travel the roads of Washington looking for good wine. Now, we have something local to support … and drink. So local that we can walk to the winery.
On Friday afternoon we found ourselves sitting beside the purple-stained barrels of Coates Winery on North 21st Street with Philip Coates. The winery is in the basement of the small commercial building just west of the 21st Street Bridge.
We opened the 2003 Pont 21 to try it out. This is the winery’s first release and limited to just 100 cases. 76% cabernet sauvignon blended with merlot, cabernet franc, and syrah. The grapes all come from the Yakima Valley. I’m not going to review the wine. That’s not my gig. However, I will say that, for my taste, it was exactly what I like. Priced at $20 per bottle, it’s a great first wine for Tacoma.
PLUS, the label was designed and hand letter-pressed by Lance Kagey of Beautiful Angle fame. It’s absolutely perfect.
Coates is still getting everything set up for regular customers. But, if you’re interested in getting to the front of the line, talking some wine, and/or supporting a new Tacoma business, email Philip at <txp:dtj_obfuscated_email email="philipcoates@comcast.net" />.
Kris from South Sound Eats reviewed the wine last week. More info at SouthSoundEats
Filed under: General
17 comments
T Thorax O'Tool February 9, 2009
If only I liked wine…
K Kari February 9, 2009
I’m glad the licensing finally worked out in that spot – what a neat thing for the 3 Bridges district!
M morgan February 9, 2009
Welcome to 3 Bridges Phil! I can’t wait to try the wine!
Tacoma is lucky to have someone as persistent as Coates. Others would have thrown in the towel at the city’s long convoluted drawn-out process – a process that makes it easier to build surface parking lots and strip malls than to open great neighborhood businesses.
D Deb Llewellyn February 10, 2009
Just an FYI…Lance Kagey did the wine labels—seperate from BA. He did such a beautiful job that I want all the kudos to go to him!!
J Jim Wheeler February 10, 2009
We imported a few of Pont 21’s first release to Santa Cruz, California to pour at a winemaker’s dinner. Wow were those “Oenies” impressed with Philip Coates oenological know how! Congratulations, Philip and good luck to Pont 21!
E Erik B. February 10, 2009
I emailed this out today to them:
Dear Mr. Coates
Congratulations on your local winemaking and the zoning change you obtained.
When and where can I obtain a couple of bottles of your wine?
I look forward to your response.
Erik Bjornson
They may have a blogospheric flash mob run on their wine. Drink local!
E Erik B. February 10, 2009
Wine ordering update:
Erik Thank you for your email.If you let me know a time that works for you I can meet you at the winery in North Tacoma.
We have decided to offer our 2003 release at $17 per bottle with a 10% discount for a case purchase. The release will only be 50 cases and all will have the hand printed “Beautiful Angle” labels. Thank you again for your interest and support, it has been a long road.Kindest Regards. Philip Coates
Better get yours now!
T Tacomite February 11, 2009
We’re picking up six bottles tonight. Philip is very open to meeting up with people or small groups at the winery. Can’t wait to try it.
J jamie from thriceallamerican February 11, 2009
Erik B should have his own reality show. The video could be interspersed with cell phone pics.
E Erik B. February 11, 2009
Erik B should have his own reality show. The video could be interspersed with cell phone pics.
Thanks Jamie. Cell phone pics have their own brutish genre for sure.
Also, underground Tacoma is always a popular topic.
T Thorax O'Tool February 11, 2009
——> Idea!
Wine is popular, it seems. The Great State of WA is known for it’s quality wines… which also seems to result in a few big wineries and a buncha small & medium ones.
Why don’t we do our own spin on it? What if Tacoma had a lot of tiny basement wineries like this? We already have microbreweries, why not make the city known for it’s (future) plethora of micorwineries?
R reenerb February 12, 2009
The NEW 2009 Tacoma-Pierce County Visitor Guide covers a wine + brew section [p. 31]. Check it out: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/tacoma/vg09
Coates Winery is 1 of 8 on the “Wineries to Watch” list.
S Squid February 12, 2009
Thorax, check out this old Exit 133 thread:
/forum/viewtopic.php?id=593
M MattonGrant February 13, 2009
I really enjoyed my tasting and meeting Philip. I wish the winery great success! I love the wine as well as the hand-applied labels.
T Thorax O'Tool February 13, 2009
@ Squiddo… interesting, very interesting indeed.
Z ZOMG February 13, 2009
I got a bottle back a couple of days ago.
I’m no coinisseur, but it was quite good
E Erik B. February 18, 2009
BREAKING NEWS!
Pont 21 now available at Rosewood Cafe for $17 a bottle: