In 1987, Ray and Nancy Coursen started Elyse Winery with 286 cases of Zinfandel from the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford. Since then, Elyse has blossomed into a portfolio of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Sirahs focused on pure expression of fruit with a sense of place. Elyse Winery has been the launching pad for countless wine lovers to explore some of our region’s most celebrated vineyards and fall in love with Napa Valley wineries big and small. 

After thirty years of stewardship, Ray and Nancy decided that it was time to retire. What began as a casual conversation over dinner at Redd in Yountville evolved into the next chapter for Elyse Winery. In October 2018, Ray and Nancy Coursen sold Elyse Winery to Napa Valley local Josh Peeples and his partner, Cheryl Foil. Perfect timing for both parties, the torch has been passed to continue the same passion for the decades to come. Starting in 2018, Elyse wines are made by acclaimed winemaker Russell Bevan.

Winemaker: To say that Russell Bevan’s fingerprints loom large over the Napa Valley might be an understatement.  With fifteen 100-point wines and counting, the only thing bigger than his impact might be his personality. His path to wine superstardom started with a Masters in Philosophy from Gonzaga, followed by a syndicated column with Wine Spectator. From there he taught himself how to make wine, and the rest is history. Institution, Elyse, Addax, PerUs, Stu Lerner, Adversity and Bevan Cellars all count themselves among the lucky few labels to have Bevan’s virtuoso winemaking in their bottles.

Vineyard: Hugh and Pat Tietjen’s beautiful vineyard, located in the heart of the Rutherford Bench, features shallow alluvial soils graced by the protective influence of Mt. St. John, which dominates the skyline just to the west of their property. With the deft care provided by Jim Barbour Vineyard Management, this vineyard yields wines that display a lovely array of classic Rutherford notes.

Winemaking: Napa has seen a remarkable run of above-average vintages for the majority of the last 10 years, but 2018 might just be the cherry on top! Perfect conditions existed throughout the growing season and winemakers were able to pick when their desired ripeness showed itself. When it was finally time to bring the Cabernet in, they were hand sorted, brand new, tightly grained, high-quality French barrels. The wine is then matured in these vessels for 17 months.

Profile: The 2018 Tietjen boasts a big, sexy bouquet of jammy blueberries, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, and graphite. These flow to a full-bodied, powerful Cabernet that brings the fruit and opulence while staying nicely balanced and seamless. This pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon brings the spotlight to the unique terroir of Rutherford and captures its true sense of place.

151 cases produced