N.V. Coho Chinn Vineyard Petit Verdot

Coho is in Napa. It was founded in 2002 by Brooks Painter and Gary Lipp and named in honor of the Coho salmon, which the founders say “embodies an innate wisdom so essential to understanding ourselves and our environment. As stewards of the land winemakers must strive to sustain our habitat and the species that share it.” Before starting their own winery, Painter was a winemaker and manager at such Napa Valley producers as Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Robert Mondavi, and Lipp was a sales and marketing executive at Chalone Wine Estates and Paul Hobbs, among other places. Coho makes limited quantities of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a red blend.

Coombsville AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having received its official designation only in 2011. Tucked just to the northeast of Los Carneros and a few minutes’ drive east of downtown Napa, the Coombsville appellation is relatively large at a total of 11,000 acres. The elevation varies from 100 to 1,000 feet, and the climate is moderated by marine breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The main grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir.