When I first tried Côté Est in 2011, I was blown away by their 2009 vintage.  It was so good, I started trying to get my hands on any Grenache Blanc I could find.  Trying the 2011, I was a bit less than blown away, but still relatively happy.  Yet, nothing I found lived up to that initial experience.  Seeing the opportunity to try their 2014 vintage, I once again have decided to open myself up to heartbreak, and try Côté Est again.

Sight:  Straw, with flecks of gold.

Smell:  The start of the nose is underpinned with touches of wet stone, but opens into a mix of green apples, gooseberry, kiwi, and apricot.  A distinctly sauvignon blanc style of greenness runs along the background.

Sip:  The brightness is huge, and the weight is heavier than it might appear.  A slightly fizzy character is here as well.  The flavors are again very green, mixing green apple, lime pith, thyme, and lemon grass.  The flavors are pungent, and well defined.

Savor:  The ending is a little short, but carries an easy going mix of fruit, floral notes, and herbs.

Sometimes you just can’t recapture the magic that made something special, and that might be the case for Côté Est.  If you happened to fall in love with the 2009, like I did, than the gradual shift to a more restrained style has been a little hard.  That said, this is still good wine, with plenty of well done details, especially the clarity of the fruit on the nose and palate.  If you’re a Sauvignon Blanc fan, definitely give Côté Est 2014 a try.

Verdict:  Green Apple, Thyme, Floral, Citrusy, Bright
Rating: 89
Price: $11
Côtes Catales, France

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