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Nancy and Ray Coursen didn’t come to Napa Valley looking for shortcuts. They arrived in 1983 from Cape Cod with nothing but curiosity, grit, and a clear goal: to make honest, expressive wine rooted in place.

Ray cut his teeth the hard way, working harvest at Mt. Eden Winery, managing vineyards with Tonella Vineyard Management, and spending nearly a decade at Whitehall Lane Winery under the guidance of Art Finkelstein.

From cellar floor to head winemaker, those years shaped his philosophy: let the vineyard speak, and blend with restraint, not ego.

Elyse Winery was born in 1985 with just 286 cases of Zinfandel from Morisoli Vineyard, a site that remains central to the winery’s identity today. After years of nomadic winemaking across Napa, Ray and Nancy put down permanent roots in 1997 with the purchase of their Hoffman Lane winery and vineyard. From that modest home base, Elyse quietly earned a devoted following, becoming a gateway for wine lovers to experience some of Napa Valley’s most respected vineyards through wines that favor purity, balance, and authenticity over flash.

Today, Elyse remains fiercely independent, crafting Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Sirah that reflect both terroir and the hands that have shaped them from the very beginning.

That legacy continues under current winemaker Russell Bevan, who began crafting Elyse wines in 2018. Over the course of his career, Bevan has earned more than 30 perfect 100-point scores, including the world’s only 100-point wine in 2011. His work is defined by power with precision—an approach that has drawn rare praise from critics.

"I continue to be blown away by the wines from Russell Bevan...These are by no means shy wines, but their richness and complexity are remarkable. Despite their massive size, concentration and density, they reveal tremendous polish, finesse and elegance" - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

C’est Si Bon in French means “It’s so good!” Say no more! This homage to French Côte du Rhones is crafted with a combination of unique vineyard sites, each parcel adding to the layers of this wine and its polished, approachable character.

2021 Elyse C'est Si Bon Red Blend is proof that sometimes the sum is greater than its parts. Sourced exclusively from the Naggiar Vineyard located in the Sierra Foothills of California, this wine is shaped by a site prized for its distinctive terroir and near-ideal growing conditions. Only the best fruit is selected, gently pressed, and aged in oak to build depth, texture, and nuance without masking character.

The result is a rich, full-bodied wine that delivers Napa power with polish—layered, expressive, and effortlessly drinkable. A true snapshot of the valley, this is the kind of bottle that reminds you why Napa still sets the standard.

ABV: 14.4%

Southern Rhone Red Blend.

50% Grenache, 22% Mourvedre, 19% Syrah, 4% Cinsault.

Bright, fresh nose of ripe bramble fruit with toasted thyme, sage, and rosemary. Grenache leads the palate with flavors of rich berry-drizzled angel food cake.

Subtle soft tannins allow this versatile wine to be served with a slight chill.

NYR. 

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