Meiomi

Owner(s) Constellation Brands
Web site www.meiomi.com
 
Link to this site
Meiomi

A value-priced bottling of California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced by Joseph Wagner, owner of Cooper Cane Wines & Provisions. Copper Can Wines & Provisions was founded in 2013 in St. Helena, CA. Production is some 700,000 cases and continues to grow. The average bottle price is $21. Its Pinot Noir brands include Meiomi (California) and Elouan (Oregon).

Meiomi means "coast" to native, coastal dwelling Wappo and Yuki tribes. Both a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced from grapes sourced in California's Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. Retailing for around $20, the sleek bottles have a glossy screwcap closure (WAK closure from Guala since 2009).

The Meiomi Pinot Noir was sold exclusively to restaurants through 2008. It is now the top selling restaurant Pinot Noir and the brand received the prestigious 2014 Market Watch Leaders Choice Award for "Wine Brand of the Year." 317,592 cases were made in 2013, but by 2015, it is projected to sell more than half-a-million cases. A Chardonnay and Nouveau Pinot Noir joined the Pinot Noir in the lineup (all SRP of $19.99).

In 2015, Meiomi was sold to Constellation Brands Inc for $315 million. Original founder Joe Wagner agreed to stay on as consulting winemaker for two years. By 2017, Meiomi passed the million case mark.

Reviewed Wines

2013 Meiomi California Chardonnay

13.8% alc., $19. 49% Santa Barbara County, 21% Monterey County, and 30% Sonoma County. · Pale golden yellow color in the glass. A solid offering with aromas and flavors of lemon, white peach, honey and nutty oak. Smooth on the palate, and easy to drink, with modest oak overlay, and a refreshing finish of juicy Granny Smith apples. Score: 88. Reviewed November 20, 2014 ARTICLE »

2013 Meiomi California Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., pH 3.81, TA 0.59, RS 6.9 g/L, $21, screwcap. · Dark reddish color in the glass. The aromas of charcoal, tobacco, blackest fruits and spice are not particularly appealing. Sappy and sweet on the palate with very ripe flavors of purple and black fruits, a floral note, and oak-driven spice, vanilla and coffee highlights. Smoothly textured with modest tannins in a richly styled wine that lacks vibrancy. Score: 87. Reviewed March 12, 2016 ARTICLE »

2011 Meiomi Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $19, screwcap. 51% Monterey County, 23% Santa Barbara County and 26% Sonoma County. · Deep purple color in the glass. Aromas of black fruits, fig spread, vanilla and caramel. Moderately intense flavors of boysenberries, spice, candied violet, beet root and vanilla. The berry fruit is sappy and delicious and has the signature Belle Glos imprint, but there is too much vanilla from oak on board and the mild confected quality detracts for me. On the positive side, the tannins are well honed and the wine is velvety soft on the palate. Not a classic Pinot Noir by any means, but one that does deliver plenty of sweet, tasty fruit that some may find attractive especially at the modest price. Good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Meiomi Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., $18-$20, screw cap. “May-OHmee” means “Coast” in the language of the California Wappo Indian tribe. 57% Monterey County, 23% Santa Barbara County, and 20% Sonoma County. Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Deep, rich and enticing aromas of plums and dark berries with a hint of oak spice, vanillin and BBQ. Discreetly concentrated, yet richly flavored with delicious plum, black raspberry, dark chocolate and vanilla cola notes. The fruit is caressed by soft, fine-grain tannins, creating a velvety mouth feel that is very seductive. The best Meiomi Pinot Noir to date. This wine will find many fans. Widespread retail and restaurant availability. Very good. Note: At the recent Pinot Days Southern California, Meiomi had two very attractive young women in hot pants and boots roaming the event promoting Meiomi Pinot Noir. This is the first time I have seen this marketing approach at a Pinot Noir event. Obviously aimed at Millenials (although they approached an old duck fart like me), this is surely a sign of the future of wine promotion. Reviewed February 22, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Meiomi California Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $18, screw cap. 47% Sonoma County, 19% Monterey County, 34% Santa Barbara County. “May-OH-mee.” Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner of Belle Glos Wines. · Dark reddish-purple hue in the glass. Demure blueberry and plum sauce aromas with distracting oak char. Teeth-staining core of vivid black raspberry, strawberry, plum and cassis flavors with an underpinning of oak toast and vanillin. Blessed with pillowy tannins. This fruit-driven wine will find fans but the oak influence becomes more prominent over time in the glass leading to a jam-on-toast taste. I preferred the 2008 version of this wine, both of which are widely distributed and found on many restaurant wine lists. Decent (+). Reviewed March 2, 2011 ARTICLE »

2008 Meiomi by Belle Glos Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., $24. 65% Sonoma County, 20% Monterey County,15% Santa Barbara County. Pronounced “May-OH-mee,” which is “coast” in the language of California’s Wappo tribe. · Intensely fruity and penetrating nose with effusive scents of ripe dark berries accented with notes of sandalwood, oak and cigar box. A rich, but smooth and caressing wine in the mouth, with a multilayered core of berries and a complimentary underpinning of toasty oak. The soft tannins make for easy drinkability and this wine is far more approachable than any of the three vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs from Belle Glos. This Pinot really shows off California coastal fruit, is one of the best values in California Pinot Noir on the market today, and is the best California appellation Pinot Noir bar none. Reviewed April 23, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Belle Glos Meiomi Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.6% alc., $25. The name is pronounced May-OH-mee” and means “coast” in the language of the native Wappo tribe. A blend of several vineyards with different sub-climates in the true Sonoma Coast. · Very expressive nose right out of the bottle smelling of black raspberries, blackberries, dark chocolate, and fermenting Pinot Noir, with a whiff of alcohol. Vivid and fruity with tones of spice and herbs. Likable for its smooth texture and easy drinkability. Tasted on two occasions by the glass at a restaurant recently and at home from a bottle with consistent findings. Very good and very well priced. Reviewed December 16, 2009 ARTICLE »

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