La Pelle Wines: Quality Being Made and Expressed
Winemaker Maayan Koschitsky
What I believe is most important to the wine aficionado is the quality in the bottle. Does what is in my glass represent the varietal, and is it well-crafted to enjoy slowly with thoughtfulness and great pleasure? The label is La Pelle; and the winemaker is Maayan Koschitsky; and the answer is “yes” on all counts.
My first experience with Maayan was at a wine event hosted at a local restaurant in St. Helena, California. The wines that day were fresh and expressive. He created a beautiful Cabernet and what, I would call, a standout Sauvignon Blanc. Maayan himself was as bright and expressive as the wines themselves. His answers to questions were astute and insightful. Engaging with him was a pleasure. It was clear to me why his wine was so well-crafted.
I continued to buy wine offerings from La Pelle and was fortunate to purchase an auction event that included lunch with Maayan and tasting his wines throughout the meal. I was able to host five of my friends who thoroughly enjoyed the time and bright conversation. These are the wines that we all enjoyed during our lunch, with an extremely intelligent and engaging winemaker:
2021 Bien Nacido Chardonnay Block I - $65 a bottle in 3 packs
2021 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc - $55 a bottle in 6 packs
2021 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - $85 a bottle in 6 packs
2019 Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $185 in 3 packs
We are not the only ones who have a great regard and respect for Maayan’s wines. Here is a list of wine ratings from Jeb Dunnick:
As you can see, I am not the only one impressed with La Pelle. Worthy of note is the price listed for each bottle. These are wines to enjoy in the moment, and they will age beautifully.
It is important to appreciate Maayan’s journey. He is from Israel and initially was in engineering as a career. That is an exact science that I believe led to his ability to deliver with discernment. He began winemaking in his homeland. He worked in wineries in Israel and continued to hone his craft at wineries in New Zealand and Australia. In coming to the US in 2011, he first worked at Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle. He worked there and then joined Phillipe Melka’s consulting firm Atelier. From there he became a part owner of Atelier and started his own label, La Pelle, in 2016.
Additionally, in 2019, Maayan was named one of the 40 Under 40 Tastemakers as published in Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He has created a name and gained respect in the Napa Valley with his vision. He is quoted as stating, “I’m trying to make a wine that is a winemaker’s wine. I’m not looking for high price points, but a fun, fresh wine. A more approachable, day to day wine.” I would say he has achieved that outcome.
To gain access to his wines, please go to La Pelle Wines. I encourage you to check out his wines for yourself.
Enjoy!
