Drama You Can Drink: Coppola Winery's Director's Cut Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon

“Winemaking and filmmaking are two great art forms...in both cases you have to start with top notch raw materials—whether it’s the land or a script.”
- Francis Ford Coppola

Would you expect wines bearing the name of iconic filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola to be anything less than expressive and superb? I had high expectations when I was invited to taste wines from Coppola Winery's Director's Cut collection and I'm delighted to say they delivered a blockbuster drinking experience. (I apologize for the movie puns sprinkled throughout this article, I couldn't resist!)

Coppola Winery has a diverse portfolio of wines but those in the Director's Cut collection are quite special - they are limited production and sourced from Sonoma’s diverse and distinctive microclimates. In the same way that the director's cut of a film is the version which most reflects the director's vision, the Director's Cut wines represent winemaker Corey Beck's sensibility and intention to express the essence of the grapes and the terroir. Every bottle of Director's Cut also pays homage to the history of filmmaking and is adorned with a wraparound label inspired by a Zoetrope strip - one of the earliest moving picture devices. Each Director’s Cut label is a replica of a strip from Mr. Coppola's personal Zoetrope collection.



Full-bodied and far from bland, 2014 Director's Cut Chardonnay (Russian River Valley, Sonoma County) spends just enough time in French oak to add enticing spice, vanilla, and cream notes without overwhelming the luscious flavors of tropical fruit and citrus. Vibrant with a lively acidity, this Chardonnay has the grace and charisma of a leading lady on the silver screen. Suggested retail price is $23.


2013 Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, Sonoma County) is a bonafide scene stealer. I was wowed by the richness and elegance of this blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (87%) with a touch of Malbec (8%) and Cabernet Franc (5%). Flavors of blackberries, cassis, spice, chocolate, and earthiness meld together to create a truly beautiful wine. Suggested retail price is $29.


image courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola Winery

The Director's Cut collection also includes Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and the red blend Cinema. If you're planning a trip to Sonoma, the Coppola Winery welcomes visitors. Mr. Coppola describes the winery as “a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life: food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life.” Let's drink to that!