Winemaker Notes
As usual for this site, the hue is the darkest, most intense ruby/purple. The nose shows off ripe raspberry, black plum, cherry liquor, tea leaf, rose petal and citrus peel with subtle soil notes. Over time, the wine fans out on the palate with its full force of flavor and texture — it is even more structured than previous vintages. While expressive right away, like most of Anthill Farms' wines, when given time and a little air this impactful, lengthy rendition changes into a more ethereal and perfumed Pinot that glides on the palate. The Campbell Ranch epitomizes the character of the northern Sonoma Coast/Annapolis AVA. Expect this wine to provide pleasure for many years, though it’s hard to resist now. Enjoy it over the next dozen years and experience the evolution.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch opens with deep tones of pomegranate and rhubarb before releasing notes of fir leaves, garrigue and earth. The light-bodied palate is velvety and seamlessly fresh, with a weightless yet powerfully perfumed core of fruit and a long, floral finish.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.