Winemaker Notes
The high toned nose is captivating with white button mushroom, pomegranate, strawberry and orange rind aromas mingled with deeper metallic and copper notes. The mouth feel is medium with the same red fruits and dried leaf, tea and new leather components framing the wine. The finish is precise with refreshing acidity. After a half hour of air the wine broadens and deepens on the nose and palate and becomes more savory.
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.