Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Without question, my favorite California Pinot Noir AVA is Sonoma Coast. While, this AVA has one issue of being too large—encompassing areas that some experts say should never have included—the best wineries make some of the state's best Pinot Noirs. The 2016 Ceritas Cosatlina is a standout. TASTING NOTES. This wine is bright and true. Its aromas and flavors of fresh cranberries and light chalkiness should pair it well with a seared salmon fillet. (Tasted: September 25, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.