Winemaker Notes
Elliot Vineyard is tucked between Hellenthal Vineyards and the easternmost boundary of the Hirsch Vineyard. With slightly less clay than at neighboring Hellenthal vineyard, these shale soils are intermixed with decomposed marine sediments. No soil amendments are added, enabling the soil to impart its pure influence upon the vines. Organically and dry farmed by the Hellenthal family, this vineyard straddles the ridge of parent rock, giving it the unique position of facing both north and south.
Harvested in multiple passes, thereby obtaining maximum expression of the site. The resulting wine is bright and delicate, offering light perfume and great transparency.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The medium ruby colored 2018 Pinot Noir Elliot opens with spicy licorice, bitters and cinnamon stick with a core of bright red and black berry fruit plus notes of burnt citrus peel. The palate is light-bodied, bright and saline-laced with a gently chalky structure and ethereal 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.