Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Here we have a great example of Cobb’s extended barrel-ageing regimen: the wine spent 34 months in barrel using 30% new oak. The power and density from this time spent formulating is immediately apparent, with an alluring, dark, mossy quality to the nose that seems to be unique to this block of Coastlands. The palate takes a brighter, more vibrant turn and finishes with sweet liquorice and sassafras notes. It's an interesting wine to take note of and track over time. 190 cases were produced.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard Old Firs Block opens with some rubber, tar and scorched earth aromas, although the palate offers more detailed red berry fruits in a firm, fresh frame with a minerally finish. Give it a long decant.
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.