Winemaker Notes
This bottling comes from the original nursery block established by co-founder Diane Cobb. She planted a variety of Pinot Noir clones in 1989 on their own roots, and today it produces some of the highest quality fruit from the estate. This wine from the unique block of Coastlands Vineyard commemorates Diane Cobb (1941 2006).
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir Diane Cobb Coastlands Vineyard comes from the original nursery block of own-rooted vines planted in 1989 in marine sedimentary soils at 1,150 feet above sea level. Made with 70% whole clusters, it's wonderfully detailed yet powerful. It has slowly opening scents of sweet tobacco, lavender and aniseed with a deep, youthfully reticent core of red fruit. The medium-bodied palate surprises with its explosive fruit! Concentrated, fragrant red berry flavors are supported by chalky tannins and mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish.
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Coastlands: Diane Cobb is a blend of 18 different clones, all own-rooted, done with 70% whole clusters. It shows a bit more density and a touch more oak sweetness than most of the wines in the range. A burst of intense fruit makes a strong first impression, but the 2021 is a bit closed today. Gorgeous inner strength and a backbone of tannin wrap it all together.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Medium red in color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Diane Cobb: Coastlands Vineyard is showing a lot of complexity at this stage, with layered aromas of spice and flowers, cardamom red berries, incense, dusty earth, and dried roses. Medium-bodied and graceful, it has notes of savory orange citrus, a light iron mineral profile, ripe tannins, and a weightless finish. Rating: 96+
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Wine Enthusiast
Intense cranberry, cedar and rose petal aromas jump from the glass of this earthy, savory Pinot. The palate displays vibrant acidity and flavors of blackberry, Darjeeling tea and fried shiitake in a tannic framework bolstered by a hefty dose of whole-cluster inclusion.
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Wine Spectator
Reserved in style, this offers gently perfumed notes of potpourri and sandalwood over a core of damson plum, blood orange and pomegranate fruit, while ocean breeze minerality adds tension and cut to the 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.