Winemaker Notes
Sourced from cool climate vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, which saw a relatively even growing season, the 2020 Crossbarn Pinot Noir shows deep ruby in the glass with inviting aromas of pomegranate, black cherry, and bay leaf with a touch of violet. On the palate, juicy notes of fresh raspberry compote mingle with tart cranberry and a touch of forest floor, with a hint of salinity that speaks to its coastal origins complementing a lifting acidity and refreshing finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Perfumed aromas of red and black cherries, red licorice, cooking spice and rose water. Medium-to full-bodied with steady acidity that helps to articulate the dark-fruit and tobacco flavors, but retains freshness throughout. Sandy, easy-going tannins. Wet-stone finish. 100% estate grown.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is flush with pristine fruit on the nose, including cherry candy, crushed flowers, and forest floor. The palate is fresh with red raspberry and cinnamon, and it has refreshing acidity on the finish. This is a lovely, classic wine for drinking over the next couple of years.
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.