Winemaker Notes
A beautiful and deep ruby color greets the eyes with nuances of purple and pink. On the nose, the red fruit notes are very assertive, with loads of red cherries and red plum aromas, followed by red licorice and a touch of cassis. The first impression is that of a fuller-bodied and fruity Pinot Noir and that is completely confirmed on the palate. The wine is drier than suggested, with a serious mid-palate grip. The tannins are ripe and complementary to the concentrated fruit and acidity of the wine. This is a serious example of an Appellation wine and all the complex flavors and firm structure suggests it would benefit from aging, or if you are enjoying it sooner, a juicy steak would be an appropriate companion.
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.