Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge, a singular effort in the lineup that stands out for its rich blueberry and mulberry fruit as well as ample spring flowers, forest floor, and violet characteristics. With medium to full body, a ripe, layered texture, terrific concentration, and a big finish, it’s a gem from this team that will evolve gracefully for 8-10 years.
-
Wine Spectator
Broad-brushed, featuring notes of dried underbrush to the savory mix of roasted cherry and berry flavors. Crushed stone and shiso leaf details emerge on the taut 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.