Winemaker Notes
Dramatic geology, extreme coastal climate, and a wild ridgeline environment converge in this Pinot Noir, warm treetop botanicals, redolent of oak and Madrone bark, mingle with wild fennel, savory spice, and a gentle salinity on the nose. These aromas radiate out to a vibrant palate, where tannin builds on tannin, drawing bright energy to the top of the palate. An ethereal veil of tart red cherry and alpine strawberry spritzed with blood orange wraps the finely knit structure, with mountain minerality, texture, and tension lingering on the finish.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Blackberry, white pepper, basalt, dried strawberry and blueberry aromas follow through to a medium body with refined density and a succulent, linear feel at the end. A gorgeous and fresh wine with a volcanic undertone.
-
Wine Enthusiast
The nose of this wine is driven by savory, earthy aromas of fresh cherry, plum skin, forest floor and cinnamon, while the palate shows rich Bing character, with flavors of cedar, Darjeeling tea and violets darting to and fro across the palate. The richly textured finish should soften nicely with age.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The dark red 2022 Pinot Noir Seaview Ridge Vineyard offers another level of complexity and a touch of umami richness in its notes of black cherries, sea brine, brushy herbs, and licorice. Medium-bodied, it takes on greater intensity and concentration on the palate, with ripe tannins, a darker mineral tone, and a long finish.
-
Wine Spectator
An open-knit version, showing nice energy as its light, briary matrix holds a core of black and red cherry and singed wood spice notes together. Offers a zip of blood orange zest and a twang of minerality on the finish. Drink now through 2031. 750 cases made.
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.