Winemaker Notes
Inviting aromas of rhubarb pie, red cherries, raspberries and dried oregano leap from the glass. Soft and viscous on entry, a balanced acidity adds vibrancy to a developed mid-palate. This wine is full of ripe cherries and a touch of cinnamon spice with a long and warm finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Savory and forest floor notes accent the well-spiced dried dark fruit flavors. Dried fig and citrus hints show midpalate, with details of loam and chocolate nibs on the finish.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Juicy, herbal and savory, this is a well-integrated, medium-bodied expression of the grape. With a lushness on the palate, it weaves together flavor, texture and focused acidity into a cohesive one.
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.