Winemaker Notes
The sprawling Sonoma Coast appellation embraces Sonoma County’s coastline, while spreading north to Mendocino and south to San Pablo Bay. This vast region is uniformly cool due to the influence of breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean. The terroir experiences a long growing season and produces outstanding Sauvignon Blanc with intense flavor and strong varietal character.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Tangy citrus and peach flavors show notes of beeswax and lanolin that add a savory accent to the intense core of juicy fruit. Finishes crisp, with a honeysuckle detail. Drink now.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
A vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.