Winemaker Notes
Complex and enticing. Ripe black cherrry, lush blackberry with earthy undertones of mushroom, smoke and a dusting of cocoa. A true expression of Sonoma Coast, the 2006 vintage is deep and exotic with layers of ripe black and red fruit and a touch of pie crust. This dense wine fills the palate and yet exhibits hints of minerality, with a lengthy finish. The intense flavors of blackberry, green tea and earthy notes are a prelude to a very long, elegant finish.
This 2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a blend of four vineyards. Three of these are located near the southern end of the Russian River Valley appellation. The fourth, Gap's Crown, is near Penngrove, which is highly influenced by the Petaluma Gap's cooling influence.
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.