Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
The Somm Journal
Four clones, planted in Goldridge soil on dry-farmed hillsides unshielded from cold sea air and fog, go into what winemaker Julien Howsepian calls “an old-soul wine.” The mouthfeel fulfills all your wants: rich and lush, with notes of dark chocolate, kirsch, earth, and sweet tobacco
-
James Suckling
A lovely nose with brambly and earthy character, along with notes of crushed blackberries and thyme. Full-bodied with well-integrated tannins. The palate starts off bright and energetic, but drifts slowly into delicious, dark and brooding berries with earth and ash.
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.