Winemaker Notes
The nose offers aromas of raspberry, cranberry, black licorice, and exotic tea notes. On the palate, red cherry, plum, and boysenberry are complemented by subtle hints of espresso and cocoa nib, underpinned by layers of spice and toast. Firm yet integrated tannins and bright acidity drive a long, refined finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A more widely distributed wine starting with this vintage, the 2022 Pinot Noir has plenty of finesse and delicacy given the mountain fruit that goes into it, including some from the producer's Sable Mountain Vineyard, which adds intensity to the luxurious red fruit and baking spice that accent the well-integrated oak, refined tannins, and moderate length of this medium-bodied effort.
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.