Winemaker Notes
Classic aromas of wild berries, ripe black fruit, bay leaf and mint, plus the characteristic notes of forest floor and clove from this special vineyard. The palate is fleshy and voluptuous, with firm and well-integrated tannins that promise a long life; this wine will continue to develop for at least 10-15 years.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Dried blueberry, spiced cherry, dried flowers, vanilla and mushroom on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with smooth tannins. Tight and flavorful finish. Better in a year or two.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a cool-climate site planted to high-density vines, this wine is immensely funky and earthy in all the right ways. Crunchy citrus meets lifted acidity and prominent tannins, offering contrast to the flavors of bay leaf, mint and blackberry.
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.