Winemaker Notes
Blue Slide Ridge is named for its magnificent formations of blue rock. Directly below the vineyard a sheer cliff drops into the small winding creek, the south fork tributary of the Gualala River, showing off great cerulean shards jutting out from beneath the earth's surface.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge has an earthy, forest floor, tree bark and black soil-laced nose with a core of black cherries, black berries and sautéed herbs. Truly a Big Bertha of a Pinot, this is one for those with hedonistic tendencies. Packed with black berry, savory earth and dried herb flavors, and framed by firm, chewy tannins, it finishes with epic length and with everything “greatly” balanced. It’s still quite primary and should really be enjoyed after it’s had another 2-3 years in bottle.
Rating: 95+?)
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.