Winemaker Notes
The aroma of black cherry and forest floor, along with a hint of graham cracker, are provided by the light use of new oak. On the palate the entry is round and the midpalate exhibits a sucrosity that reflects the warmth of the vintage. The tannins are polished tannins and give the wine a light structure that lingers pleasantly on the finish enticing another sip.. Drink now and over the next 10 years.
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
Sourcing for this Pinot Noir has shifted from Napa and Carneros to the Sonoma Coast, with fruit now primarily from the Durell and Sunchase Vineyards. A mix of clones, including 667, Pommard, 777, and 828, adds complexity. The fruit is destemmed with a small percentage of stems layered into stainless steel, undergoing a native fermentation and then aged for 10 months in approximately 40% new French oak. This plush, rich, and deeply intense Pinot Noir has a solid core of wet slate minerality that keeps the dark mulberry, cherry, and raspberry fruit buoyant and expressive. A firm spine of lacy acidity weaves seamlessly through the succulent fruit. At the same time, the expressive finish features baking spices mingled with rose petal and violet notes, showcasing impressive length and complexity—a beautifully balanced and layered Pinot Noir, offering richness and tension in equal measure.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced from the Durell and Sun Chase vineyards, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast has inviting aromas of strawberries, pomegranate, blood orange and hibiscus. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated and perfumed with a silky texture, bright acidity and a long, flavorful finish.
-
James Suckling
A well-balanced, fresh-tasting wine that's full-bodied and easy to sip. Red and black cherries, strawberries, hints of blackcurrants and bay leaf in the flavors. Moderate tannins add just a bit of nice grip to the texture.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This dark and spicy Pinot gives waves of crushed Bing cherry and cola spice on the nose. The richly textured palate offers more dark berry fruit, spiced orange peel, cinnamon and fried mushroom with juicy acidity and balanced tannin.
-
Wine Spectator
An elegant style, with a dusting of sandalwood along the edges of its gently mulled raspberry and damson plum fruit, while light rose hip and mineral threads stitch up the sneakily long finish.
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.