Winemaker Notes
Eleven small, independent family-owned vineyard sites come together in this gorgeous display of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. This blend displays classic coastal traits of lively fruit graced with. Complex and inviting aromas of red fruits include Morello cherry and wild strawberry. A warm spice mix of cinnamon, clove, anise and coriander accompanies subtle notes of forest floor and pink flowers. The palate is full and finishes with good purity supported by refined tannins and fresh acidity. This 2020 offering is a lovely expression capturing the elegance and purity that are hallmarks of Pinot Noir at its best.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Intense black fruits and a firm structure give this complex wine an eye-opening sense of concentration and grip. Decant and drink now if you must but time will improve this full-bodied, generously oaked powerhouse. Best from 2027–2034.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe, juicy and focused, with a core of griotte notes wrapped in licorice and fruitcake, all backed by black tea and sous-bois hints through the finish. On the toasty side, but the fruit keeps the upper hand and there's good energy from start to finish.
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Wine & Spirits
This is a big wine for a braise, a supple pinot noir with wood spice that lingers along with sweet-ripened fruit. The fruit ranges from red apple to prunes, mostly in the blue and black end of the spectrum, overall pleasant and not pushed.
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.