Winemaker Notes
Exquisitely crafted, harmoniously woven flavors of cherry, plum and blueberry with subtle notes of cedar bark. Boasting an elegant, velvety texture that gracefully carries earthy and dark cherry nuances across the palate. Impeccable balance complemented by vibrant acidity, continues to a lasting finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Tasting Panel
Not long ago, critics and reviewers were complaining - with justification - that California Pinots were generally becoming too rich and chunky at the cost of the delicacy that has long been the variety's primary virtue. Clearly the message got through, as the stylistic center of gravity has shifted back toward lithe wines with less wood and more moderate ripeness and weight. This is a superb object lesson in that shift, showing subtly spicy aromas, satisfyingly impactful flavors within a truly light body, and fine-grained tannins that offer a bit of grip on the finish. It's especially impressive at its price point.
-
Wine Spectator
A nice streamlined, mineral-tinged version, with racy acidity running underneath blood orange and raspberry coulis flavors, while savory and hibiscus hints chime in on the finish, where the fruit lingers prettily. Drink now through 2028.
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.