Winemaker Notes
Rodgers Creek Vineyard sits high on a ridge in the heart of the Petaluma Gap, one of the coolest and foggiest growing regions in Sonoma. The vineyard’s cool climate and steep slopes are well suited for growing exceptional Pinot noir. At first sip, the wine really speaks to Pinot noir enthusiasts with its compelling and complex aromas. Expressive red fruit and notes of earth and mushroom shine through with intensity, thanks to the combination of unique soils and dominance of the Pommard clone. This 2018 vintage wine, aided by 20% whole cluster fermentation, offers rich, silky tannins, smooth structure and impeccable balance.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Seeing 20% stems and 50% new French oak, the 2018 Pinot Noir Rodgers Creek Vineyard gives up a rocking perfume of sweet raspberry and cranberry fruits intermixed with spicy, pine/foresty, and floral aromas and flavors. It's elegant on the palate, with medium-bodied richness, and has good acidity and silky tannins. From a site on the Sonoma Coast, drink this puppy any time over the coming 7-8 years.
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Wine Spectator
Juicy, plush and well-spiced, with touches of richness to the cherry tart, dried berry and red plum flavors that are suave and open-textured. Creamy nuances show on the vibrant finish. Drink now through 2025.
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James Suckling
The ripe red fruit, blueberries and wildflowers here are impressive, as are the smooth, circular tannins that stir up sweet flavors on the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Pinot Noir Rodgers Creek Vineyard has delicate red and black cherry fruit on the nose with notes of tar and graphite. The light-bodied palate is juicy, delicately styled and spicy with a long, earth-laced 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.