Winemaker Notes
The cool 2023 weather was ideal for ripening Pinot Noir at Rodgers Creek Vineyard. The grapes matured at an even pace, resulting in a mix of vibrant red and dark fruit flavors with hints of mushroom and earth.
This vineyard sits high on a ridge in the heart of the windy Petaluma Gap. Its climate and steep slopes are well suited for growing exceptional Pinot Noir. This 2023 vintage is a blend of Pommard clone and 667, with 20% of the grapes fermented whole cluster to add verve and layers of complexity to the final wine.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Fresh and engaging, with a lively stream of raspberry coulis and cherry paste flavors flanked by singed sandalwood, red tea and savory notes. A flash of blood orange zest extends the finish nicely. Delicious.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
A bright red hue, the 2023 Pinot Noir Rodgers Creek Vineyard shows off notes of preserved cherries, minty fresh herbs, fresh spices, and wildflowers. Medium-bodied, it has lovely focus on the palate, with a refreshing spine of acidity, fine tannins, and a mouthwatering salinity. It has a lot of refreshing clarity and is a very appealing Pinot Noir to drink over the coming 10-15 years.
-
James Suckling
An earthy and elegant wine with aromas of damp soil, mushrooms and black cherries. On the palate, plum skin, iron and herbs, with a finish of dried orange peel and cocoa. A lot going on, but it’s very light on its feet. Medium-bodied.
-
Wine Enthusiast
The nose of this Pinot jumps with aromas of crushed raspberry, dusty cherry and cocoa, while the palate delivers waves of juicy acidity, grippy tannin and flavors of black plums, nori, and purple flowers all along the 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.