Winemaker Notes
Showcasing one of California's top AVAs for this essential Burgundian varietal, this Pinot Noir's pale ruby-garnet color is pure enticement. Bright aromas of Rainier cherry, wild blueberry and earthiness are layered with hints of lilac and violet. A soft, delicate first taste expands with flavors of brambly fruits, cran-raspberry, blood orange and baking spices. Perfect acidity leads to a lifted vibrancy on the finish, generating impressive length and dimension. Grown in Russian River Valley and Los Carneros and aged for nine months in 30 percent new French oak barrels.
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.