Winemaker Notes
Aromatically, the nose on the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir has a cooler fruit character with undertones of dried herbs and wood spices. The cooler coastal hills often present wines with less fruit overtones and more savory notes. There is terrific coverage on the palate with soft acidity and broad tannins that tell the story of more adversity during the growing season. Red berry fruits and hints of graphite and cedar further add to the unique quality found in cool coastal climates.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A tight and intense pinot with wet earth, oyster shell, and seaweed. Dried herbs. Medium to full body. Tight and framed. Four square. Long and structured.
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.