2023 Sonoma Coast

90 Points: James Suckling JamesSuckling.com - October 24, 2024

“A layer of aromatic oak spices covers good, ripe red and black fruit in this smooth and full-bodied wine. Toasted oak, wood char and clove notes tend to dominate the dark plum and black cherry fruit flavors. Drink now.”

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in up to a 10-30% reduction in yields. The growing season was temperate, which in grape growing means we were on track, or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. 2022 was a year for vintage to vintage variation and differentiation between vineyards. Grapes for this wine were harvested by hand between August 31st and September 12th of 2022.

The grapes for this Pinot Noir came from a handful of top vineyards throughout the Sonoma Coast AVA, with a focus on some of the finest sub-appellations within the region. The blend includes grapes from our Thale’s Estate Vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Other vineyards located in the Russian River Valley include River Road Ranch, the Dutton family’s Winkler and Calesa vineyards, and the Sangiacomo’s Tallgrass and Huichica vineyards in Carneros. We were also excited to include fruit from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• bottling date: 05/24/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 30% new

• fermentation:

  15% whole cluster
  Majority fermented in small-lot fermenters