Winemaker's Notes
While for decades I have traditionally drawn from and included Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley for this botling, this is the first year when I had no Sonoma Coast fruit at all in house. The purpose of the Sonoma County Pinot is to be delicious and food friendly, without necessarily expressing an AVA such as Russian River or Sonoma Coast. Being entirely from the Russian River Valley this year due to the loss of Platt fruit, this really does channel more of that RRV character than ever before.
About 35 months in barrel have really filled these Sonoma County Pinot Noir bottlings out since the 2019 vintage when I began doing this extended time in barrel. I don’t understand why more serious producers do not follow this longer aging regime. Though, while time seems free, the floor space to house the extra set(s) of barrel and deferred sales of the wine has a significant cost.
There is dark Cherry Cola, mouthwatering acidity and roundness throughout. A touch of cinnamon, with sweet red beets following on the long palate. On day 2, everything is perfectly integrated into a seamless unit. This punches well above its weight class.
