Radio-Coteau Sonoma Coast La Neblina Pinot Noir 2021

La Neblina means ‘the fog’ in Spanish, and this Pinot is drawn from three vineyards that thrive in the Pacific Ocean’s foggy summer mornings and the afternoon sunshine that follows. Alberigi Vineyard lies in the heart of the Russian River Valley, and its unique Goldridge loams—so particular to this area—are farmed organically. Then, Dierke Vineyard is a certified-organic hillside site on the western flank of Sebastopol planted in 2006 on Goldridge soils. The fruit from this site is famed for its powerful and expressive nature, complementing the more elegant and restrained Alberigi fruit. The Radio-Coteau estate vineyard in Occidental, just 12 kilometres from the ocean, rounds out the trio of western Sonoma’s coastal sources, contributing wild spice and silky, seductive textures. Across all three vineyards, a patchwork of clones (777, 114, 115, Mt. Eden, Calera and Burgundian Heirloom) lends further complexity.

Handpicked and fermented with 20% whole bunches, only the free-run juice was sent to neutral, tight-grained barriques and puncheons for 16 months’ maturation. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Capturing the misty forest floor and wild-berry fruit of the cool Sonoma Coast, the 2021 is a seductive and vibrant Pinot Noir: perfumed, elegant yet powerful with pitch-perfect texture and a lingering close. In the words of winemaker Eric Sussman: “It’s singing!”