By focusing solely on Pinot Noir from the most prestigious vineyard sites in California and Oregon, and by vinifying each barrel separately by lot, clone, yeast and cooper, we champion individuality of place and intensity of flavor in each wine we produce.
Production: 486 Cases
Release Date: January 2008
Winemakers' Notes
In astronomy there is a term called a “protostar.” A protostar is an object formed from a giant molecular cloud and is the early stage in the formation of a star.
Becoming a star isn't easy. And it takes time. The protostar phase alone takes 100,000 years. For quite a few years now we have had a handful of “star” Pinot Noir vineyards. Places like Pisoni, Garys’,
Rosella’s, Clos Pepe, Cargasacchi, Hirsch, and Keefer all possess a certain degree of star power. Well, we believe that there is one other vineyard that is in the process of becoming a star and that is the Sonatera
Vineyard. Fortunately, it takes less than 100,000 years for a vineyard to become a star. But what exactly does it take to be a star vineyard? Certainly good press is part of the equation. The first two releases
from the Sonatera Vineyard received 91 point ratings from Robert Parker and the 2005 Pinot received 92 points from Wine Spectator Magazine . But there’s more to it than great reviews. There’s also a synergy
between the grower and the winery that is vital. This synergy extends to the farming practices, the commitment
of both parties to increasing quality, and even to the grower supporting the winery by showing up at tastings and working together to promote the wines. Marne and Debbie are two of our most passionate
growers who strive to increase grape quality every vintage, who are willing to honestly criticize what they have done in the past and work to make improvements in the future and who believe that the best is yet to
come both for the Sonatera Vineyard and for Siduri Wines. These are the types of growers we love.
The 2006 Sonatera Vineyard Pinot Noir is certainly as successful and the past releases and perhaps even
surpasses them. It is a blend of 32% Pommard clone with the remainder equally spread out between 115,
667, and 777 clones. The wine was aged in 81% new French oak for ten months and, once again, bottled
without fining or filtration.
Despite its low alcohol (at least these days—it is only 13.6%), the 2006 Sonatera Pinot Noir is one of our
darkest and most extracted Pinots. With blackberry, blueberry, and even hints of pepper and chocolate
this impressive Pinot Noir drinks well now but will undoubtedly cellar well for 5+ years.
- Adam & Dianna Lee
95 Points -
2006 Pinot Noir Sonatera Vineyard Sonoma Coast
This opus from the Sonoma
Coast is a rich and lavishly filled wine whose
impressive complement of very deep and delicious fruit
comes with no debt to overdone ripeness. It is plush
on the palate, and, although showing a good sense of
fruity muscle, it stays supple and balanced from front
to back. Its combination of polish and potency places
it with those at the head of the class, and just how
good it will get is a question to be answered several
years hence.
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