PRODUCTION: 923 Cases
RELEASE DATE: March 2008
Winemakers' Notes
The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is always one of
our favorite appellation Pinot Noirs. This area, because of the cooler climate, leads to
longer hang times and grapes that develop fully ripe flavors at significantly lower sugar
levels. This longer hang time also leads to ripe stems which oftentimes allows us to utilize
whole cluster fermentations in the wines.
The 2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a blend of 37% Sonatera Vineyard, 31.5% Terra de
Promissio, and 31.5% Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir. It includes some of the finest sections
from each of these vineyards with both the old-vine Pommard and Mt. Eden Clones from
the Hirsch Vineyard, the Pommard, 777, 667, and 115 clones from Sonatera, and the 777
clone from TdP making it into the blend. As we mentioned, the wine was fermented with
some stems included (on both of the Pommard lots) which helped to create a more complex
mélange of flavors. The wine was blended together in tank, using gravity, just a few
weeks prior to bottling and was bottled without fining or filtration.
Despite this wine’s lofty origins we are committed to making it available at a very fair
price. Perhaps this is why the Wine Spectator recently selected it as one of California’s
Top Values awarding it 90 points and saying that “...the Lees’ Sonoma Coast Pinot is complex
and compelling, rivaling their single-vineyard wines in quality.” Likewise, Pinot Report
also enjoyed this offering bestowing a 91 point rating on the wine and describing it
this way, “Medium ruby color; deep, complex, spicy and earthy aromas; deep, rich, silky
black cherry flavors, spicy, earthy notes; sweet oak; good structure and balance; long finish.
Rich and ripe Pinot with nice sweet oak and complex flavors.”
- Adam & Dianna Lee
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