Sonoma Coast. One of two Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County included in a church winetasting fundraiser (the other was from the Russian River Valley.)
12.8% abv. Purple color with some density, nearly opaque at first pour but some transparency as it is sipped down in volume. Aromatic with some spices present. Dark cherries and spices on the palate, and also some plumskin and a bit of savory element contributing to the flavors. I found a little bit of a salty tang too. Some of the participants at the church winetasting were wine novices and found the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs too dry (being used to drinking North Carolina native grapes such as Muscadine and Scuppernong) and found the Ports too high in alcohol ("like whiskey.") Nevertheless, this wine was pretty well liked and managed to gather a good number of "B" rankings instead of the "Ds" and "Fs" of some of the other wines. I initially gave it a B+ but after finishing a bottle at home, would raise that to an A grade. I feel that Katy Wilson is fulfilling her early promise as a winemaker in this wine. It delivers a long finish.