2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Sonoma County Selection

The Vineyards:
Our 7th vintage of this wine is comprised of Pinot Noir grapes from our estate vineyards in Carneros, select Sonoma Coast vineyards near Cotati and the Dutton Ranch in the Russian River Valley . All of the fruit from the Russian River was designated for this blend. The Sonoma Coast appellation is the largest and coolest in Sonoma County and perfectly suited for Pinot Noir, producing fruit with spectacular color and flavor development due to the lingering, morning fog and cool ocean breezes.

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The Vintage:
The 2006 vintage started off with cool, wet weather in May. Set was dry and stable in late May ensuring a good crop size. Summer continued mild with veraison starting in late July. August was cool, with considerable fog, resulting in long hang time for the grapes and substantial flavor development. We harvested the grapes beginning the third week of September through the second week of October, unusually late for Pinot Noir. The extended hang time allowed us to bring in the fruit at an average 25.5 degrees brix, with average pH at 3.51.

Winemaking:
We didn’t crush the fruit before cold-soaking so as to minimize shearing or tearing, which can impart aggressive tannins in the finished wine. The whole berries were held at a chilly 40F to promote early color extraction. After 3 to 5 days, the must is slowly warmed and fermentation is induced by yeast inoculation. During this time, the wine is pumped over its skins 2-3 times a day at the peak of fermentation, then we chill down to prevent excessive tannin extraction. Once the right amount of color and flavor extraction is complete, the wine is gently pressed by an air bladder and only the free run and light press portions are used. The wine is racked off of heavy lees and re-racked with light lees into French and Hungarian oak barrels. The Pinot is allowed to go through malolactic fermentation in barrels and resides on lees for the duration of the barrel aging process. We stirred the wine occasionally to release proteins that help round out the flavor.
Winemaker's Notes:
This wine has a beautiful medium to dark garnet color with dried cherry, strawberry compote, vanilla and mocha aromatics. The flavor is balanced between juicy, cherry like fruit and toasted oak. This Pinot has finesse and finishes with lively acidity, firm tannins and well-integrated oak. It is the most Burgundian Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir we have made to date, with excellent aging potential.
 
Mark R. Lyon, Winemaker
Technical Data
Appellation: Sonoma Coast Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Cooperage: Aged 3 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels Alcohol: 13.85% by volume
pH: 3.45 TA 0.60 g/100ml
Production: 39,000 cases    
 

Past Vintages:
 

Awards and Acclaim:

2006 Vintage

Five Stars and Wine By the Glass from Restaurant Wine: "Exceptional quality and value. Intensely flavored and full bodied, this is a relativesly powerful Pinot Noir, with plum, cedar, blackberry, and spicy oak aromas/flavors, and a long finish. "

89 Points and One Puff from Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine: "Good inexpensive Pinot has been and is a rare commodity, yet this month's survey reveals several outstanding examples. Few, however, hit the good-value mark quite so ringingly as dowes this well-crafted effort from Sebastiani, and not many offerings at twice the price are as defined and as deeply fruited. It may want for a bit more complexity, but its insistent impressions of sweet cherries and its supple, slightly velvety feel are clearly the stuff of unqualified varietal success. GOOD VALUE"

Silver Medal from Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2007

Silver Medal from San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2003 Vintage

88 Points and Top Values from Around the World for $15 or Less from The Wine Spectator: "Plenty of vanilla and cedary oak to overcome, but the ripe plum and black cherry flavors are up to the task. A hint of lavnder and nutmeg adds a tasty dimension, and it's hard to find a better value in Pinot Noir. Drink now thorugh 2007." $15 "It's tough to find a bargain-priced Pinot Noir, but just leave it to Sonoma's historic Sebastiani winery to come up with the goods."

85 Points and Good Value, 100 Best Values of 2005 from Wine & Spirits Magazine: "This is full and rich enough to appeal to merlot drinkers looking to switch to Pinot Noir. It's clean, full of blackberry and cherry flavor, ready for a salad of duck confit."

 

 

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