Fall Release Sonoma Stage Vineyard Eoin Pinot Noir
2007

Winemaker’s Notes

This is our first Sonoma Coast bottling from Richard Hyde’s Sonoma Stage Vineyard and it’s one of the most personally rewarding wines that we’ve released to date. Since its first crop in 2004, I’ve strongly believed that the vineyard held the potential to stand alone in a dedicated bottling and in 2007 we were rewarded with some of the finest Pinot fruit we’ve ever seen. A blend of our favorite two Pinot heritage clonal selections, we utilized 25% whole clusters in the fermentation to accentuate the vineyard’s natural earthiness and coastal structure. These tiny berries hold tremendous acidity and freshness and it’s one of the few vineyards I know that offers cassis-type flavors without the accompanying heaviness that typically hinders such wines. As the tasting notes indicate, the wine firms up after some time in the glass, which leads me to think it will age extremely well – potentially up to fifteen years, as its pure fruit and natural extract is concentrated and in balance with its intrinsically powerful structure.

Deep ruby/purple tinged color. Deep complex tones of purple fruits, dusky earth and dried herbs open to floral aromas and fresh raspberry. Lovely pure black raspberry core with deeper cassis and cocoa notes. Immediately supple, velvety and textured, with glass time the wine firms up and the youthfully strident tannins emerge. Finishes with a flush of fresh acidity. Drink between 2011 and 2020.

Andy Smith Viticulturist, Winemaker & Partner