It's a truism in the wine industry that great wines are made in the vineyard, not in the winery, and while this is probably true for every grape variety to an extent, it seems to be especially true of Pinot Noir. The fickle nature of this grape was immortalized in the movie Sideways, but the fact that Pinot is extremely sensitive to vineyard site has been known for hundreds of years, dating back to the monks in Burgundy that developed a hierarchy of vineyards. In California we are still learning about our great sites, but there is no doubt that there is something special about the Heintz Ranch in the western reach of the Russian River Valley appellation, where the climate is really more similar to the far Sonoma Coast. Charlie Heintz provides grapes to some the greatest names in California Pinot, including Littorai, Willias Selyem, Kosta Browne, Peay, and DuMol, but reserves some of his finest fruit for his own Heintz label.
The 2006 Heintz Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is light garnet in color, showing just a hint of brown, which seems to be typical for the 2006 vintage in California. The nose is loaded with black cherry, clove, plum, and cinnamon. The palate is medium in weight, with cherry and strawberry joined by an earthy, almost espresso-like note. Good acidity carries through on the spicy finish, leaving a lingering impression of fresh plum. This is in its ideal drinking window right now, and should stay at this level for another few years. A ridiculous bargain at under $30, in an area (Sonoma Coast) that has seen prices jump drastically over the last few years.
This wine is hard to find and normally allocated, let alone at any discount.
So don’t miss your chance on this one!
Appellation: Sonoma Coast (100% Heintz Ranch Estate Swan Clone)
Production: Bottled 8/7/2007 - 225 cases
Alcohol: 14.7%
95 Points
Rich and full-bodied, packed with dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry. Notes of cocoa, cedar, and warm spice add complexity, while firm tannins and a touch of volcanic minerality reflect the bold characteristics of Calistoga’s terroir. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
