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
Deep garnet-purple in color, it strides confidently out of the glass with notes of crushed blueberries, ripe, fresh blackberries and warm cassis plus hints of black cherry, cardamom and nutmeg. The full-bodied palate is full of crunchy black fruits. It's rich and ripe firm chewy tannins provide additional structure and complexity as you make your descent into a long and flavorful finish.
94 Points
Aromas of honey, ginger, and key lime radiate from this elegant Chardonnay. A burst of fresh citrus, lime, and star fruit enlivens the front palate upon first sip and is quickly followed by ginger and white pepper, all underscored by subtle notes of white peach and cardamom. Vibrant acidity and steely minerality give the wine excellent structure as it moves into a long, flavorful finish.
93 Points
Robust aromatics of boysenberry, blackberry, cranberry, and black cherry are the centerpiece of this wine, harmonizing with the underlying aromas of violets, sandalwood, and forest floor. The first sip opens on the palate with a rush of softness and density, and lush, savory tannins. Red berries, blackberry, and cassis envelop the tongue on the mid-palate, gently punctuated with subtle acidity followed by a long, flavorful finish.
90 Points
Aromas of cranberry, sour cherry, plum, and orange rind, complemented by hints of forest floor, pine needles, and rosemary. The wine opens with flavor of juicy red fruit supported by spicy undertones of red pepper and black tea. The freshness of its red fruit are enhanced a vibrant core of light acidity and full rich tannins all of which linger gracefully in the long finish.
94 Points
Aromas of fresh lime, verbena, and gooseberry are followed by a juicy, aromatic front palate with bright acidity that wakes up your taste buds. The heightened aromatics develop even greater complexity on the mid-palate, featuring fresh lemon and star fruit, with just a hint of green apple and mango. Gorgeous structural precision leads to a long and chiseled finish with lasting minerality.
