Exceptional...
A Stunning Must-Have Pinot Noir from a Rising Star!
The 2010 Hatton Daniels Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was sourced from two vineyards with heavy maritime influence, one near the Petaluma Gap, and the other a featuring 35 year old Pinot Noir vines within eyeshot of the San Pablo Bay. The resulting wine is brilliant ruby in color, with a nose brimming with aromas of raspberry, cranberry, cherry, and wild berries, laced with hints of earth, violets and potpourri. The palate is intense and full bodied for Pinot Noir, with flavors of berry, cherry, forest floor, mineral, and a hint of spicy oak. The wine beautifully walks the line between richness and elegance, in a way that only Pinot Noir seems capable of doing in California. Handmade Pinot sourced from prime Sonoma Coast vineyards rarely dips below $50, so don’t miss out on the chance to grab this one for just $36!
Winemaking:
Vineyard lots were fermented separately in 1-ton fermenters, with long cold-soaks before primary native yeast fermentation, and a mix of punchdowns and pumpovers during ferment to achieve the desired level of extraction. Both lots were barreled down at dryness and underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and aged for 12 months in French oak. The finished wine was then bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Robert’s Road, Petaluma Gap & Ferguson Vineyard in Carneros
Bottling Date: December 3, 2011
Release: March, 2012
Production: 112 cases
Alcohol: 14%
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
94 Points
A classic expression of coastal influenced Chardonnay with aromas of honey, apple chutney, lime blossom, and gentle Indian spice box undertones. A big juicy entry on the palate, showing a silky texture with excellent tension and structure, ending with a complex, layered finish.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
Exceptional!
Reddish-purple in color with aromas of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, herbs de Provence, and licorice. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice that carries through, with notes of black pepper, mocha and chocolate. Very long, spicy, with a fruit-driven finish. Great aging potential.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
