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%
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.
