Many of you have asked, “When can we get more Diamond & Key?”

Dear Operatives, we are working are hardest to make that happen. But in trying, we’ve unearthed something special. At 94 points, over 50% off, from the same Winemaking duo as Diamond & Key(?!), this Pinot is absolutely GOATed!

“Fantastically fresh,” “Excellent,” “Gorgeous,…” are but a few words from Decanter that we also muttered, stunned when we tried this beauty.

Loaded with vibrant red fruits, vivacious florals, crunchy tannins, savory herbs hints… we could go on. This is a Pinot to impress, effortlessly flowing with California coastal charm.

It’s worth EVERY BIT of its full asking price! Heck, we’ve paid more than twice that for Pinot Noir not on this level. It’s THAT GOOD!

It’s proof that this team are not one-trick-ponies. As Decanter explains, “One to seek out, this wine is the brainchild of partner winemakers Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, who have been making wine together at Nickel & Nickel for nearly a decade. While passionate about Napa Cabernet, their after-hours preference for lighter wines like Pinot Noir inspired them to launch Salty Goats in 2020 as an outlet for experimenting with their favourite varieties.”

Joe Harden, you may remember, is a former basketball player turned winemaker after graduating from U.C. Davis. Landing at Robert Mondavi Winery, he quickly caught the eye of mentors Geneviève Janssens and Thomas Rivers Brown. His career is taking off like a rocket, scoring a position as winemaker at Nickel & Nickel (still his day job) while more recently starting brands like Diamond & Key and today’s Pinot powerhouse.

He met his partner, Phil Holbrook, at a pick-up basketball game in Yountville back in 2015. The pair instantly bonded over their love of sports and great wine. Phil is a member of the extended Mondavi family, that grew up farming in Napa Valley. After college, began his career with Pinot Noir greats Arnot-Roberts and RAEN, before working with Joe.

Both are young virtuosos of their craft, stars on the rise, and it’s all on full display here.

Their ‘Coastline Project’ leverages the deep relationships Joe and Phil have developed with some of the best vineyards in Sonoma. Combining the ripe fruit and silken tannins of the Petaluma Gap with the minerality and structure of Fort Ross-Seaview, with savory nuance and freshness of Occidental – it’s truly a snapshot of the Coast.

And… in the legendary 2023 vintage? “In some years, site matters because it can make a profound difference in the quality of the wine. Yet for Sonoma pinot noir and chardonnay in 2023, quality is nearly a given.” James Suckling enthusiastically puts forward. This wine – it gives quality in spades!

Rising star winemakers made the stars align in this bottle. We asked you to trust us with Diamond & Key. If you did, it paid off… BIG TIME.

Today, at over half off? Trust us. You will not want to miss out!

94 Points – Decanter “The 2023 Salty Goats ‘Coastline Project’ Pinot Noir blends grapes from Fort Ross-Seaview (Red Car Estate), Lucky Well (Occidental), and Flochinni (Petaluma Gap). Native yeast fermented in a mix of open and closed-top bins, the wine spent 14 days on skins, underwent malolactic fermentation in a barrel, and includes 25% whole cluster. It was aged for 12 months in 20% new French oak, with no rackings, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Fantastically fresh and inviting, this Pinot Noir showcases salty, vibrant character with espresso bean nuances, loamy earth, and crunchy red cherry and spiced plum fruit. Excellent, velvety tannins support a medium-bodied palate with cola spices, kirsch, and blood orange acidity, accented by clove and allspice. Gorgeous rose petal floral notes emerge on the finish. One to seek out, this wine is the brainchild of partner winemakers Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, who have been making wine together at Nickel & Nickel for nearly a decade. While passionate about Napa Cabernet, their after-hours preference for lighter wines like Pinot Noir inspired them to launch Salty Goats in 2020 as an outlet for experimenting with their favourite varieties. Drink 2025 – 2034.”

92 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2023 Pinot Noir Coastline Project pours a dark ruby/magenta color and is fruity and ripe with aromas of raspberry preserve, mossy earth, violets, and sweet herbs. The palate has a full-bodied feel, but it’s light on its feet, with refined, ripe tannins and an elegant, dark-fruited profile gliding and floating off the finish. It’s a very nicely styled wine that will benefit from another 6-12 months as it sheds its more primary tone. Drink 2025-2035.”