Churchill Cellars
2009 Left Edge Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast
Mission Briefing
Look at the results
This wine hails from a very unique vineyard. At 900 feet of elevation five miles from the Pacific Ocean, this wine grows in perfect Pinot growing conditions. The result is a lovely and lively Burgundian style Pinot Noir that we offer up with our strong recommendation.
We’ve always loved Ken Churchill’s wines and today’s delicious 2009 Left Edge Vineyard Pinot Noir continues this tradition. This wine is flavorful, elegant, bright and very food friendly.
Drinking just beautifully, now, we can’t wait to try this wine again and again over the next few years. If you enjoy great Pinot Noir, this is the perfect wine to stock up on as it should continue to progress for the next year or two.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Dark cherry juice hues with even concentration of color, from the heart of the wine out to its ruby red edges. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Bright red cherry, ripe strawberry, bramble, raspberry juice and dried fall leaves give the wine a complex overall nose. Underneath all of these, touches of dried leather and rhubarb really round out the nose. |
| Taste: | Bright and beautiful with high, juicy notes of red cherry, raspberry, young strawberry, cranberry and red rose petals. As the wine breathes, it also reveals subtle envelope of cedar. |
| Finish: | Very long with most of the fruits tailing off in equal proportion. Cranberry and fresh rhubarb persist the longest. |
| Pairing: | This bright, Burgindian style wine would work wonderfully with a roasted chicken rubbed with herbs de Provence. |
What the Winery Says
Appellation
Sonoma Coast
Aroma
Subtle cherry and raspberries
Taste
The first vintage from this young vineyard in the cool Sonoma Coast region. The vineyard is hand farmed by our winemaker, Anthony Austin. The wine’s predominate flavor is cherry with background notes of berries and candied violets. Supple on the palate, the wine has bright acidity and a long silky finish.
Accolades
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine Drink by Date Now through 2017
92 Points “A racy, rich and vital Pinot Noir, whose tart acidity and delicate structure testify to its cool coastal origin. The grapes were grown in a small vineyard close to the Pacific. You can taste the fog and wind that wind through the raspberry, cherry and cola flavors. Drink now-2015” Wine Enthusiast (8/1/2012)
About the Winery
Churchill Cellars specializes in the production of premium Pinot Noir from grapes grown on less than 2 acre estate vineyards. We believe that small, precision-farmed vineyards in the coolest regions of the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations produce the region’s most exceptional Pinot Noirs.
We also believe that great wine is made in the vineyard, so each one is lovingly farmed by hand to produce the perfect, evenly ripened fruit required to make outstanding wine.
Winemaker Anthony Austin
Born and raised in Healdsburg, California, this fourth generation Sonoma County native, studied enology at the University of California Davis and continued his studies under the legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, considered by many experts to be the most influential California winemaker of the past century. Serving as a consultant to Brooks Firestone on a project in the Santa Ynez Valley, Tchelistcheff suggested the talented young Austin as the winemaker for Firestone’s new winery. In 1974, Anthony became the first winemaker at Firestone Vineyards in Santa Barbara.
During the ensuing 10 years as winemaker he elevated Firestone Vineyards and the Santa Barbara region to new heights.
Longing to focus his talents on Pinot Noir, while still continuing serve as a consultant to Firestone, Anthony started his own winery, Austin Cellars, which won international acclaim for its wines and remain highly sought-after collectibles. In 2001 Anthony was drawn back to Sonoma County and the cold-climate challenges of the Sonoma Coast. Shortly after his return, Anthony met John and Barbara Drady and joined their efforts in launching the SCV project.
Anthony’s wines have won numerous prestigious awards, including Best in the World from the London Business Times for one of his Pinot Noirs and a Chardonnay.