WORLD EXCLUSIVE!

Today’s wine is an exclusive new release from one of our favorite Sonoma County wineries. The Wine Spies have secured the first allocation of this wine before it is available publicly. Be sure to stock up on this wine before our allocation sells out.

COVERT SAVINGS ALERT!

Today’s wine is offered at over 20% off, but if you order six bottles or more, we’ll save you even more by throwing in Free Ground Shipping – but only if you enter coupon code SPYSONOMA.

Mission Codename: The Need For Speed

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exclusive new release from our friends at Adobe Road Wine

Mission Status: Accomplished

Current Winery: Adobe Road Winery

Wine Subject: 2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Winemaker: Franc Dusak

Backgrounder:

The Sonoma Coast AVA, established in 1987, is the area directly adjacent to the Pacific coastline of Sonoma County. The ocean’s influence causing a cooler, higher rainfall and foggy climate most influences the vineyards of this region, many of which have exceptional views of the mighty Pacific. These factors cause grapes to mature and ripen more slowly which is idea for Pinot Noir. The region is approximately 750 square miles with about 7,000 acres under vine.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Ruby and garnet hued with purple and blue tints and ruby pick edges. Clusters of slow thin legs cling to the edge of the glass when swirled.

Smell – Medium intensity, but youthful in character with aromas of tart red cherry, earthy pine sap and mocha, a touch of floral violets and spicy horseradish and gunpowder round out the clean nose of this wine.

Feel – A medium tangy attack with a smooth dry mid-palate. This medium-bodied wine has fine medium tannins and good acidity.

Taste – Initial flavors of red fruits including red cherry, raspberry with a touch of tart cranberry. Earthy notes and spicy pepper back the fruit and provide a solid old-world balance and subtly that includes smokey tobacco.

Finish – Long and clean with tart fruit, smokey tobacco and earthiness finish this pleasantly complex wine.

Conclusion – Like all of the Adobe Road wines we’ve featured this Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir shows tremendous balance and blends the best of California Pinot with classic Burgundian characteristics. With good structure, acidity and tangy fruit, this Pinot is both food friendly and also has cellar potential. That is, if you can actually save a bottle or two and not drink it all up.

Mission Report:

Our operatives know we’ve had Adobe Road under surveillance for some time. Below follows Agent Red’s initial Mission Report on Adobe Road Wines.

I love my missions to France. The wine, the climate and the food all seem to agree with me.

On a recent mission to the French village of Anjou in the Loire Valley (the region in France best known for Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc wines), I was tipped off by a local asset that winery owner and racing legend Kevin Buckler was staying in a hotel neighboring my own.

He was in France for his annual appearance at the world famous auto race, 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kevin and his team drive the incredible Porsche GT3. Kevin is a world-class driver, and he and his team have racked up wins at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2002) and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans (2002), an overall win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2003), and the title of Porsche World Cup Champion in 2002.

Kevin’s winery, Adobe Road, had been under light surveillance for a few months already and Central Command was preparing to send an Agent to investigate – but I got my own once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Kevin in his racing element, and Central Command approved my impromptu mission and I extended my stay in France.

I am enough of a Porsche fan to have my own sights set on a 2008 Cayman S. Since I had the brochure with me on my travels I used it as a prop, taking it with me to the hotel restaurant where Kevin and his team were having dinner. Having made friends with the Maître ’D earlier (I buttered him up with a bottle of Patrick Bodouin Anjou Villages Cabernet Franc ), I was seated next to their table.

I sat down and positioned the Cayman brochure so that it would be seen by Kevin or his crew. Then I ordered a bottle of great wine and waited. They took the bait and one of the guys at the table leaned over and said to me, “Hey, Buddy. That’s a nice car, but why not spring for a real Porsche and get a GT3?”

Now, I knew that the monster GT3 was their car, but I replied, “I leave that car to the professionals. It’s better suited to the racetrack, if you ask me.”

That opened up a great conversation about Porsches and about wine that went late into the night. Kevin waxed poetic about both and I enjoyed his passion on these two great subjects. As the evening was ending, Kevin’s crew chief invited me to visit pit row for a brief tour of their on-track operations. I jumped at the chance and enjoyed every second of it. At the end of the tour, I asked if I could ride along during a check-ride… and was nearly laughed off the track.

Once the crew chief wiped the tears from his eyes, he became very serious. He quickly escorted me away from the pit row, handed me a few bottles of Adobe Road Pinot Noir, and pushed me toward the security exit. Oh, well. At least I tried. And, at least I walked away with an arm full of Kevin’s excellent Pinot Noir.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Sonoma Coast region can be seen in this satellite photo.