We hope that you had a great Thanksgiving and that you survived Black Friday intact. It would be a shame for you to miss today’s very special 2014 Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County Pinot Noir from our old friends at Calstar Cellars. Winemaker Rick Davis stopped by recently to taste us on his wines - and we chose this one!

This Pinot Noir appears to be lower density with a gorgeous vermilion hue that stands out in the crowd. The bouquet is aromatic and bursting with notes of ripe red fruit including huge Bing cherry, wild strawberry and subtle raspberry. The spice profile gives it a potpourri note with a warm vanilla bean tone. There’s so much to love on the palate as well overflowing fruit notes of lychee, cantaloupe, raspberry, bright cherry, and soothing chamomile. Wow! Absolutely gorgeous from start to finish, it glides effortlessly across the palate with silken tannin and huge fruit flavor. This would be delightful with a tangy mixed green salad with a simple lemon vinaigrette, tossed with salmon and roasted potatoes.

The Sonoma Coast AVA is the 750 square mile area with the Pacific ocean on its western boundary, the San Pablo Bay to the south and Mendocino County to the north, headed inland to the other designated AVAs in Sonoma County. The region is heavily influenced by the cooler ocean climate, increased rainfall and fog that lingers long on the coastal mountains. The specific climate suits the demanding Burgundian varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay very well.

Here’s what the wine press has to say.

90 POINTS - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - “Medium to full-bodied, it packs in more red fruit than the relatively delicate nose suggests, with loads of herbal and floral accents and a grainy texture, finishing long and refreshing.”