Sonoma Coast the Beautiful

This year we’ve been working our way across Sonoma County one release at a time. Winter took us to the Petaluma Gap, spring to the Russian River Valley. For fall, we’re heading west to the Sonoma Coast, and it’s the release I’ve been looking forward to most.

A big name for a lot of ground

The Sonoma Coast is one of the largest appellations in California, running from the Mendocino County line all the way down to San Pablo Bay. That size is both its strength and its challenge. The name covers everything from ridgetop vineyards within sight of the Pacific to warmer sites farther inland. What ties it all together is the ocean: fog that rolls in most afternoons, wind that keeps the vines honest, and cool nights that let the fruit hang long and hold onto its freshness.

The “True” Sonoma Coast

A few years ago, the growers closest to the ocean carved out their own appellation, the West Sonoma Coast, to set apart the rugged coastal ridges from the rest. Many people call it the “True Sonoma Coast,” and this year we finally got to work there.

Campbell Ranch sits in the northern part of the AVA near the tiny town of Annapolis, surrounded by redwoods and pines. Steve Campbell started planting it around 2000, and those Goldridge soils paired with the coastal climate turned out to be a perfect match for Pinot Noir. On September 12, we picked just over two tons of clone 777 from block 5. The result is our 2024 Campbell Ranch Pinot Noir, and it tastes like where it grows: cranberry and conifer on the nose, raspberry and black cherry on the palate, and a salty finish that keeps pulling you back for another sip. Only 83 cases were made.

The interior Sonoma Coast

Our 2024 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes from a different side of the appellation. It’s a small blend from three vineyards you already know: Baer in the Russian River Valley, plus Ueberroth and Sangiacomo in the Petaluma Gap. All three also sit inside the Sonoma Coast AVA, so in a way this wine ties the whole year together. When we build this blend, we look for barrels with a particular savory, coastal note, and some of the fermentations include whole clusters for extra structure and spice. Expect blackberry, rose petal, and Asian spice, with a juicy core of black cherry and a little earth underneath.

How it shows up in the glass

Put these two wines side by side and you’ll see what the coast does to Pinot Noir. There’s a brightness and energy to them, a savory edge, and that hint of salinity you just don’t find farther inland. They’re wines that make you hungry, which is exactly what I want this time of year.

Rounding out the release

Fall also brings our Reserve wines. The 2024 Fay’s Reserve, named for our daughter, is a selection of the four best barrels from the vintage, and only the fourth time we’ve made it. And the 2024 Bacigalupi Zinfandel, from 40 to 100 year old vines on Westside Road, is the bold, spicy bottle you’ll want once the nights get cold.