2023 Aston Pinot Noir - Sonoma Coast

This returns us to something like the 2021 edition.  Consisting of 62% Estate fruit and 38% Riddle Vineyard, the 2023 feels more representative of the coast as whole. It has all the dark, brooding savoriness of Annapolis complemented by the red/orange lifted feel of Occidental.  These two sub-AVAs of the Sonoma Coast don’t have much in common but that’s why they present such a complete wine when blended.  Crunchy red fruits turn to black raspberries as the wine brings up a salty, mineral quality lifted by floral notes and wet gravel.  It manages to stay light and fresh while presenting as a weighty style of Pinot.  The broad shouldered quality of the Annapolis wines can often be confused with a riper style or overextraction, but we are coming to find out that’s just what the area offers.  There are hints of that in this wine, but the Riddle Vineyard pulls it back offering a slightly lighter shade of red than the Estate bottling lifting the aromatics into pennyroyal mint, sage and forest floor.  The goal is to always have this wine overdeliver quality relative to price and this wine is an overachiever in that arena.