Radio-Coteau La Neblina Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2020

The 2020 La Neblina entices with exuberant red fruit aromatics that burst forth from the glass. Bright Bing cherry, ripe pomegranate, and dried cranberry playfully greet the nose, followed closely by fragrant crushed rose petal. The fruit lingers effortlessly on the palate as a gentle earthy undertone is gracefully revealed. Vibrant acidity and polished tannins further highlight a coastal Pinot Noir that is charmingly approachable and quite difficult to resist. The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir. Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.