Sonoma-Loeb produces three different Pinot Noirs, but its star is its Pinot from the highly regarded Dutton Ranch, located in Green Valley, the coolest part of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. I had two opportunities to taste this wine, once with Cyril Chappellet, and again three days later at home, when the wine was at least 10°F. cooler. My advice is to serve it cool (55°F. would not be too cool). I taste lots of Pinot Noirs, but I cannot recall one under $50 that has impressed me this much. It shows vibrant black cherry aromas and intense, complex berry flavors. It is a rich wine, with some tannin and good acidity, and it will improve with age. Not shy and delicate; this is a powerful, well-balanced Pinot Noir with a structure that will carry it for many years. A wine to cellar — but it does taste very good right now.
Sonoma-Loeb, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2014
By Ed McCarthy