Ross Cobb’s wines are always beautifully balanced because he chooses very cool-climate sites. The Coastlands Vineyard is owned by his family; it’s on a ridge above the Pacific Ocean near the town of Occidental, the true coastal part of the Sonoma Coast. The Cobbs planted it in 1989, and were probably laughed at by their neighbors because this was truly viticulture at the edge back then. Even now it’s one of the last vineyards to ripen in California. It leads with pretty cranberry fruit, along with some savory notes and a little Christmas spice, and the mouthfeel is silky smooth without any weight on the palate. Just 13% alcohol.
Cobb, Sonoma Coast (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2009
By W. Blake Gray