James Family Cellars is a small family-owned winery operating out of Sonoma County since 1998. This small-lot Pinot Noir was aged for 10 months in French oak. It shows a bright light-medium ruby color, low intensity spicy cherry-berry aroma with traces of boiled tea and leather. The flavors are dry and fruity with firm tannins, 13.8% alcohol and traces of tart cherry. This cool climate Pinot Noir is the stylistic opposite of the more lush Pinots from the Russian River Valley and Santa Barbara.
James Family Cellars, Sonoma Coast (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
By Gerald D. Boyd