Salty Goats Pinot Noir Fort Ross-Seaview, 2021

Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook were colleagues at Robert Mondavi and Nickel & Nickel before striking out on their own, venturing from the Napa Valley to the West Sonoma Coast in search of vivid, aromatic Pinot Noir. They subsequently cultivated relationships with two of the Sonoma Coast’s most trusted organic growers: The Fort Ross-Seaview vineyard and the Annapolis Vineyard, both of which sit just a few miles from the Pacific Coast. The 2021 vintage is only the second release from this young winemaking team, which has shown the same sure-footedness as the goats that graze these windswept slopes. Be one of the few to try these tiny-production, mailing-list-only rarities!

This vineyard-designate bottling showcases a truly special site: The Fort Ross-Seaview vineyard perches at 1,000 feet of elevation a mere 3.5 miles from the Pacific, surrounded by a dense redwood grove. Joe and Phil incorporate a touch more whole-cluster and a bit more new oak, although it remains a fruit- and mineral-driven wine with tremendous length and lift. Spicy dark cherry and raspberry flavors are lifted by a crashing wave of acidity. Just 13.3% alcohol. 150 cases produced.