2024 Aston Pinot Noir - Sonoma Coast

Our biggest blend ever thanks to a bountiful year makes for our most complex Sonoma Coast to date. Comprised of small pieces of clones 116, 667 and 777 from the estate combined with Chouette Vineyard from Green Valley and two historically Rivers-Marie pointed vineyards, Riddle and Joy Road, there was a lot of amazing material to choose from in 2024. Like the 2023, this speaks more of the Sonoma Coast rather than just our northwest corner in Annapolis. The Estate brings the traditional savory, savage quality that’s unique to the area, Chouette offers plums, mulberry, black cherry and violets and the Occidental locations veer toward pure red and crunchy. Generosity is provided by the vintage while completeness is offered up by the blend. There’s a deliciousness that this shares with the 2023, it makes it very hard to stop at one glass. I’ve always found that trait most common in Pinot Noir and here it’s amplified by both 2024 and the combination of high-class Sonoma Coast and West Sonoma Coast sites. On the finish, the Estate fruit takes over turning the wine to wintergreen, sandalwood, baking spices and darker fruit. With an abundance of acidity and only 10% new oak, the varietal purity of this wine makes the finish long and compelling.