2012 Dutton-Goldfield McDougall Pinot Noir

Dutton Goldfield is in Sebastopol, California. It was founded in 1998 when Steve Dutton, a fifth-generation California farmer, and Dan Goldfield, a research chemist who later earned an enology degree at U.C. Davis, decided to make Pinot Noir. Today the estate includes some 80 separate vineyards in the western Russian River Valley. The estate specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, though it also makes small amounts of Syrah and Zinfandel.

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.