2012 Landmark Rayhill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Landmark Vineyards was founded in 1974 in Windsor by Bill Mabry and his family. In 1989 one of its investors, Damaris Deere Ethridge, took control of the estate and relocated it to Sonoma Valley. Deere Ethridge managed the estate and hired consulting winemaker Helen Turley and winemaker Eric Stern to improve the wines. The estate soon became noted for its Chardonnays. In 2011 the estate was sold to Roll Global, parent company of Fiji Water. Landmark has an 11-acre vineyard but sources most of its grapes from highly-regarded vineyards in Sonoma, Carneros, the Russian River Valley and Santa Barbara County. Landmark makes Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Syrah.

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.