2016 Stewart Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Stewart Cellars was founded in 2000 by Michael Stewart, who built a career in technology in Texas before buying property in Napa Valley. Stewart runs the estate with his wife and adult children, and the consulting winemaker is Paul Hobbs, a much-admired winemaker who founded his own winery and consults throughout the world. Grapes are sourced from some of the area’s premium vineyards, including Las Piedras, Stagecoach and Ross Station, in the Russian River Valley. Stewart makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Stewart Cellars a “small, high quality boutique producer” making “Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Russian River area as well as some exceptionally fine Cabernet Sauvignon from various vineyards in Napa.” He has rated the wines in the low to mid-90s.

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.