2005 Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir

Sonoma-Cutrer was founded in 1973 in Windsor, in the Sonoma Coast appellation of Northern California. It began strictly as a grape growing enterprise but in the early 1980s the estate started making Chardonnay. Today the estate includes 1,000 acres in the Sonoma Coast region and produces 150,000 cases of wine a year. The estate is still known for its well-regarded Chardonnays though it also produces Pinot Noir. Today the estate is owned by Brown-Forman, an international spirits concern.

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.