2011 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Patz & Hall was founded in Napa Valley in 1988 when two couples, Donald and Heather Patz, and James Hall and Anne Moses, decided to make single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Donald and James had worked together at Flora Springs Winery, and Anne was a winemaker at Far Niente. The winery sources its grapes from numerous small, family-owned vineyards in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Monterey Counties. Patz & Hall makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a Burgundian style, and their wines have been well reviewed by such wine writers as James Laube, who calls their Chardonnays “simply delicious; they are very rich and creamy, and all are worthy of outstanding ratings.”

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.