Schug Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021
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Winemaker Notes
This 100% Pinot Noir cuvée reflects the cool and windy microclimate of the Sonoma Coast AVA. This climate and terroir provide the ideal conditions for low yields and allow Pinot Noir grapes to mature slowly. Increased time on the vine retains the fruit's natural acidity, with bright flavors of red cherries, raspberries, and spice. They ensure the elegant expression in this Pinot Noir by aging in large neutral oak casks, stainless steel, and older French oak barrels to keep new oak flavors to a minimum.
Lively acidity on the finish makes it an ideal accompaniment to grilled fish and fowl or barbecued meats.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Red cherry and shaved cocoa are heady scents. The flavors of tobacco, cinnamon, pomegranate pith, and sandalwood form a charming parade. This is a juicy red, with unearthed raspberries and a spiced cedar finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This moody, dusky, flavorful wine offers rich black tea, forest duff and black-cherry notes on a full body framed by light tannins. Complexity without noticeable oak, length and a supple mouthfeel make it especially enjoyable.
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James Suckling
An attractive nose of red cherry, sliced strawberry and hibiscus. Medium-bodied with gentle tannins. The palate has more wet mineral and wild berry notes than the nose lets on, giving it more width and depth through the juicy finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2021 Schug Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is balanced and lively on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of tart red fruits, a hint of spearmint, and a touch of dried earth. Pair it with grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: July 18, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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Founded in 1980, Schug Carneros Estate Winery is the showcase and life-long dream of one of California's most celebrated winemakers. Walter Schug's reputation blossomed during his tenure as Founding Winemaker for Joseph Phelps Vineyards in the 1970s, where he made California’s first proprietary Bordeaux-Style blend (Insignia) and legendary vineyard designated Cabernets (Backus and Eisele Vineyards).
Drawing on his long experience in the production of fine wines in both Europe and California, Walter set up his own winery with his wife Gertrud in the cool, marine climate of the Carneros Appellation. Here he could focus on the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals that had always been close to his heart.
Schug Carneros Estate Winery combines old world understanding and tradition with modern winemaking techniques. By using only the finest grapes available, and maintaining the best winemaking values, these wines have gained acceptance worldwide as true contemporary classics.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.