2021 Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Ross Cobb’s parents founded the 40-acre Coastlands vineyard in 1986, even earlier than Hirsch and Summa planted, on the second ridge from the ocean, the same distance as BA Thieriot. In the southern part of the West Sonoma Coast AVA. Ross Cobb worked at Williams Selyem and Ferrari Carano and the family originally meant to sell their grapes to Williams Selyem of Russian River Valley but in 2001 he began to make a little wine of his own in a corner of Flowers winery, at a time when he was one of the few winemakers to actually live in West Sonoma Coast – he now lives in 'the metropolis of Occidental'. He’s well connected in Burgundy from which he takes inspiration. Dry-farmed vines planted between 1989 and 1998. Heritage clones: Pommard, Wädenswil, Mt Eden. 70–80% whole bunch. Not much new oak but a long élevage. Bright cherry red. Pale rim. Intense nose, full, rich fruit and quite a dry finish. Maybe not as juicy as some. (JR)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Coastlands is stunning. A wine of crystalline precision, the 2021 is captivating, to say the least. Crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, white pepper, orange peel and exotic spice notes from the 40% whole clusters all run through this vibrant, chiseled Pinot. Time in the glass releases its inner perfume and layers of fruit to balance out the wine's energy. In a word: dazzling.
The 2021 Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard comes from vines planted between 1989 and 1998 in marine sedimentary soils at 1,150 feet above sea level. Made with 40% whole clusters, it opens with aromas of saline and red licorice, plus a touch of spicy oak from its recent bottling, over a deep core of pomegranate and lavender. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, layered flavors supported by a firm frame of chalky tannins and focused acidity, and it has a long finish loaded with latent, spicy accents. It's powerful and nuanced, but it's developing a bit more slowly than the other 2021s. It deserves several years in bottle to unwind and will be long lived. 775 cases were made.
Ross Cobb’s 2021 Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard has shut quite a bit since I tasted it earlier in the year. That’s probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. For now, though, readers need to be patient, as the 2021 needs time. It remains an exquisite, crystalline Pinot of the highest level. Chalk, mint, slate and orange peel cut through a core of red-toned fruit. This is an especially nervy style that will appeal most to readers who enjoy taut, cool-climate Pinots.