2019 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

The devil is in the details. Chantal Forthun continues to make small but meaningful improvements to these wines, and it shows. The Pinots are done with indigenous fermentations and now see less time on the skins, while new oak has come down, all choices that seem to emphasize purity in the fruit. Among the reds, the Pinot Meunier (that is not a typo) continues to be one of my favorites in the range. The Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Chardonnay, always a wine of structure, is also impressive, although the 2019 signals a move towards a lighter style. Both appellation wines are made from purchased fruit, but stylistically they are more similar to the estate wines than they were a few years ago. Overall, there is plenty to explore at Flowers.