2002 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast)

Winemaker Bob Cabral clearly prefers vintage 2002 over 2001 for pinot noir in most Sonoma Coast areas. The 2002s are fleshy and sweet, thanks to longer hang time," he told me. It's an in-your-face ripe California vintage. For the first time, all of our alcohols were over 14%, yet the wines are very well balanced. A good cool August helped lengthen hang time and gave the grapes more flavor intensity."In comparison, he went on, the 2001 harvest in many sites in the sprawling Sonoma Coast appellation was very early, and the tannins did not have time to ripen properly. Cabral carries out what he describes as "cookbook fermentations" in order to let the vintages and the vineyards express themselves.