AROMA: crushed black cherry, red licorice, slate
FLAVOR: kirsch, coastal berries, corriander
FOOD PAIRINGS: braised pork shoulder, laquered short rib, charred eggplant
NOTES: We went back to Pocket Canyon in 2024. A fellow winemaker we know from Punchdown Cellars farms it organically for Anthill Farms and LIOCO exclusively. This sweet little vineyard gave us pea-sized berries and a gusher of sour red fruit in 2023. The site is planted with prized Swan clone on a steep slope enclosed by redwoods in a fog-choked canyon west of Forestville. It's dry-farmed by default because the coyotes chew on the drip lines, rendering them ineffective. Micro yields and intense concentration result. The other component in the wine is Sealift Vineyard on the West Sonoma Coast near Annapolis. Just a few miles from the Pacific, Sealift is constantly lashed by ocean winds and fog and provides a savory, saline quality that marries well with the red-fruit notes. The wine showcases what we love about Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast — energy, mouthwatering acidity, and signature tone.
