Joan and Walt Flowers are pioneers. Thirty years ago they took a risk planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay where very few thought the grapes could reasonably ripen, two miles from the Pacific on the first mountain ridgeline of the Sonoma Coast. This is true cool-climate wine growing and the Flowers were among the first to do so in California. The altitude and ocean influence are defining in this wine. The fruit is delicate and nuanced with layer upon layer of tart red cherry, wild raspberry, and rose, and supported by an underlying minerality of sea air, with pencil shaving with a note of turned soil and spice. The palate is bright and lively keeping the fruit afloat, and the firm tannins keep the finish going and going. Pair this wine with herb-roasted pork tenderloin and creamy cheeses like camembert.
