Aston Estate Pinot Noir 2019, Sonoma Coast, California

The 2019 Aston Estate has a muscular edge that really speaks to this rugged northern Sonoma Coast location. The nose starts savory with white pepper, forest floor, dried herbs and menthol. The fruit kicks in on the entry featuring elements of red and blue fruits framed by the tannin that comes in early. Tea notes come in at the end complementing the raspberry and boysenberry high toned finish. As we continue to refine this now 20 year old vineyard, we are hoping to see more of this from the Estate in the future, a little more drinkability at release but ripe, persistent tannin that sets up the wines for a couple decades in the cellar. The Aston Estate style is different than the Rivers-Marie Pinot Noirs and is largely dictated by Frederick Schrader’s palate. The grapes are picked riper, the wines are fruit-driven and are less acid-driven, and they exhibit a blacker fruit profile. Thomas describes it as ‘an old Central Coast style ‘