CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir 2019, Sonoma Coast, California

Balanced and elegant with full, bright fruit and complex earth notes that hail from our carefully selected cool Sonoma Coast vineyards. Vibrant ruby in color, the wine is bursting with aromas of juicy pomegranate, bing cherry, and rhubarb, with hints of earl grey tea and cinnamon. Elegantly layered notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, and fennel fronds create a harmonious and lifted palate accented by a delicate acidity and a subtle salinity, which hearkens to its source along the Sonoma Coast. Winemaking: hand-harvested at night. 16-day maceration in open top tanks. 8% whole cluster inclusion. Native yeast fermentations. Aged on the lees for 9 months. 8% new oak barrels. Bottled unfined. The vineyards along the Sonoma Coast feature marine influences that define this sweeping appellation, an area that stretches from the beautiful San Pablo Bay all the way to the Mendocino County line. The Sonoma Coast American Viticulture Area (AVA) covers over 480,000 acres, with roughly 7,000 acres planted with vines. Temperatures are moderate, with evenings dipping to 40s as a result of the fog off Bodega Bay and day time highs typically in the low 70s. Growing grapes in the dramatically cool western reaches of Sonoma County is complex and demanding, with the end result truly worth the risk. The resulting fruit produces wines that are elegant and intensely structured.