Katy Wilson named her winery after her great-grandmother – Verona LaRue Newell. Verona survived and suffered through the great depression. Verona left a big impression on her and when she started her own business dedicated the winery “LaRue” to her. Katy grew up on a farm and at a young age knew that she wanted to be a winemaker. She drove a tractor before she could drive a car! After graduating with a degree in winemaking, she gained experience working at many great wineries both in the US as overseas, Phelps, Craggy Range, Torbreck and most recent at Kamen, but it was during her days at Flowers that she fell in love with Pinot Noir and the Sonoma Coast. She sources from two stellar vineyards, Rice-Spivak and Emmaline Ann – used by many great wineries like Cobb, Flowers, William Selyem, etc.
The 2016 LaRue Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a blend of two well-regarded vineyards: Rice-Spivak and Thorn Ridge. The Rice-Spivak Vineyard is south of the town of Sebastopol with soils that are Goldridge sandy loam along with volcanic ash. This distinctive soil profile along with the clonal selections of Dijon and Swan create a wine that is balanced with good acidity, fresh aromas, and unmistakable minerality. The Thorn Ridge Vineyard is planted on a steep, eastern-facing slope with Goldridge sandy loam soils and is west of the town of Sebastopol. These grapes are from two small blocks planted over 20 years ago of Pommard and 115 clones. The vineyard experiences a heavy marine influence, which gives notes of dark fruit integrated with spicy undertones to the wine.
175 cases were produced. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak (28% new). Alcohol: 13.5%
LaRue 2016 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Retail 65.00 – NOW 54.99
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This youthful wine opens up with aromas of black cherry, just ripe strawberry, and red raspberry. Floral notes of violets, honeysuckle, and jasmine lift the aroma. On the palate, the fruit notes follow through and intermingle with flavors of cardamom, five spice, and a hint of vanilla. The mouth-feel is filling and round with supple tannin notes.
Robert Parker 94 Points: “The 2016 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is a blend of fruit from the Rice-Spivak and Thorn Ridge vineyards aged in about 25% new oak. Medium ruby-purple colored, it has a classic nose of red and black berries, cranberry sauce, rhubarb, woodsmoke and black tea leaves with notes of dried flowers and underbrush. The palate is medium-bodied, rounded and with concentrated earthy fruits, soft tannins to frame and juicy acidity to carry the very long, layered finish.”
Anthony Galloni: “The 2016 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is bold, racy and quite juicy, especially for Katy Wilson’s style. Dark cherry, plum, spice and rose petal are all pushed forward in this mid-weight, succulent appellation-level Pinot. The 2016 is very pretty, but also a bit riper than is the norm. It should be ready to drink upon release.”
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