2014 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina

Pale crimson. Attractive dry finish. Not too pushy. A true expression of the cool Sonoma Coast. Really quite refined and not ridiculously overpriced. Long and rather haunting. Some may find it a little vapid. (JR)

I tasted four Pinot Noirs from Sussman. He has consistently done a fine job with this tricky and fickle variety. The 2014 Pinot Noir La Neblina comes from multiple sites. He uses about 15% whole clusters. The vineyards are planted in Goldridge soils, and the clonal selections involved include Dijon clones 777, 115, 828 and the Calera and Mt. Eden selections. The wine spent about 17 months in 28% new French oak and displays loads of sweet and sour cherries, Asian plum, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and strawberry in a soft, medium-bodied, juicy and seductive style. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

The 2014 Pinot Noir La Neblina is an attractive wine, although it may be going through a slightly awkward stage, as I don't quite see the level of sweetness or early accessibility that is typical, but that could also be partly a result of the structured vintage. Dark red cherry, plum, licorice and menthol are some of the signatures, but it is the wine's tension and brilliance that I find especially compelling. I tasted the 2014 from barrel. My impression is that the 2014 will require a bit more cellaring than normal. The Neblina is a blend of five sites, with Hallberg as the core vineyard. This is a gorgeous Pinot Noir from Radio-Coteau.