03 Feb Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Sojourn Cellars 2016 Walala Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Sonoma-based Sojourn Cellars was in Southern California for their Spring 2018 Release Party. 2016 Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignons were available to taste and purchase. The Rodgers Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir and Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir were all beautiful expressions of the grape. But the standout for me was the 2016 Walala Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, the Please The Palate pick of the week. Located in Annapolis, near the coastline of northern Sonoma County, Walala Vineyard is located two miles from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard sits on a ridge 1,200 feet above sea-level where the vines sit above the dense fog that blankets the Sonoma Coast. The vineyard, planted in 2001, receives ample sunlight so that the Pinot Noir can ripen. According to winemaker Randy Bennett, 2016 was a balanced year and a winemaker’s dream. It was an “easy” vintage with no weather extremes. The grapes were able to maintain their acidity and hang until they were ready to be picked. I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful nose of the 2016 Walala Vineyard Pinot Noir. Notes of tart cherry and tropical fruit jump out of the glass but it is also possible to smell the cool ocean air and elevation. On the palate the wine is bright with high acidity and a long finish that hits you in the back of the palate and makes your mouth water. There are only 475 cases produced of the allocated Sojourn Cellars 2016 Walala Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast which retails for $69. For more information, visit Sojourn Cellars.