31 Aug Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Head High 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

Do you ever feel like you are drowning in work? That you can barely keep your head above water? That is how I have felt this past week. I have been running at breakneck speed. Between managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines, it feels like I was treading water. So when I was looking for a wine to open this week, I thought a glass of the Head High 2019 Pinot Noir from Sonoma County seemed quite apropos and that is why it is the Please The Palate wine of the week. Based in Sonoma, Head High Wines is owned by Bill Price and specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from top vineyards in Sonoma County. Head High Wines is made by winemaker Britt Richards who has been with the winery since 2018. Her approach is minimalist with a focus on showcasing the purity of fruit character. The name Head High is not about keeping your head above water (although that works for me). Rather “head high” is a surfing term to describe the perfect wave. The name was chosen by Bill Price who is a long-time surfer. The 2019 Head High Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards in Sonoma – Russian River, Bennett Valley, Petaluma Gap and Sonoma Valley. These vineyard sites range from cool, fog blanketed to warmer valley floor sites. The wine has bright cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate aromas, as well as black tea and white pepper notes with subtle tannins. The 2019 Head High Pinot Noir is such a friendly, easy-drinking Pinot Noir that only costs $24. I was able to sit back and relax and enjoyed this bottle with grilled lamb chops. I took a deep breath, a big sip, and all the stress went away. And here’s an added note about Head High Wines. They donate proceeds from sales to environmental non-profits. To date, they have donated to Sustainable Surf which protects and restores ocean health by encouraging people to shift to a low-carbon lifestyle with an emphasis on using ocean-friendly materials, ending plastic pollution, and restoring coastal ecosystems. They have also donated to Duke’s Oceanfest, a non-profit organization whose mission, on behalf of the entire Hawaiian Islands Community, is to share Duke’s celebrated life and excellence, as well as provide resources to organizations such as ODKF, to enrich the lives of Hawaii’s youth.