25 Jan Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Sojourn Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
It has been a few years, but Sojourn Cellars in Sonoma returned to LA this past weekend for their release party. As my friend works for them, she asked me if I would help out and pour at the event. I agreed and lucky me, I was assigned to pour Pinot Noir, as well as a Chardonnay, along with winemaker Randy Bennett. As a lover of Pinot Noir, I was quite happy. And, of course, while I was pouring wine, I was also able to enjoy the wines. I was pouring three different releases from the 2021 vintage – the Sonoma Coast, the Sangiacomo Vineyard, and the Rodgers Creek Vineyard. Three beautiful expressions of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, but the Sojourn Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast was the standout and that is why it is the Please The Palate wine of the week.
About Sojourn Cellars
Sojourn Cellars was started in 2001 by friends Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley and winemaker Randy Bennett joined Sojourn in 2008. Sojourn Cellars sources fruit from some of the best vineyards in Sonoma and Napa. They produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon and make more than 24 different wines, including a rosé and a sparkling wine. Taking a minimal intervention approach to winemaking, each of these wines is an expression of the vineyard that it comes from.
The 2021 Vintage
In the Sonoma Coast, 2021 was a good vintage. To begin with, there were no fires in Sonoma so the air was clean. Heat spikes in August and September helped the grapes fully mature. And, the rains did not arrive until after harvest. Sojourn Cellars said that their yields were lower than average and the berries were small, resulting in wines with depth and concentration.
Tasting Notes
The Sangiacomo Vineyard is located at the western base of Sonoma Mountain. Sojourn sources from five blocks in the vineyard which benefits from cool oceans breezes and fog from the Petaluma Gap which help control the heat. This allows for a long hang time which results in beautiful acidity in the wine. There are three Pinot Noir clones (115, Swan, and Mt Eden) in the final wine. The grapes are 100% destemmed, fermented with native yeasts in open top fermenters, and aged in barrels (50% new French barrels). Each of the clones is fermented and aged separately. The wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined.
The Sojourn Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast has a beautifully aromatic nose of bright strawberry and cherry. There are also notes of forest floor, minerality, and a hint of spice. The brightness on the nose carries through to the palate. The wine is fresh with vibrant acidity.
Food Pairing
The Sojourn Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast is drinking well now! It is vibrant and enjoyable on its own. But will also pair well with a salmon salad or mushroom pasta.
Where to Purchase
The Sojourn Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is available in selected restaurants and retail stores. But all of the other Pinot Noir wines they produce must be bought directly from the winery. Sojourn Cellars has a tasting room/salon in the Sonoma square where the wines are available for tasting and they can be purchased online as well.