Hartford Court 2015 Pinot Noir, Far Coast Vyd., Sonoma Coast

Hartford Family Winery produces outstanding Sonoma County Pinot Noirs from prime locations throughout Sonoma county. Far Coast Vineyard is a cool site surrounded by redwood forests, almost two hours north of the Russian River on a Sonoma Coast mountain ridge. It is an area that some call the 'True Sonoma Coast'. Others would simply describe the distant vineyard site as "the middle of nowhere". Far Coast Vineyard sits just south of the Peay Vineyard at an elevation of about 900 to 1200 feet above sea level. The soils at this ridge-top site are well drained and help to intensify the sense of minerality and focus in this rare single-vineyard Pinot Noir.

This wine fermented on native yeasts and aged 17 months in 35% new French oak barrels. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered.  Only 385 cases were produced.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 96 points saying "From a block growing at high elevation on the extremes of the coast north of Fort Ross, this wine is bright up-front with youthful tannins, its center juicy and densely packed in mocha, coffee and cocoa powder. Soft and structured, the dark cherry and blueberry fruit is dusted in dried herb and lavender."

and Jeb Dunnuck scored this 97 points saying "The 2015 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard is another spectacular effort from this estate. Sourced from a block located on a mountain ridge north of Fort Ross in the Sonoma Coast AVA, at an elevation between 800 and 1,000 feet, it was completely  destemmed, spent  16 months in 35% new French  oak  and  was bottled unfined and unfiltered. It offers an extraordinary La Tâche-like bouquet of black raspberries,  kirsch, Asian spices, dried flowers, violets, and crushed rocks. Deep, medium to full-bodied, awesomely textured and seamless, it has nicely  integrated  acidity, no hard edges, perfect balance, and a singular personality. It’s a fabulous expression of the Sonoma Coast that will keep forupwards of two decades."