Vineyard: Sonoma Stage

AppellationSonoma Coast
StoryCalera and Swan selections sourced from Larry Hyde.
Dates Planted1999
LocationSouthern end of the Sonoma Coast AVA between Petaluma and Carneros.
AspectExposed to winds from San Pablo Bay and Pacific Ocean through the Petaluma Gap
VarietiesPinot Noir
ClonesCalera, Swan

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2017 Lombardi Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.60, 245 cases, $48. Sourced from Griffin’s Lair, Spring Hill and Sonoma Stage vineyards. Clones 667, 115, 777 and Calera. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 27% new. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of black cherry, dark red berry, baking spice and graham. Luscious in the mouth, with waves of well-ripened black cherry fruit accented by baking spices and toast. A fruit-driven, unapologetic wine with modest tannins and an ebullient finish. The best Pinot Noir from this producer to date. Score: 93. Reviewed June 19, 2019 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2016 Lombardi Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.47, TA 0.676, 227 cases, $48. Sourced from Griffin’s Lair and Sonoma Stage vineyards. Clones 667 and Calera. Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Slightly confected cherry and oak aromas are featured. The middleweight core of cherry and raspberry fruits are nicely framed with oak barrel treatment. The mid palate is a bit shallow, the fruit is slightly confected, and the cherry-driven finish is slightly tart. Score: 88. Reviewed June 9, 2018 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

12.9% alc., 1,500 cases, $39. A blend of fruit from Campbell Ranch Vineyard (100% whole cluster) in the remote coastal mountains near Annapolis, and Sonoma Stage Vineyard (100% de-stemmed) located at the cold southernmost tip of the Sonoma Coast AVA. Net is 60% whole cluster. Fruit crushed and punched down by foot, native yeast primary fermentation and native malolactic fermentation, aged 11 months without racking on lees in 100% neutral French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Very aromatically pleasing with scents of black cherry coulis, rose petal, spice and pine sap. Beautifully balanced, with a mid weight core of black raspberry fruit enhanced by a floral thread that is appealing. Soft in the mouth with a gracious finish. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the wine was less aromatic, more tannic and more savory yet the black raspberry core continued to show good intensity. Score: 89. Reviewed April 2, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

12.3% alc., 1,500 cases, $39. 60% Campbell Ranch, 40% Sonoma Stage and 20% Le Jons vineyards. Aged in 30% new and 70% neutral French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Sumptuous aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and sous bois are tenacious over time in the glass. The mid weight flavors of blue and black berries and plum are intense and seductive on the attack, maintaining an earthy presence on the finish which offers a whisper of oak. The dry tannins are well proportioned and the wine!s overall balance is commendable. This wine could use a little more time to fully evolve. Score: 89-90. Reviewed January 22, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.2% alc., $39 ($78 per magnum). A blend of two-thirds Campbell Ranch located on a rugged portion of the true Sonoma Coast, and one-third from Sonoma Stage Vineyard on the northern edge of San Pablo Bay. 100% whole cluster. · Deep, dark reddish purple color in the glass. Complex nose with expressive aromas of blackberry, cassis, and whole cluster spice and floral goodness. The full Monty with thick, broad flavors of dark berries, black currants, spice and slate. Although sappy, the wine is not cloying. The sinewy tannin structure is neither astringent or particularly intrusive, but bottle aging will lead to more softness and integration. The finish is satisfying but shy at this stage. Amazing phenolic ripeness at this low alcohol level. Still quite aromatic the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Best to cellar for a few years at least. Score: 90. Reviewed April 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 DuMOL eoin Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $90. Sourced from Sonoma Stage Vineyard located at the southern edge of the Sonoma Coast AVA. Unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Ripe fruited aromas of black cherry and black raspberry with a hint of oak. Deliciously rich core of black cherry and black raspberry fruits with a touch of spice, cola, anise and earth. Very forward and giving, yet has the balance and the structure to age. The noticeably long finish is appealing. More Carneros in character than Sonoma Coast. Score: 92. Reviewed February 8, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 DuMOL eoin Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 468 cases, $78. Released November 2012. Sourced from Sonoma Stage Vineyard, Calera and Swan selections. Yield 1.95 tons per acre from 10-year-old vines. Aged 14 months in 40% new French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of loamy earth, berry pie glaze and dried herbs. A modicum of intensity with flavors of black plum, blackberry, boysenberry and a sidecar of spice. The most savory, earth-bound and tannic Pinot Noir in the lineup, more in the Carneros vein. Very good. Reviewed February 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Auteur Sonoma Stage Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 145 cases, $60. This vineyard is heavily influenced by coastal fog and wind steaming through the Petaluma Gap. 50% Calera and 50% Swan clones. 10% whole cluster native fermentations. Aged in 50% new tight grain French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Brooding aromas of black raspberries, blackberries and wood smoke. Oak-inflected (tarry) flavors of black stone fruits and berries with a grilled fruit note. The tannins are firm and supportive and the wine finishes big with fruity persistence. Better later in the day from an opened bottle showing better integration of oak. This wine needs a few years in bottle for assimilation of the oak-driven aromas and flavors. Good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 DuMOL eoin Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 400 cases, $76. Sourced from the Hyde family’s Sonoma Stage Vineyard located at the southern edge of the Sonoma Coast. · Darkly colored in the glass. Remarkably beguiling nose offering aromas of fresh-picked darker berries with just the right accent of toasty and spicy oak. Full-bodied and bold with an array of perfectly ripened dark berries with a subtle underpinning of earthiness, showing good persistence on the finish. Firm, but well-tamed chalky tannins add texture. The flavors don’t yet match the irresistible nose, but give this wine a little time in the bottle. Very good (+). Reviewed January 12, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Auteur Sonoma Stage Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., 146 cases, $50. The Auteur wines have been highly touted in the wine press and are sold by meager allocations through a mailing list. · An earthy aromatic profile featuring forest floor and a little oak char with fruit lingering in the background. Earthy on the palate as well, with dark fruits featured. The fruit is pent-up and flat at present. Soft in the mouth with fine-grained tannins and tangy acidity and prominent oak. This is a wine waiting to get out. Reviewed April 7, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 L’Angevin Sonoma Stage Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

15.1% alc., 400 cases, · Similar to the Russian River Valley bottling, but more structure and density Aromas of oak char, barnyard and alcohol predominate. Chewy, dark fruits with earthy overtones. Dense in structure like a powerful Syrah. Generous drying tannins. Reviewed May 7, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »